Vatican releases annual letter to priests
April 27, 2012
The Congregation for the Clergy has released its annual letter to priests in preparation for the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, which is commemorated on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The letter--whose themes include the Year of Faith, the New Evangelization, and the “faults committed by some who have brought shame upon the priesthood before the world”--concludes with the following exhortation:
Today’s world, with its ever more painful and preoccupying lacerations, needs God--the Trinity--and the Church has the task to proclaim Him. In order to fulfill this task, the Church must remain indissolubly embraced with Christ and never part from Him; it needs saints who dwell “in the heart of Jesus” and are happy witnesses of God’s Trinitarian love. And in order to serve the Church and the world, priests need to be saints!
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Posted by: koinonia -
Apr. 28, 2012 2:47 PM ET USA
500 years ago Luther visited Rome to renew his wavering faith. What he found was so disturbing he was just reinforced in his conviction that the Church was corrupt. Corruption is nothing new to the Church. This is understood. "In order to fulfill this task, the Church must remain indissolubly embraced with Christ and never part from Him; it needs saints..." This point must be driven home at every level- especially that of priest- for the Church to fulfill Her mission, the salvation of souls.
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Posted by: koinonia -
Apr. 27, 2012 10:54 PM ET USA
This conclusion is most welcome and despite its refreshing simplicity, it's most powerful. Driving safely is extremely important as well, but the importance of priestly sanctity in today's day and age and our need for the Holy Trinity is perhaps the more relevant message. It is most welcome.
