"I AM no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I come to YOU. Holy FATHER, keep those YOU have given ME in YOUR name, so that they may be one, as we also are.
When I was with them, I kept them safe in YOUR name; and not one was lost, except the one who was already lost, and in this, the Scripture was fulfilled. And now I come to you; in the world I speak these things, so that those whom YOU gave ME, might have joy--all MY joy within themselves.
I have given them YOUR word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, just as I AM not of the world, I do not ask YOU to remove them from the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I AM not of the world. Consecrate them in the truth. YOUR word is truth.
I have sent them into the world as YOU sent ME into the world; and for their sake, I go to the sacrifice by which I AM consecrated, so that they too may be consecrated in truth." - John 17:11-19
(Keep those YOU have given ME in YOUR name. In other words: keep them in the radiance of YOUR own sanctity, with which YOU embrace YOUR Son. At that moment JESUS prayed for HIS Church, to whom HE entrusted HIS own mission. The principal duty of the Church is to know GOD. Whatever the situation of the Church might be, its proper and indispensable mission will be to keep and proclaim the true knowledge of GOD and the commandment of HIS Son.
JESUS prays for HIS own so that they may become the new people [Psalm 102:19], consecrated to GOD, this time according to the truth. HE will pour over them the Spirit of Truth, who has been promised to Israel and will instruct us interiorly.
Priestly Prayer is the name many give to that prayer in which CHRIST, before HE died, offered to sacrifice HIS own life, as both priest and victim. The word to consecrate applied to two things: the priest was consecrated, that is, was made worthy to offer the sacrifice, and HE also consecrated [made holy] the victim on sacrificing it.)
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