To Jesus the Good Shepherd

1. We adore you, O Jesus, eternal Shepherd of the human race. You are present in the Eucharist to dwell continually in the midst of your flock. You nourish us, you guard us, you guide us to the heavenly fold. We do not live on bread alone, but on your doctrine of truth and love. Your sheep listen to your voice and follow it with love. Have pity on so many who go astray in the shadow of error and ignorance, like sheep without a shepherd. Attract them to your truth. Multiply evangelizers, catechists, and apostles of social communication media. Give us the grace to listen to and love your word, that it may bear fruit in our hearts. Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.

Jesus, Good Shepherd, Way and Truth and Life, have mercy on us.

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2. We thank you, Jesus, Good Shepherd, for having come down from heaven to seek out humankind and bring it back to the way of salvation. In you is fulfilled the promise: I will raise up in the midst of the scattered sheep a shepherd who will gather them and care for them. The shepherd leads, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. You have given your commandments, your counsels, your examples. Whoever heeds them is nourished with a bread that does not perish: My food is the will of the heavenly Father. Have mercy on those who nourish themselves on falsehood and vanity. Recall sinners to your way. Sustain the wavering, strengthen the weak. May everyone follow you, Shepherd and Guardian of our souls. You alone are the Way, you alone have words of eternal life. I will follow you wherever you go.

Jesus, Good Shepherd . . .

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3. May you be blessed, O Jesus, who died on the cross for us! You, the innocent One, died to restore life to the guilty sheep: “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” You nourish us with your life in Baptism, in Confirmation, in Penance, and in the Eucharist. May you live in every person with your Spirit! Bring back to your fold all those who are separated from you, for they are like branches cut off from the vine. We pray to you for the Church, which you acquired with the price of your blood. May it spread throughout the world and be for everyone a sign of unity and salvation. We want to love you with all our mind, all our strength, and all our heart. For your love, I want to spend myself totally for your people.

Jesus, Good Shepherd . . .

4. O Jesus, we honor you as the Supreme Shepherd. You live in the Pope, in the bishops, in priests. You have said to them: “Whoever listens to you, listens to me. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. Go into the whole world.” Divine Shepherd, the harvest is always great, but the workers are still very few. Give us holy priests who love your people as you love them. Bless their labors. Grant us the grace to cooperate in their zeal and to be among your sheep on the day of judgment when you will return as the Shepherd.

Jesus, Good Shepherd . . .

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5. O Jesus, Good Shepherd, who brought from heaven the fire of your love, give us your heart. Inflame us with the desire for the glory of God and with a great love for our brothers and sisters. Make us sharers in your apostolate. Live in us that we may radiate you in word, in suffering, in pastoral action, in the example of a good life. We offer you ourselves as docile and faithful sheep, to become worthy of cooperating in your pastoral mission in the Church. Dispose all minds and hearts to receive your grace. Come, Divine Shepherd, guide us; may there soon be one flock and one Shepherd.

Jesus Good Shepherd . . .

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