The Year for Priests
Pope Benedict designated June 19, 2009, the Solemnity of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus as the beginning of a year for Priests. He is doing this in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John vianney, a patron of priests. St. John vianney was a member of the Secular Franciscans. Praying for priests and asking God to bless them and strengthen them in their ministry is something dear to the Franciscans. St. Francis speaks of priests in his Testament:
God inspires me, too, and still inspires me with such great faith in priests who live according to the laws of the Holy Church of Rome, because of their dignity, that if they persecuted me, I should be ready to turn to themfor aid. And if Iwere aswise as Solomon and met the poorest priests of the world, I would still refuse to preach against their will in parishes where they live. I amdetermined to reverence, love and honor priests and others as my superiors. I refuse to consider their sins, because I can see the Son of God in them and they are better than I. I do this because in this world I cannot see the most high Son of God with my own eyes, except for his most holy Body and Blood which they receive and administer to others.
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