Northampton Seminarian was first to pick up on the news that the Holy Father has announced a "Year of the Priesthood" from 19th June 2009 - 19th June 2010.The year's particular theme will be "Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of the Priest" and will be opened at Vespers on 19th June (Solemnity of the Sacred Heart) by Pope Benedict.
The year coincides with the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d'Ars, St. John Mary Vianney. At the end of the year, the saint will be declared patron of all the priests in the world.
I have to say that I thought the Curé d'Ars was patron saint of all priests... but then remembered that he's the patron of the secular clergy.
St. John Vianney is one of my favourite saints, and I like to think of him quietly egging me on when I'm having problems getting stuff organised for the Chrism Mass demo (and the problems always seem to dissolve when I turn to him!)
6 comments:
Mac:
Fr. Mark (Vultus Christi) being half Italian, has a reliable translation of the bulletin item as well as the statement the HF made to the Congregation for the Clergy this morning. These are on Fr's two monst recent posts.
Cheers,
J.
btw, they say 150 years. I thought St. John Vianney died in 1855 which makes it 154 on August 4th, not today or June 19th. Has someone changed his heavenly birthday whilst I wasn't looking?!
Just checked again. 1859 it was, but the first Italian sentence still makes it sound as if today or June 19th is the actual anniversary. I think Papa b. has got them in such a tizz they don't know what day it is!
Mac,
Could you please explain the term, "secular clergy". Or were you joking?
Rosemary in the U.S.A.
Rosemary - "Secular clergy" simply refers to priests who are ordained by the diocese, as opposed to priests in religious orders...
;-)
Thank you. I hadn't heard the term before, and thought you were perhaps referring to clergy who were left-leaning and more political than religious. We have a lot of those in the United States, but thankfully not many in the "wilds of Missouri".
;)Rosemary
In my book anything is an improvement over "The year of St Paul." but I'm delighted it's a year for the priests.
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