 
February 2010
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Benedict XVI announces special year for priests, warns of ‘dilution’ of priestly ministry
 Pope Benedict XVI / St. Jean Vianney
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.- Meeting with members of the Congregation for Clergy this morning, the Holy Father announced that the Church will celebrate a special year for priests beginning on June 19, 2009. The year will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean Vianney, Cure of Ars. Pope Benedict received representatives from the congregation’s full assembly, which is currently focused on how the three offices (tre munera) of the priest make him a missionary within the Church. In his address, the Pontiff emphasized the constant struggle for moral perfection that dwells “in every truly priestly heart.” In support of this tendency toward spiritual perfection, the Holy Father announced that he has “decided to call a special ‘Year for Priests’ which will run from June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010.” He noted that the year also marks the “150th anniversary of the death of the saintly 'Cure of Ars', Jean Marie Vianney, a true example of a pastor at the service of Christ's flock." The Pope will inaugurate the Year on June 19 by presiding at Vespers in St. Peter's Basilica, where the relics of the 'Cure of Ars' will be brought for the occasion by Bishop Guy Bagnard of Belley-Ars, France. During the course of the Year, Benedict XVI will proclaim St. Jean Marie Vianney as the patron saint of all the priests of the world. A "Directory for Confessors and Spiritual Directors" will also be published, as will a collection of texts by the Holy Father on essential aspects of the life and mission of priests in our time. The year will close June 19, 2010, with Pope Benedict presiding at a "World Meeting of Priests" in St. Peter's Square. Speaking to the Congregation for Clergy, the Holy Father also mentioned the ecclesial communal, hierarchical and doctrinal dimensions that are “absolutely indispensable for any authentic [priestly] mission,” and which guarantee “spiritual effectiveness.” He explained that the mission is ecclesial “because no-one announces or brings themselves, ... but brings Another, God Himself, to the world. God is the only wealth that, definitively, mankind wishes to find in a priest.” "The mission is 'communal',” he continued, “because it takes place in a unity and communion which only at a secondary level possess important aspects of social visibility.” He added that the “'hierarchical' and 'doctrinal' dimensions emphasize the importance of ecclesiastical discipline (a term related to that of 'disciple') and of doctrinal (not just theological, initial and permanent) formation." The Pope also stressed the importance of priestly formation which must maintain “communion with unbroken ecclesial Tradition, without pausing or being tempted by discontinuity. In this context,” he continued, “it is important to encourage priests, especially the young generations, to a correct reading of the texts of Vatican Council II, interpreted in the light of all the Church's doctrinal inheritance." In conclusion, the Holy Father warned of the “dilution” of priestly ministry. He explained that the without priests, “there would be no Eucharist, no mission” or the Church. “It is necessary then, to ensure that 'new structures' or pastoral organizations are not planned for a time in which it will be possible to 'do without' ordained ministry, on the basis of an erroneous interpretation of the promotion of the laity, because this would lay the foundations for a further dilution in priestly ministry, and any supposed 'solutions' would, in fact, dramatically coincide with the real causes of the problems currently affecting the ministry." Subscriber comments:
Published by: You
St. Paul, MN 07/14/2009 04:53 PM EST
The priest is called Father because he is primarily a spiritual Father, having been born from a spiritual Mother who is the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The priest re-presents the Person of Christ when he utters the words THIS IS MY BODY. This means that Christ founded and generated His Mystical Body, the Church, as the God-Man who is not a God-woman. The same is true for those who are called to re-present HIM. Because He is Risen, His words are eternal, making it possible to partake in the unbreakable continuity of His life-giving sacrifice.
Published by: me
nj 05/30/2009 07:25 PM EST
The problem in the Christian ranks has been the same sense the time of Calvin, a basic misunderstanding of the Priesthood of the Baptized. (notice I did not say the believers.) Until a deeper and fuller understanding of this most basic priesthood takes place, there is no real need or benefit to talk of the High Priesthood that the Christ chooses to share with a limited few, that He chooses.
