Pope Benedict XVI / St. Jean Vianney
Posted on 06/09/2009 7:49:45 AM PDT by NYer
.- The U.S. bishops’ conference has set up a website to help mark the Year for Priests by providing prayers and other resources.
Pope Benedict XVI designated the Year to begin on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 19. His announcement also designated St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, as the Universal Patron of All Priests. According to a press release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations has set up a website in service of the year’s theme.
“Please pray for our priests that they might always be faithful to their sacred calling,” the site says.
The site includes Pope Benedict’s message for the Year of Priests and the announcement of the celebration’s plenary indulgence in English and Spanish. It also provides prayers for both priests and laity in PDF format so that they may be downloaded and printed for diocesan and parochial use.
The Secretariat plans to provide monthly articles by prominent Catholic women who will write about their “faith and trust” in the priesthood.
Other activities for the Year of Priests include a gathering of priests in Rome as well as a retreat on the national level. Information on the retreat will also be provided through the website, which is located at http://www.usccb.org/yearforpriests/index.shtml
What a wonderful idea! Our priests need our prayers. May St. John Vianney be their model.
I am looking forward to praying for holy priests during this Year of the Priest. Talked to my priest yesterday about what he would like to do. He only mentioned Benediction, but he is going on vacation, and we will be getting back together to plan parish activities for this during the 2009-2010 year.
St. John Vianney, pray for our priests!
Good idea!
Just beautiful! Thanks for posting it to the thread.
The Year of the Priest
We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.
Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.
Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.
Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.
Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.
O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.
Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests
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