Who is a Priest?

A priest is a man, clothed in tenderness, who speaks of God’s mercy, who prophetically pronounces the truth, unpleasant though it might be and who reflects God’s love to a hurting world. Sometimes he is shoring up souls and sometimes he is breaking up concrete. He’s comforting the grieving and challenging the young. He’s soothing the dying and blessing the newborn.

In the 25 years since I founded Project Rachel, the post-abortion healing ministry of the Church, I have witnessed firsthand the gift that priests are to the world. I have seen the heart of the priest repeatedly. It is generous, compassionate, willing to sacrifice for others. Want to read more?…

Paul, Presbyters, Priests and Pastors

The image of priesthood with its ideal of priestly service has been shaped by the apostles, especially Paul, but the later form of priesthood differs in at least one significant way.

The apostle was a missionary figure founding communities, then moving on. Contact was maintained through letters, messengers and occasional visits. The priest who emerged in history was to be predominantly a residential figure living among the congregation for whom he cared. Want to read more?…

The Hiddenness of Priestly Life

‘In the daily rhythm of receiving and being given, the priest allows himself to be shaped by the ebb and flow of grace, alive in the rhythm of the Spirit breathing in him.’ As part of Thinking Faith’s series to mark the ‘Year of the Priest’, James Hanvey SJ describes how the life of a priest is shaped by the relationships to which he is committed, yet is characterised always by the mysterious surrender of himself to the life of the Church. Want to read more?…

A time to reflect on the meaning of ordained ministry

The Year of the Priest is intended to be first and foremost a time of prayer—by priests, with priests, and for priests. It involves the whole church, and benefits the whole church. We welcome Pope Benedict’s invitation. Want to read more?…

Song for Year for Priests

Chris Skinner has released a new CD single: “Give thanks to the Lord” a song celebrating the Year for Priests. Want to read more?…

The Cure of Ars and the Society of Mary

A little known fact, and a prompt to us as members of the Society of Mary today, is that none-other than the Cure of Ars[1] tried several times to retire to a Marist Community. Want to read more?…

Marist Messenger: The Year of the Priest

On the 19th of June, Pope Benedict inaugurated the Year of the Priest – a year of reflection and prayer on priesthood as a gift of God to the church and the world. Want to read more?…

Priesthood in the Society of Jesus

On this day, the feast of St Mary Magdalene, in 1534, Blessed Pierre Favre celebrated his first Mass. Favre was the first of the Companions of St Ignatius of Loyola, soon to become the Jesuits, to be ordained priest. In this second article of a series marking the Church’s ‘Year of the Priest’, French theologian Bernard Sesbouee SJ explains how the specifically Jesuit model of priesthood evolved and was ‘confirmed and enriched’ by the teaching of the Second Vatican Council. Want to read more?…

Jesus our Priest

The Year of St Paul has ended and we have now begun the Year of the Priest, which will be marked on Thinking Faith with a series of articles and reflections. In an extract from a new anthology on priesthood, Gerry O’Collins SJ shares some thoughts on the priesthood of Christ, as understood by Paul, and considers how ordained ministry continually draws on aspects of Christ’s priesthood. Want to read more?…

Pope Benedict Proclaims a Year for Priests

On the forthcoming Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday 19 June 2009 – a day traditionally devoted to prayer for the sanctification of the clergy –, I have decided to inaugurate a “Year for Priests” in celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the “dies natalis” of John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests worldwide. This Year, meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world, will conclude on the same Solemnity in 2010. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus”, the saintly Curé of Ars would often say.

Complete letter: Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedicat XVI Proclaiming a Year for Priests on the 150th Anniversary of the “Dies Natalis” of the Curé of Ars.