Pope Supports 'Spiritual Moms' for Priests

The initiative was announced last Dec. 8 by the prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy.

VATICAN CITY (Zenit) - Benedict XVI gave his support to an initiative from the Congregation for Clergy that called for spiritual mothers for priests and Eucharistic adoration for their sanctity.

The Pope, who repeatedly stressed the need for holy priests during his trip to the United States last week, expressed his approval of this project promoted by the Vatican's clergy dicastery.

In a letter sent to the congregation through the Holy Father's secretary of state, the Pope expressed his "personal satisfaction to the Congregation of the Clergy for the initiative [...] titled 'Eucharistic Adoration for the Sanctification of Priests and Spiritual Maternity,' which is currently spreading throughout the world."

The note further assured that the Pontiff is "grateful for the thoughtful action and the sentiments that the congregation has suggested, and hopeful that the love and devotion to the Eucharistic Lord and devotion to Mary, Mother of Christ the High Priest, might give new fervor to the life and the apostolate of priests."

Benedict XVI imparted his apostolic blessing "as a seal of that hope," the congregation reported.

The initiative was announced last Dec. 8 by the prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Cláudio Hummes and Mauro Piacenza, respectively.

It called for people willing to begin and maintain 24-hour Eucharistic adoration for the priesthood and for "consecrated feminine souls" ready to become spiritual mothers of priests.

The Web site from the dicastery offers explanations and resources both for the campaign to begin Eucharistic adoration and for those who would like to be spiritual mothers of priests, following the example of the Virgin Mary.