Published by: val
NC 04/28/2009 11:53 AM EST
Let us pray for our priests and bishops
Published by: Mary Kay
Boise, Idaho, USA 03/24/2009 01:05 PM EST  Rate: Regular
the Church would be well advised to study why it is losing so many people a year, particularly young people. Arguments in a hierarchal, tiered system at the expense of the laity only alienates. yes the clergy is extremely important--but rather than continue down this path of alienation (fewer and fewer accepting calls to vocational life, fewer and fewer identify as Catholic) we might pause and try to discern what the Holy Spirit is telling us: we have it wrong. If marriage is not the answer because it distracts from the obligations to lead why hasnt anybody seriously considered ORDAINING WOMEN?! The argument is long past and tired that suggests women lead a complementary, thus secondary, spiritual life to that of men.
Published by: Lisa
Oklahoma 03/24/2009 12:15 PM EST
The Church already makes provisions for a married priesthood. It's called the Anglican Use Pastoral Provision.
There are a few priests who are married within the Catholic Church who came to be priests through this provision. Whether or not priests are to remain celibate is up to the Church to decide--at one time it was a regular practice, now it is not. It is not for us to quibble about.
Published by: Choy
Holiday, Fl 03/23/2009 10:11 PM EST Rate: Excellent
We all know that our Lord Jesus Christ lived His life to the fullest and we who are being called are challenged to do the same. With this premise, I don't think celibate life is a hindrance for me to live my life to the fullest. I believe it will give me more freedom and opportunity to serve Him more and His church to the fullest in the way that He did. It is a life of unselfish love that I need to nourish everyday with my prayer and my personal relationship with Him who is the author of my vocation.
Published by: Joseph
USA 03/21/2009 06:39 AM EST
MArried priests are a legitimate element in the issue but beware: they bring their issues as well; issues well known to those who study the question and which will arise -even if not in the majority of cases or even only occassionally - and cause dificulty: spousal abuse, children and wives causing scandal (i.e. by choice of profession, promotion of opinions contrary to church teaching, etc.), adultry, messy divorce trials, conflict with church teaching on contraception and, inevitably, failure meet the hyped expectations or to solve the crisis of vocations. Married priests will be expected to "relate" better to those who are married. That is a fiction. On teh basis of that theory celebate priests would "related" better to anyone who is not married or who is divorced and - in accordance with church teaching - should be celebate. Understanding people and bringing to them teh person of Christ is not determined by marital state but by interior life. I dare say celebate priests have the advantage there. Finally, married priests have a great gift - provided they are truly priestly souls - they witness to the role of faith in everyday life and say "yes" to everyone who asks: "Is holiness for me?" But keeping eyes wide open is critical - they are subject to all the temptations of married men and they must be prepared to live a celebate life without hesitation should their spouse die or decide for whatever reason to abandon them, as will undoubtedly happen in some cases.
Published by: Faithful One
Renton, Wa 03/20/2009 01:47 PM EST
PRIESTS are so much in need of our prayers. Had we all listened to Our Lady of Fatima years ago, the world would not be in the situation it is now. She still tells us now in her apparitions. WHY do we not listen? PRAY for Priests, our Lady says. Pray, Pray, Pray. Pray for the Holy Father, pray for vocations to the clergy and the religious life. Pray that God will have mercy on this so chaotic, materialistic world !
Published by: Fr. Joachim
Nigeria 03/20/2009 07:31 AM EST
Those who like to use the historical argument of married priest in the first millennium will find it useful to read "Priestly Celibacy Today"
by Thomas McGovern. Married men received the priestly ordination but it never happened that men already ordained to the priesthood were allowed to marry.
Published by: joseph vas
Indore M.P.India 03/20/2009 12:25 AM EST
in showing the relavence of priesthood the Presnent Pontif has shown that priests are mediators between God and man. Surely the training for such mediation has to be relavent. in stresing the roll of a priest to be essential Pospe has given a clarion call to be ready for a deepening of this mission of a priest
fr. joseph vas svd
Published by: Barbara Dugan
Mission Viejo, CA, USA 03/19/2009 09:25 PM EST
Following Jesus is a life long task. "Sufficient unto the day is the grace thereof) Pray daily for our priests. Many suffer much.
