In today's General Audience, the Holy Father spoke of the link between the recently concluded Pauline Year and the newly begun Year of Priests, particularly mentioning St. Jean-Baptiste Marie (John Mary) Vianney. The Daily Bulletin has the Italian text with summaries in several languages. Vatican Information Service has an English language press release with quotations. Benedetto XVI Forum has photos. Zenit has a full translation.
Here is the Holy Father's English language summary:
"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."
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