HOLY FATHER ANNOUNCES A SPECIAL YEAR
FOR PRIESTS
"The missionary
dimension of a priest arises from his sacramental configuration to Christ the
Head", said the Pope. This involves "total adherence to what
ecclesial tradition has identified as 'apostolica vivendi forma', which consists in participation ... in that
'new way of life' which was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and which the
Apostles made their own".
Benedict XVI
highlighted the "indispensable struggle for moral perfection which must
dwell in every truly priestly heart. In order to favour this tendency of
priests towards spiritual perfection, upon which the effectiveness of their
ministry principally depends, I have", he said, "decided to call a
special 'Year for Priests' which will run from
"The
ecclesial, communional, hierarchical and doctrinal
dimension is absolutely indispensable for any authentic mission, and this alone
guarantees its spiritual effectiveness", he said.
"The
mission is 'ecclesial'", said the Pope, "because no-one announces or
brings themselves, ... but brings Another, God Himself, to the world. God is
the only wealth that, definitively, mankind wishes to find in a priest.
"The
mission is 'communional' because it takes place in a
unity and communion which only at a secondary level possess important aspects
of social visibility. ... The 'hierarchical' and 'doctrinal' dimensions emphasise
the importance of ecclesiastical discipline (a term related to that of
'disciple') and of doctrinal (not just theological, initial and permanent)
formation".
Benedict XVI
stressed the need to "have care for the formation of candidates to the
priesthood", a formation that must maintain "communion with unbroken
ecclesial Tradition, without pausing or being tempted by discontinuity. In this
context, it is important to encourage priests, especially the young
generations, to a correct reading of the texts of Vatican Council II,
interpreted in the light of all the Church's doctrinal inheritance".
Priests must
be "present, identifiable and recognisable - for their judgement of faith,
personal virtues and attire - in the fields of culture and of charity which
have always been at the heart of the Church's mission".
"The
centrality of Christ leads to a correct valuation of priestly ministry, without
which there would be no Eucharist, no mission, not even the Church. It is
necessary then, to ensure that 'new structures' or pastoral organisations are
not planned for a time in which it will be possible to 'do without' ordained
ministry, on the basis of an erroneous interpretation of the promotion of the
laity, because this would lay the foundations for a further dilution in
priestly ministry, and any supposed 'solutions' would, in fact, dramatically
coincide with the real causes of the problems currently affecting the
ministry".
AC/PRIESTS MISSION/
VATICAN
The Pope will
inaugurate the Year on 19 June, presiding at Vespers in St. Peter's Basilica
where the relics of the saintly 'Cure of Ars' will be
brought for the occasion by Bishop Guy Bagnard of Belley-Ars,
During the
course of the Year, Benedict XVI will proclaim St. Jean Marie Vianney as patron saint of all the priests of the world. A
"Directory for Confessors and Spiritual Directors" will also be
published, as will a collection of texts by the Supreme Pontiff on essential
aspects of the life and mission of priests in our time.
The
Congregation for the Clergy, together with diocesan ordinaries and superiors of
religious institutes, will undertake to promote and co-ordinate the various
spiritual and pastoral initiatives which are being organised to highlight the
role and mission of the clergy in the Church and in modern society, and the
need to intensify the permanent formation of priests, associating it with that
of seminarians.
OP/YEAR FOR PRIESTS/...