The Prophet Malachi’s Stern Admonition to Priests

The final prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi lived during the Persian period, the time of the return to Zion from the Babylonian captivity. Here Malachi urges God's priests to be faithful: "A great King am I, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. And now, O priests, this commandment is for you: If you do not listen, if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, I will send a curse upon you and of your blessing I will make a curse. You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction; you have made void the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts. I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, since you do not keep my ways…" (Malachi 1:14B-2:2B, 8-10)

_________________________________

A Prayer for Priests

Lord Jesus, we pray to You for our priests. You have gifted them to us for our salvation. You have made them priests in the likeness of your own priesthood. You consecrated them, set them aside, anointed them, and filled them with the Holy Spirit. You appointed them to teach, to preach, to minister, to console, to forgive sins, and to nourish us with Your most precious Body and Blood. Amen.