Year of the Priest . . .

I thought I'd try and get in early with a few words on the Year of the Priest.

Pope Benedict will open the special year with Vespers at the Vatican tomorrow, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the day for the sanctification of priests.

I found these excellent quotes on the Westminster Diocesan website on the vocations page.

“Heralds of the Gospel are needed, who are experts in humanity, who have penetrated the depths of the heart of the men and women of today, who share their joys and hopes, their anguishes and sorrows, but are the same time contemplatives, in love with God.”
Pope John Paul II

“A good priest is a truly human person who expresses his love for God in prayer and in love for people. These gifts are sanctified and focused through the grace of ordination when he becomes ‘a man for others’.” Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor

I wouldn't dream of trying to improve on something said by Pope John Paul II or even Cardinal Cormac. I just wanted to say 'thank you' to all our priests for answering God's call to the priesthood in the first place and for all that you do for us.

Here is a beautiful prayer for priests by St Thérèse of Lisieux- very fitting in this year when the relics of St Thérèse will be visiting various sites in England.

Prayer for Priests
by St. Thérèse of Lisieux

O Jesus, eternal Priest,
keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.
Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Your Sacred Body.
Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with your Precious Blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.
Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world's contagion.
Bless their labours with abundant fruit and
may the souls to whom they minister

be their joy and consolation here

and in heaven their beautiful and
everlasting crown. Amen.