On June 19, 2009, at the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated a “Year for Priests”… to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a more forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world.” Using the words and witness of the saintly Curé of Ars, St. John Marie Vianney, he has broken open for all the depth and beauty of the priestly vocation. He has also invited all of the faithful to fully participate.
The symbolism is that of the Sacred Heart, calling to mind that the annual day for the sanctification of priests always coincides with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In this way the theme of the specific holiness to which the sacred ministry is called comes immediately to mind.
The visibility of the radiant heart refers to the phrase of the saintly Curé of Ars who defined the priesthood as “the love of the Heart of Jesus”.
The Stole with which the figure of Jesus is adorned calls to mind that he is the Supreme and Eternal High Priest, and the fact that every priest is made a continuation of that One Priest within history and in the various generations which succeed one another.
The arms held out recall the typical attitude of prayer and meditation which are proper to the priest. The wounds of the hands and the side of the figure of Christ in the logo remind us of the one redemptive sacrifice and recall the vicarious satisfaction and total self-gift typical of the priesthood. The attitude of welcome seems to say, “Come to me all you who labour and over-burdened, and I will give you rest”. It is a consoling invitation to every priest who wears himself out in the daily exercise of pastoral charity, even for example in the driest and rockiest places, so that they also can in their turn show the same attitude to those who are near and to those who are distant.
B. PAPAL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND LETTERS
TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY MARCH16, 2009
HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER BENEDICT XVI OPENING OF THE YEAR FOR PRIESTS
ON THE 150 ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF ST. JOHN MARY VIANNEY – SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS, JUNE 19, 2009
GENERAL AUDIENCE ST. PETER’S SQUARE, WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2009
GENERAL AUDIENCE: ON PRIESTLY IDENTITY, JULY 1, 2009
“ONE WHO PRAYS IS NOT AFRAID; ONE WHO PRAYS IS NEVER ALONE”
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE JOHN XXIII ON ST. JOHN VIANNEY, AUGUST 1, 1959
C. ARTICLES
MESSAGE FOR DAY OF PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
“IT IS ON PRAYER THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ACTION DEPENDS”
Congregation for Clergy for the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. Feast of Sacred Heart, May 30, 2009
CARDINAL RIGALI ON THE YEAR FOR PRIESTS…POPE KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF HOLINESS
Archbishop of Philadelphia and chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-life Activities, June 13, 2009
CHURCH READIES FOR A RENEWAL_IMPORTANT FOR LAITY TOO
Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, June 14, 2009
ARCHBISHOP CALLS PRIESTHOOD MORE THAN A JOB_HIGHLIGHTS SPECIAL CALL TO SERVICE
Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, June 16, 2009
POPE BENEDICT WRITES A LETTER TO EVERY PRIEST, JUNE 19, 2009 (Catholic Online www.catholic.org)
Cláudio Cardinal Hummes, Archbishop Emeritus of São Paulo, Prefect, Congregation for the Clergy
THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND A HOLY PRIESTHOOD
Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J. Scroll down to 4th article
For more articles… Fr. Hardon Archives_Priesthood Index
THE YEAR FOR PRIESTS EXPLAINED: A QUEST FOR PASTORAL ZEAL
Catholic Culture: Living the Catholic Life, June 18, 2009
PRIESTS A BAND OF “SACRAMENTAL BROTHERS”
Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Boston, June 24, 2009
D. INDULGENCES FOR THE YEAR FOR PRIESTS
E. PRAYERS
PRAYER FOR THE YEAR OF PRIESTS
PRAYERS TO MARY FOR OUR PRIESTS
PRAYER FOR INCREASE IN VOCATIONS
ROSARY AND CHAPLET FOR PRIESTS
CLICK HERE FOR 100 PRAYERS FOR PRIESTS
F. RESOURCES
CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF THE PRIESTS: SOME RESOURCES
List of Books, Films and Audio
BIBLE STUDY RESOURCE FOR YEAR OF PRIEST
A Bible Study Program for the whole parish
G. QUOTES ON THE PRIESTHOOD
I. JEAN BAPTIST MARIE VIANNEY (CURÉ OF ARS)
MAIN DATES IN THE LIFE OF THE CURE OF ARS
PRIESTLY VIRTUES OF CURE D’ARS HIGHLIGHTED, POPE BENEDICT XVI,JUNE 18, 2009
PRAYER AND WORDS OF ST. JOHN VIANNEY
LITANY IN HONOR OF ST. JOHN VIANNEY
CURE D’ARS MODEL PRIEST BY KARNA SWANSON, JUNE 19, 2009
STORY OF HIS LIFE
JEAN BAPTISTE MARIE VIANNEY (YOUTUBE)
SERMONS OF THE CURE OF ARTS – EXCERPTS
CROSSROAD INITIATIVE: A MINISTRY OF DR. MARCELLINO D’AMBROSIO
CATECHETICAL INSTRUCTIONS – ST. JOHN VIANNEY
HOMILY_ST. JOHN VIANNEY FEAST_AUG 4_FR I. MANFREDONIA (YouTube)
PRIEST: JEAN VIANNEY, THE HUMBLEST OF MEN
Sister Janet Fearns, June 19, 2009
J. UPCOMING EVENTS
In Honor of The Year of the Priest, CatholicTV will air special “Priest” Programming in August 7/13/2009 – 12:20 PM PST For more details on this series, click on: http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=7253
K. LINKS
CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY – ANNUS SACERDOTALIS
Italiano English Deutsch Français Español Português
Includes letter from Archbishop T Collins, seven priest newly-ordained profiles and resources
UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS
Six YouTube sessions with priests and many resources
OUR SUNDAY VISITOR – Publishing Company: books and many resources
