Year for Priests

From June 2009 - June 2010, we commemorate the Year of the Priest. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI: "Precisely to encourage encourage priests in this striving for spiritual perfection on which, above all, the effectiveness of their ministry depends, I have decided to establish a special 'Year for Priests' that will begin on June 19 and last until June 19, 2010. In fact, it is the 150th anniversary of the death of the Holy Cure d'Ars, John Mary Vianney, a true example of a pastor at the service of Christ's flock."

In light of this Year and as we soon approach half of it being completed, let us reflect on the extent to which we have prayed for good and holy priests. Have we prayed for holy priests to continue to persevere and fight heresy such as modernism as well as social evils such as abortion and euthanasia? Have we prayed for traditional young men to answer the call of God to serve at the Altar as a priest? Have we prayed for more priests to help spread the Mass of the Ages and the Saints - the Tridentine Latin Mass - and helped them whenever possible to do so?

Now is a fitting and appropriate time to evaluate our actions in light of this Year of the Priest. Below is a list of various posts from mine that may be useful to your spiritual growth at this time:

• World Day of Prayer for Priests (2007)
• 44th World Day of Prayer for Vocations (2007)
• Plenary Indulgences Each Month for the Year of the Priest
• Priests are to be "Witnesses of Love"
• 2 Year Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum
• Priestly Ordination of Men Alone

Prayers for Priests:

• Prayer for Priests
• Prayer for Priests II
• Prayer for a Deceased Priest

Image Source: Parish priest Father Salvatore Cantatore celebrating mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Poughkeepsie, NY, US, March 1952, Photographer: Ralph Morse