Year of the Priesthood...

I cannot agree with Father Corapi more on his letter below! I am one, who as a convert to Catholicism, finds the priesthood most precious, and most sacred and most dear! From being in various 'churches' and fellowships where the lack of any "apostolic succession and authority" did NOT exist, it's a treasured gift to me, now!

The diocesan priests in each parish all over the world work so very hard to bring the Good News to us, and most especially JESUS, in the EUCHARIST. This morning at Mass I prayed for my friend, Fr. Gerard and ALL priests, as they need so much protection, and so many graces to live out their vocation. Dear reader, please remember your priest every day in prayer. Pray a Memorare for him. And remind him of this, if he doesn't have a most deep and profound devotion to Mary, his Mother...he will NOT survive what has begun and what is coming! It's CRUCIAL. We all need our LIFE our SWEETNES and our HOPE to remain vigilant and persevere in these perilous times as Satan is allowed to prowl the earth in this, his "LAST DAY." His days are numbered, the battle and the war have been WON by OUR KING! But if we don't cling to Mary Our Queen, we will not survive what's ahead. TO JESUS THROUGH MARY...for ETERNITY! What better day to start this Year of the Priest than on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus! ~ Oh, Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us, and most especially your priest sons as they daily give us You as our Paschal Lamb and nourishment for our journey toward Heaven!

susie

Jubilee Year for Priests Announced by the Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI announced that the universal Church will celebrate a Jubilee Year of the Priest, beginning June 19th, 2009, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and celebrating the 150th anniversary of the death of the saintly Cure D’Ars.

It is my personal experience of 25 years this month living inside of the Church in novitiates, seminaries, pontifical universities, parishes, and chancery offices that we are always in need of renewal and energizing in every vocation, more so than ever in the priesthood. The Holy Father knows this, as do a great many of us priests. So, beginning June 19, 2009 we’ll try to move toward this goal of strengthening and energizing the priesthood. This happens one priest at a time. Holiness is an individual work in process for all of us, the priest included.

The patron saint of parish priests, St. John Mary Vianney, should be used as a model in principle, remembering that every man or woman must be a person of their time. Nonetheless, there are principles and practices that transcend time and space. These we should know and exercise. The preeminence of prayer and the spiritual life must come first for the priest—or any practicing Catholic for that matter.

St. John Vianney prayed long hours before the Blessed Sacrament. That was the “secret” of his “success.” Jesus in the Eucharist must be the heart of the priest’s life, the Holy Spirit is the breath that breathes life into his ministry. A simple life, not unfamiliar with penance and sacrifice is also fundamental for apostolic fruitfulness.

Jesus, the High Priest, gave us all his own Mother to be our spiritual mother. Every priest that would bear fruit that endures must accept the gift of Mary the Mother of Priests as his own spiritual mother. This cannot be over emphasized. A failure to do it in these times results in almost certain failure for the Catholic priest.

Pray for your priests more than ever this Year of the Priest. In many cases there is poor morale, little camaraderie, isolation, and loneliness in the life of the priest. Encourage your priests and remember a little kindness and understanding goes a long way. Priests are human beings, like other human beings, with the same weaknesses and strengths. This year think about the life of priests and how you can contribute to their perseverance and holiness in a most noble vocation. Help your priest get to Heaven by your kindness and your prayers. You will never be sorry that you did.

God bless you,

Fr. John Corapi