Published by: GEORGE LATO
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 03/18/2009 03:00 PM EST Rate: Good
The Church should seriously reconsider the question of whether to allow married priests or not. This need not be a divisive issue within the church. Here are a few points which cannot be lightly dismissed by those who oppose having married priests within the Catholic Church.
1. Jesus Christ never excluded married men from the priesthood. 2. For the first thousand years and more, the Catholic Church did have married priests. 3. The Eastern rite of the Catholic Church does allow married priests. 4. Married priests would bring a broader and enriching dimension to the priesthood. A married priest would be able to argue from experience and not just from a theoretical and academic standpoint, especially about issues relating to married life.
Published by: PNP, OP
Rome, Italy 03/18/2009 12:48 PM EST Rate: Very Good
Optional celibacy has done nothing to salvage the reputations or the numbers of ordained ministries of the Anglican Church, the Methodist Church, etc.
There is simply no good reason for the RCC to believe that allowing priests to marry will do anything for the Church other than what a married clergy has done to the Episcopalians and the Methodists, etc. The mass introduction of married priests into the Church would be a disaster. Fr. Philip, OP
Published by: Nathan
Washington, DC 03/18/2009 07:34 AM EST
I respect the Latin discipline of all priests of the Roman rite taking on a monastic life of dedicated celibacy. But the issues that these comments attempt to identify might be a bit confused. Clergy marrying and the presence of a married clergy are discrete issues, and in the East, the high monastic calling of witnessing to the angelic life of the Kingdom to come is not necessarily related to the priesthood.
In my Church, fully part of the Catholic Church and in communion with Rome though we have our faith from the apostles directly rather than via Rome as in the Latin rite, married clergy have always been the norm. As Catholic canon law states, "373. Clerical celibacy chosen for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and suited to the priesthood is to be greatly esteemed everywhere, as supported by the tradition of the whole Church; likewise, the hallowed practice of married clerics in the primitive Church and in the tradition of the Eastern Churches throughout the ages is to be held in honor. (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches)" For our sakes' as Eastern Catholics, don't make the issue of married priests a defining feature of-- and shibolleth in--modernist/traditionalist debates accross the entire Catholic Church.
Published by: Marlene Sarich
Terrace, BC, Canada 03/17/2009 12:52 PM EST Rate: Regular
Such narrow interpretation of Priest will continue the decline. As long as we have the Word, we will have Church. The refiners fire is happening. Sacraments will decline but we will survive these trials with the LIVING WORD. Catholics are also people of the book.
Published by: William Van Duzen
Sycamore, IL U.S.A. 03/17/2009 11:08 AM EST
In response to the comment by Mr. Cox,
The priest hood is a higher calling. It is a sacrifice for God where one gives up many of the pleasures of this life for great rewards in the next.It is an example of fidelity towards God in a society that worships and embellishes lust and all the pleasures of the flesh. Many examples of this are found in Sacred Scripture such as the sacrifice of Mary and "Joseph." Mr. Cox was obviously not called to the sacrament of holy orders but to the sacrament of matrimony.There is a shortage of clergy in all Christian faiths, whether they are allowed to be married or not.
Published by: Carmen
Wichita, KS USA 03/17/2009 10:50 AM EST
Mr. Cox I feel that our Priests should remain single, celibate and poor. Thier families would be a great distraction and tug on their hearts and obligations. Jesus did remain single.
I will pray for reverend and holy Priests this coming year.
Published by: Glen
Canada 03/17/2009 05:30 AM EST
The 'dilution of priestly ministry' has nothing to do with the definition of priest, but abuse by the laity. Too many parishes have self-serving laity who abuse doctrine by "pretending" to be a priest.
Published by: Blair
Connecticut 03/17/2009 02:47 AM EST
I don't think letting priests who walked out on their vows back into ministry is going to help stop the dilution. Rather the entry or more and more young, vibrantly orthodox candidates is the real sign of promise.
