BENEDICT XVI
GENERAL
AUDIENCE
Saint Peter's Square
Wednesday, 1st July 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
There is a close link between
the Pauline Year, which concluded last Sunday, and the Church’s current
celebration of the Year for Priests. As we have seen,
Saint Paul, in his life and his writings, teaches us that the mystery of Christ
must stand at the very heart of our lives as individuals and as a community.
This is true in a very special way of priests. In Saint John Mary Vianney, the
patron saint of parish priests, we see a wonderful example of a priest whose
person was completely identified with his ministry. The priest’s personal
identity, grounded in his calling and his sacramental configuration to Christ,
may not be separated from his pastoral activity. Indeed, the ministry of every
priest is essentially “cultic”, in the fullest sense of the word: it is meant
to enable the faithful to offer their lives to God as a pleasing sacrifice (cf.
Rom 12:1). It is my hope that this Year for Priests will help all
priests to appreciate the immense grace of their vocation, consecration and
mission. During this Year may the whole Church pray and work more fervently for
the sanctification of priests, an increase of priestly vocations, and a greater
appreciation of the role of the priest in the life of the ecclesial community.
* * *
I offer a warm welcome to the
English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, including the pilgrimage
groups from England, Scotland, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Canada and the
United States. I thank the choirs for their praise of God in song. Upon all of
you I cordially invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace!
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Copyright 2009 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana