Year of the Priests

Dearest Ones,

When I see a priest, I think, "There is he who made me a child of God, and opened heaven to me by Baptism, he purified me after I had sinned by confession; and gives food to my soul in the Blessed Eucharist." Pope Benedict has called for a "Year of the Priests", beginning June 19, 2009 and ending June 19, 2010. June 19 was chosen because it is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 2009 is the 150th anniversary of St. John Vianney's death. St. John Vianney, a parish priest born in 1786 in France, is the patron saint of priests. John Vianney grew up in a poor family, making his living off the land. The heroes of his youth were those priests who refused to submit to the French revolutionary government, who risked their lives to celebrate Mass in secret in houses and barns of the faithful. He decided he wanted to imitate these holy martyrs who often gave their lives for Christ. Vianney's road to the priesthood was not an easy one. He found the studies very difficult and flunked test after test. Some thought he was not smart enough to be a priest. When he was finally ordained, he was given the very small parish of Ars, France. There was little faith among the people and hardly anyone came to Mass on Sundays. There were only 40 homes and four bars in this tiny town! When this holy priest first came to Ars, they wanted to drive him out because he challenged their way of life. They hated him. However, as they listened to his sermons, which stirred their hearts, they grew to love him. He became part of the village life. He visited each home. He helped each with their individual problems, even prescribed remedies for whooping cough, and when a tavern closed for lack of business, due to Vianney's preaching, he raised money for the owner to buy a farm, then tore the tavern down. Ars became transformed from a rough place, to a faithful town. Everyone attended the three-hour long Masses and prayed the Rosary as they worked in their fields. Fr. Vianney became a famous confessor who was loved. People came from all over the world to go to Confession to him, speak to him or hear him preach. Often, he knew what sins were in people's hearts, which they withheld from telling him. He ate and slept very little. The sick were brought to him and many were healed. Some nights he was tormented by the devil. His bed was even set afire and partially burned, due to the devil's power. Satan once revealed to him, that if there were just three men like him on earth, "Satan's kingdom would be gone." Some priests thought Vianney was not smart enough to be a priest, so they got a petition to be signed by other priests, which would forbid him to hear confessions. When Vianney heard about it, he told his Bishop he would be the first to sign it! He did not think he was worthy. That is real himility!!St. John had deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - maybe that's why to this day, his body remains incorrupt (it never decayed.) It can be seen in the church of Ars in France.

No matter who the priest is, no matter what faults he has, in our home, my Dad would never let us criticize a priest because a priest has the power to bring God down from heaven, when a piece of ordinary bread is changed into the Body of Jesus. That is why he is respected. My niece-in-law, Akemi, teaches her children to always thank the priest after he has said the Mass. I even saw her 3-year old running up to the priest, thanking him after Mass, which is something I don't always do. My nephew, Ed, in order to instill reverence for the Mass, teaches his children to always say "Holy Mass", instead of just saying Mass. I memorized this poem years ago, which I say if I am tempted to criticize a priest or hear others criticize one:

Keep them, I pray thee, dearest Lord,
Keep them for they are Thine,
Thy priests whose lives burn out
Before thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them for they are in the world
though from the world apart,
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure,
Shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them and comfort them,
In times of loneliness and pain,
When all of their life of sacrifice
For souls seem but in vain.
Keep them and O remember Lord,
They have no one but Thee,
But they have only human hearts
With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the host,
Which daily they caress,
Their every thought and word and deed,
Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.

It would be nice during this "Year of the Priests" to write a little note to the priest who baptized you, married you, buried your relatives, etc. Or maybe just a note to thank him for being a priest would be so appreciated. They need encouragement just like we all do. If someone is reading this, who is not Catholic, it would be good to write your pastor a note, too. Everyone needs appreciation.

In the Love of Jesus and Mary,
Sister Francelle