Published by: Barry Peratt
Winona, MN, USA 03/16/2009 09:25 PM EST Rate: Excellent
As for Gerald Cox's comment, I must admit that I am floored at the constant insistence of some that the all male, celibate priesthood is at the core of the current situation with the priesthood. This has not apparently been a problem for the last several centuries, so why suggest that it is now the main issue? No. The problem seems to be a spiritual one with many dimensions. However, if we look to those dioceses with a relatively large number of priests, we find vibrant orthodoxy every time. Vibrant orthodoxy is why EWTN took off and the effort put forth by some liberal, dissident bishops fell flat on its face. Apparently, among other things, the last 40 years have shown us that families and parishes led by discontents who bash the Church at every step tend to not produce many vocations. This makes sense, of course. As a young person being raised in such an environment, what would induce me to want to serve (or even remain in) a Church which I have been consistently told is essentially "wrong" about everything from contraception to the male priesthood to homosexuality and beyond? Thankfully, there is a significant core of us younger ones who have seen this nonsense for what it truly is and see the Church's teaching for what it is---liberating and life-giving. That is, if one stops whining long enough to seriously consider it!
Published by: parishioner
NY 03/16/2009 07:58 PM EST
The Church is in need of priests who are authentic witnesses to the Gospel. We were trained by our parents to have high regard for them and we truly respect them as people of God. It's quite disappointing that many are not true to their vocation because of their lifestyle.
I hope that this year will be a time of reflection especially to those who seem to be a stumbling block to the spiritual journey of the laity. To the lay faithful, let us continue to pray all the for holy and persevering priests, support them in their worthwhile projects and give them fraternal corrections when needed.
Published by: Kenjiro M. Shoda
Bala Cynwyd, Pa. USA 03/16/2009 07:04 PM EST
Comment #1 is way off base with this request. Sounds like the nonsense that was first voiced thirty years ago.
The Catholic Church doesn't want or need married priests...that would turn us into the same as Protestants with their "ministers" and their wives. And the idea of "women priests" is heresy, and a serious evil. The only way to restore the priesthood, is to restore the traditions and disipline that was in priestly and monastic life before Vatican II, and to restore traditional seminaries and teachings. But foremost of all, the Church must restore the True Mass (Tridentine Latin Mass). All reform and restoration will flow from it.
Published by: John Mendez
San Salvador 03/16/2009 04:51 PM EST
I agree. Let priests marry. There's nothing evil, wrong or sinful about it. Just let them have babies if they want to. Optional celibacy, that's the Biblical thing to do. LET PRIESTS HAVE BABIES!
Published by: Jamika
England 03/16/2009 04:08 PM EST
Gerald F. Cox, why is sex so important? Because pop culture and the media say so?
Perhaps you should be joining the Church of England, with its 'anything goes' attitude.
Published by: Jennifer
Denver/CO/USA 03/16/2009 04:06 PM EST
Priests have one bride - the Church. When the Church changes her stance on polygamy, I imagine she may reconsider the celibate priesthood as well. But I wouldn't hold your breath...
Published by: roberta
USA 03/16/2009 04:02 PM EST
When the priest says the words of consecration "This is my Body" I think of how the priest is also giving up HIS body as a living witness that there is another world beyond our physical dimension. He witnesses with his body and I am struck with gratitude for his sacrifice. the Church needs to understnad once again sacfrifice, suffering, the Cross, and THEN comes the Resurrection.
Published by: gerald F. Cox
Navarro,CA,USA 03/16/2009 03:13 PM EST Rate: Regular
The Holy Father and His Vatican have ample opportunity to recall thousands of former priests like myself to return to priestly ministry. These are those who are validly/sacramentally married or not married.
The "dilution" of priestly ministry will contim ue unless there is a radicasl accaptance of whast essentially defines a "priest". The dilution will continue as long as the Pope and the Vatican continue in their definition of a single, male, celibate as the only valid candidate for prisdthood.
Published by: Jack
NY 03/16/2009 01:32 PM EST
Priests need to be available for confession on a regualr basis. At least one or two hours a day is when a priest should be hearing confessions. It's either once a week or twice.
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