Year of the Priest

A year of prayer by priests,
with priests
and for priests....

            On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars, St. John Mary Vianney, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed a special “Year of the Priest” to be celebrated throughout the Church from June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010.
            The Holy Father said he was calling for this special year in an effort to foster each priest’s yearning “for spiritual perfection, upon which the effectiveness of (his) ministry principally depends.”
            During the course of this year, Pope Benedict will also declare St. John Vianney, currently the patron saint of parish priests, the patron saint of ALL priests.
            In order to encourage prayer for priests, the Church is enriching this special year with SACRED INDULGENCES:

For the Faithful

                            The Plenary Indulgence may be gained on:
                            +   June 19, 2009 , the opening day of the Year of the Priest,
                           +   August 4, 2009 , the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney,
                            +   the FIRST THURSDAY of each month throughout this year, and
                            +  June 19, 2010 , the closing day of the Year of the Priest.

                            The faithful seeking the Plenary Indulgence should:
                             +  be truly repentant,
                            +  make expiation for their sins through sacramental Confession,
                             + devoutly attend the Sacrifice of the Mass,
                             +  offer prayers and any good work they have done that day to Jesus Christ, the Eternal High
                                 Priest, for the priests of the Church, so that Christ may sanctify His priests and form them
                                 in accordance with His own Heart, and
                             + pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.

For the Elderly, the Sick and the Homebound

     To the elderly, the sick and all those who for any legitimate reason are confined to their homes, the Plenary Indulgence will likewise be granted on the above mentioned days if, with a mind detached from sin and with the intention of fulfilling the usual conditions as soon as possible, they recite prayers for the sanctification of priests and confidently offer their illness and the hardships of their lives to God through Mary, the Queen of Apostles.

For Priests

     On any day during this year, priests who devoutly recite at least Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament, and who offer themselves with a ready and generous heart (after the example of St. John Vianney) for the celebration of the sacraments, especially Confession, are mercifully granted the Plenary Indulgence if in conformity with the current norms:
                                 +  they are truly repentant,
                                 +  they receive sacramental Confession and the Eucharist, and
                                 + they pray for the Supreme Pontiff’s intentions.
    Furthermore, the Partial Indulgence is granted to priests every time they recite the duly approved prayers to lead a holy life and to carry out in a holy manner the office entrusted to them.
    Priests may apply either of these indulgences to their departed confreres.

Throughout The Year of the Priest

       A Partial Indulgence may be gained by ALL THE FAITHFUL every time they devoutly recite in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
                                   + five Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glorys
                                   + or another expressly approved prayer,
        to obtain from Christ the grace that priests be preserved in purity and holiness of life.

An Invitation

 Let us pray with the whole Church that in this special year of grace
all priests may commit themselves,
with prayer and good works, to obtaining
from Christ the Eternal High Priest
the grace to shine with faith, hope, charity and the other virtues,
 and show by their way of life,
as also with their external conduct,
that they are dedicated without reserve to the spiritual good of the people.

- adapted from the Decree
on The Year of the Priest
issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary
April 25, 2009

A Prayer for Priests

          Receive, O Lord, the intentions of the Eucharistic Sacrifice offered by priests throughout the world this day for the glory of the Father and the good of Your Bride, the Church.
            Imbue them with the spirit of Your holy oblation so they may generously participate in Your redemptive mission.
            Nurture in Your priests deep reverence for the mysteries they celebrate and humble respect for the sacred character of their priestly consecration.
            Inflame them with the fire of Your charity that they may live in this world as heralds of Your Gospel and ministers of Your mercy.
            Refresh them with Your love and grace so that in joy and sorrow, labor and suffering they may serve Your people as ardent apostles and loving shepherds.
            Rejoice Your priests with the joy of Your presence so they may reflect Your beauty, purity and holiness to the souls entrusted to their care.
            Reward the priests who have left this world in Your friendship, O Lord, and welcome them as Your good and faithful servants into the joy of the eternal wedding feast.     
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Amen.

 

 

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