Priesthood

What joy to read of the Pope's calling for the Year of Priesthood, reported on zenit.org. This comes, I suppose not surprisingly, to me as great news indeed. Having just written a paper on the nature and mission of priesthood, I am even hopeful that we may get some encyclical or book on the priesthood from the Pope, over the coming year. I read that HH Pope Benedict will publish a book on St Paul in the coming weeks, to coincide with the year of St Paul. It is due out, according to Amazon, in the UK on 30th April and available to pre-order here. So a book on the priesthood is more than possible!

For those who, like me, are less than patient, then there is already a compilation of writings and speeches from the Pope on priesthood; see here. It is an excellent resource, and very readable. I love Benedict's clear writing style. Dare I say, so much easier to read than John Paul II. I love, too, the comment reported of Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange OP regarding Karol Wojtyla's doctoral thesis: "Writes much, says little". The Dominican was the pope-to-be's promoter.

On a final note of priesthood, perhaps you will join me in the words of St Thérèse de Lisieux, in praying for priests:

Prayer for Priests
by St. Therese of Lisieux

O Jesus, eternal Priest,
keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.
Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Your Sacred Body.
Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with your Precious Blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.
Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world's contagion.
Bless their labors with abundant fruit and
may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here and in heaven their beautiful and
everlasting crown. Amen.