Happy 60th Anniversary to Our Holy Father Benedict XVI

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Dear Lord,
Bless, protect and guide our dear Holy Father, Benedict XVI
today on the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.
Bless him with continued good health so that he will tirelessly
work to bring more and more souls to salvation.
May he continue to be the shining example of a priest to all who have answered
the call to the priesthood.
May Your Blessed Mother Mary, cover him with her mantle of love and protection
all the days of his life.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer for Our Priests

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Eternal Father
We pray that you send us holy priests
consecrated to the Eucharistic and Sacred Heart of Jesus
with the sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary
In union with Saint Joseph.

Eterno padre te rogamos nos envias sacerdotes santos
consagrados a la eucaristico y Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
al dolorosa y Inmaculado Corazón de María
en union con San José.

Source: My mom.

Annual Day of Prayer for Priests

Blessed John Paul II has established that on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart the Church will observe the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests...

...We strongly encourage each and every one of the faithful to begin if not already doing so to pray for our priests, today, this day this very moment, in preparation through prayer, celebration of the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, so that the 1st July 2011 will be an even greater celebration of the priesthood of Jesus Christ worldwide along with the new Annual Rosary Relay.

More information at World Priest Daily

From: Community of Catholic Bloggers: Some White Collar Jobs are More Challenging Than Others.

Vatican spokesman on upcoming 60th anniversary of Pope's priestly ordination

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In his weekly editorial, the director of the Holy See Press Office recalled that June 29 is the 60th anniversary of Pope Benedict’s priestly ordination and drew attention to the Congregation for the Clergy’s request to bishops’ conferences “to promote celebrations of thanksgiving as well as prayers, centered especially on Eucharistic adoration, for priestly vocations.”

Read the rest here

Prayer for our Priests this Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all our priests!

A Prayer for Our Priests

You came from among us
to be, for us, one who serves.
We thank you for ministering Christ to us
and helping us minister Christ to each other.
We are grateful for the many gifts you bring to our community:
for drawing us together in worship,
for visiting us in our homes,
for comforting us in sickness,
for showing us compassion,
for blessing our marriage,
for baptizing our children,
for confirming us in our calling,
for supporting us in bereavement,
for helping us to grow in faith,
for encouraging us to take the initiative,
for helping the whole community realize God's presence among us.
For our part, we pray that we may always be attentive to your needs
and never take you for granted.
You, like us, need friendship and love,
welcome and a sense of belonging,
kind words and acts of thoughtfulness.
We pray, also, for the priests who have wounded priesthood.
May we be willing to forgive
and may they be open to healing.
Let us support one another during times of crisis.
God our Father, we ask you to bless our priests
and confirm them in their calling.
Give them the gifts they need
to respond with generosity and a joyful heart.
We offer this prayer for our priest,
Who is our brother and friend,

Amen.

Source: Rosa Mystica website

Changes in Our Parishes - Priests

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Seems like the summertime always seems to brings difficult changes in parish churches. Priests that we have come to know very well and to love and care for, are reassigned by their bishops.

Many people do not like change. It is only natural that we like things just the way we have grown accustomed them to be.  This seems to be apparently true when it comes to our priests remaining with us.

One priest has been at the same parish for eight years. He was supposed to be reassigned two years ago but was able to remain at the parish he had come to love, for an additional two years. Now it is his time to leave. He mentioned that he told three people about his departure and they all cried. He then stopped telling individuals, instead opting to tell everyone after the conclusion of Sunday Mass. He like all faithful priests knows he must be obedient to his bishop.

Why is it that the knee-jerk reaction of some individuals is to blame the bishop? Some go as far as to get angry at the bishops and to criticize them to others. We seem to forget that a priest should not be attached to anyone or anything. He must always be obedient. He must be ready to shepherd his flock no matter where he is sent. I know the priests know this and respect their bishops' decision. Why can't we?

I remember when I was younger, the parish my family belonged to grew very close to the Franciscan friars...the Capuchins. Each time one of the friars was reassigned, some of the people were ready to protest and to sign petitions. One wise priest admonished them. This kind of reaction on the part of the laity is not at all helpful.  It will not help to change a bishop's decision.

Another thing I have noticed is that those who volunteer to help out sometimes have a problem with the way the new priest does things. We have to remember, we have to accommodate and change to suit the new priest, not the other way around.

We must remember a priest is in persona christi or alter christus....another Christ.

In this month of June, our holy Father's prayer intention is for our priests. Please pray for your priests, especially the new ones assigned to your parish.

The Catholic Priest

I saw this on Richard's blog and wanted to share it here.

A 15th century piece of prose - 'His High Office'

(For all of our priests)

For priesthood exceedeth all other thing;
To us Holy Scripture do they teach,
And converteth man from sin heaven to reach;
God hath to them more power given,
Than to any angel that is in Heaven;
With five words he may consecrate
God's Body in flesh and blood to make.
He handleth his Maker between his hands;
The priest bindeth and unbindeth all bands,
Both in earth and heaven;
Thou ministers all the sacraments seven;
Though we kissed thy feet thou were worthy;
Thou art surgeon that cureth sin deadly;
No remedy we find under God
But only priesthood.
Everyman, God gave priests that dignity,
And setteth them in His stead among us to be;
Thus be they above angels in degree.

American Bishops organize celebration for pope's 60th anniversary as ord...

Pope Dedicates Prayer in June to Priests

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VATICAN CITY, MARCH 31, 2011 (Zenit).- Benedict XVI is dedicating the month of June to pray that priests be united to the heart of Christ.

The Apostleship of Prayer announced the intentions chosen by the Pope for this month. His general intention is: "That priests, united to the Heart of Christ, may always be true witnesses of the caring and merciful love of God."

The Pontiff's apostolic intention for June is: "That the Holy Spirit may bring forth from our communities many missionaries who are ready to be fully consecrated to spreading the Kingdom of God."

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On the Net:

Apostleship of Prayer