Priests & Brothers
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Faith on Thursday, June 25, 2009 8:52 PM
I am truly touched by a letter Archbishop Dolan of New York sent his priests recently.
The Whispers in the Loggia blog had both the letter and this photo of the Archbishop at an ordination today.
In one sense it’s just a letter making some basic announcements. But I admire the Archbishop’s effort to truly shepherd and befriend his own men. It called to mind Cardinal Stafford’s remark last July that part of the aftermath of the terrible dissent against Humanae Vitae was a destruction of the fraternal charity and brotherhood of the priesthood.
It’s a lonelier life now, or can be, thanks to faction. How wonderful, then, to see a bishop trying to create that sense of fraternity again. I hope that will be one of the fruits of this Year of the Priest.
Which reminds me: have you read the Holy Father’s letter to priests for the opening of this special year? Beautiful!
You might also enjoy reading his homily on the occasion of the beginning of the Priestly Year, which took place on the feast of the Sacred Heart.
And if you like me get giddy with Benedict-ine texts, here’s the short talk he gave yesterday at the weekly Audience on the topic.
There’s a treasury of graces available for praying for priests in various ways this year. (I’m especially drawn to the practice of attending mass on the first Thursday of the month for that intention). Our own bishops’ conference has some resources you might like too, including a beautiful download-able prayer card.
One last thing. We all know what a hard decade this has been for priests. So many good men striving to be holy and serving us tirelessly have had to bear so much shame equally with their tepid or fallen brethren, and it takes its toll. I was almost shocked last week when popular blogger Fr. Zuhlsdorf humbly relayed how much it meant to him when a stranger greeted him in a friendly way in an airport. If that little gesture meant so much to Fr. Z, who has thousands of admirers all over the world, what would it mean for priests tucked away in isolated parishes or hidden ministries?
How is your parish or diocese observing the year for priests? Do you have any personal initiatives?
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