Letter Of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Proclaiming A Year For Priests
On The 150th Anniversary Of The Dies Natalis Of The Curé Of ARS
Dear Brother Priests,
On the forthcoming Solemnity of the Most Sacred
Heart of Jesus, Friday 19 June 2009 - a day traditionally devoted to prayer for
the sanctification of the clergy -, I have decided to inaugurate a "Year for
Priests" in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the "dies natalis" of John
Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests worldwide. [1] This Year, meant
to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a
more forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel in today's world, will conclude
on the same Solemnity in 2010. The priesthood is the love of the heart of
Jesus", the saintly Curé of Ars would often say. [2] This touching expression
makes us reflect, first of all, with heartfelt gratitude on the immense gift
which priests represent, not only for the Church, but also for humanity itself.
I think of all those priests who quietly present Christ's words and actions each
day to the faithful and to the whole world, striving to be one with the Lord in
their thoughts and their will, their sentiments and their style of life. How can
I not pay tribute to their apostolic labours, their tireless and hidden service,
their universal charity? And how can I not praise the courageous fidelity of so
many priests who, even amid difficulties and incomprehension, remain faithful to
their vocation as "friends of Christ", whom he has called by name, chosen and
sent?
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