Thursday, 19 March 2009

A year for priests

On 19th June this year, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, the Holy Father will open the Year for Priests. How fitting that this Year will begin on that Feast and in the presence of the relic of the heart of St John Vianney.
The Sacred Heart is the feast of the priesthood. Christ wanted his love to be incarnate in the world through his priests. He died on the Cross so that we could celebrate the Eucharist!

And how fitting that the Holy Father is associating St John Vianney with this Year - the Cure d'Ars who called the Priesthood "the love of the Heart of Jesus."

Already there are many who, in groups or individually, support priests through their prayer or sacrifices; in this coming Year, priests may be the recipients of this type of support coming from the whole Church, and coming from St John Vianney himself. We need it - it is essential in the New Evangelisation. The photo was taken in December last just outside the Holy Door in St John Vianney's church in Ars.

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