“May the Year for Priests lead all priests to identify totally with the Crucified and Risen Jesus so that, in imitation of St John the Baptist, they may be prepared to ‘decrease’ that Christ may increase and that, in following the example of the Curé d'Ars, they feel constantly and profoundly the responsibility of their mission, which is the sign and presence of God's infinite mercy. Let us entrust to Our Lady, Mother of the Church, the Year for Priests which has just begun and all the priests of the world.” (Pope Benedict XVI) Father Ryan's letter for the Year for Priests The Year for Priests can have meaning only in relationship to you, the holy and priestly people of God, whom we priests are called to serve. Our priesthood has no meaning whatever apart from you. St. John Vianney, patron saint of priests, said it all when he wrote: “the priest is not for himself; he is for you!” So the Year of the Priest is, in a sense, as much about the people we serve as it is about us. It’s as much about you as it is about me. Click here to read the entire letter.
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ST. JOHN VIANNEY: THE PATRON SAINT OF PRIESTS
LIFE OF THE SAINT St. Jean-Marie Vianney (1786-1859) was not the most likely candidate to become the patron saint of priests: in fact, he was almost expelled from seminary because of his inability to master Latin! But thanks in large part to the care and guidance of his own parish priest, Father Balley, he was ordained a priest in August, 1815. Two years later he was appointed curé, or pastor, of the tiny village of Ars in southern France. The story is told that in the heavy fog the saint lost his way to Ars and stopped to ask a boy for directions. The boy pointed out the right road, and Jean-Marie told him: “You have shown me the way to Ars. Now I will show you the way to Heaven.” And that is exactly what he did. By his incessant prayer, fasting, pleading, preaching, visiting, he was an irresistible force for good in the tired and depressed little village. Within a few years, Ars was a different place, and word began to spread about the holy “Curé of Ars.” Pilgrims came to hear him preach and especially to go to confession to him. By the end of his life, the Curé spent up to eighteen hours a day in the confessional; people waited in line for as long as three days to confess to him. His frankness was proverbial. One man passed through the
village with his dog, just to see what the fuss was about. He
was converted instantly when the saint, passing by, saw him and
said: “Sir, it is greatly to be wished that your soul were as
beautiful as your dog!” Hundreds of similar stories are told
of the intense impact of his transparent simplicity and holiness.
St. John Vianney was canonized by Pius XI in 1925. On Priesthood: |
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LINKS Explore Vatican resources for the Year for Priests, including homilies, reflections, and even a video message from Pope Benedict XVI! http://www.vatican.va/special/anno_sac/index_en.html Watch videos and find an array of prayers, articles, and other resources at the official website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. http://www.usccb.org/yearforpriests/ |
On
August 4, we observe the memorial of St. John Vianney (1786-1859).
Pope Benedict XVI has declared this 150th anniversary of the saint’s
death to be the Year for Priests (June 19, 2009 – June 19, 2010). He
has also named St. John Vianney—long the patron saint of parish
priests—the patron saint of all priests. This is a special
time to pray for our priests and for vocations to the priesthood.