The Year For Priests

As part of Vocation Awareness Week, a look at the vocation to the priesthood is an obvious topic for reflection. When Jesus commanded the Twelve to "do this in memory of me" (Lk 22: 19), he gave them the power to make the Eucharist available after his death and resurrection. In a real sense he ordained them that night, and, as we know, for over two thousand years, this commission has been passed on to those called to follow in the footsteps of these first apostles.
On June 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI established a "Year for Priests" which will continue until June 11, 2010. It is a year for each priest to reflect on his mission not only to give the Eucharist to the faithful, but also, as the Pope said, "to become more aware that through his own humanity, he is bringing to the world Another, God himself. God is the only treasure which ultimately people desire to find in a priest. The priest is called to be expert in divine intimacy so that he may be able to lead souls entrusted to him humbly and trustingly to God. He is called to proclaim Jesus of Nazareth Lord and Savior, crucified, risen and Sovereign of time and history." The Holy Father prayed that this Year would "help all priests to grow towards the spiritual perfection essential to the effectiveness of their ministry and enable the faithful to appreciate more fully the great gift of grace which the priesthood is: for priests themselves, for the Church, and for our world." He held up St. John Mary Vianney, the Cure of Ars, whose 150th anniversary of death was in 2009, as the exemplar of the good, simple, holy priest who understood his vocation and lived it in every fiber of his being. Our part in this Year is to pray that priests truly understand their call to be holy, to be true pastors, that is, caring, compassionate spiritual guides, who will inspire us to constant conversion and lead us to intimate union with God. May this be our intention today, and for the rest of his Year for Priests.
Bro. Rene