Pope Benedict: Why a Year for Priests... why the 'Cure of Ars'?

'The priest is in Christ, for Christ and with Christ at the service of humankind' Pope Benedict XVI

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) - We were just getting ready to begin the Procession into the main sanctuary for the 11 AM Mass. Monsignor and I were finishing up a brief discussion concerning the Holy Father's Letter to Priests inaugurating this year dedicated to them. Right then he posed a question which led to the writing of this article.

I mouthed a quick response concerning the connection between the symbol of self- emptying love revealed in the Heart of Jesus and the Priest's vocation to be poured out in Christ for others which is so marvelously demonstrated in the life of the Cure of Ars. Then the Opening hymn began and we had to stop. I had the privilege of serving next to this man who lives that vocation and makes it real every time he approaches the altar and takes that position "In Persona Christi".

On Wednesday, June 24, 2009, someone far more able to answer that question than I could ever be, Pope Benedict XVI, did so in what promises to become one of a series of reflections from this theologian in the Chair of Peter throughout this special 'Year of the Priest.' He focused much of his General Audience on the reasons for his decision to inaugurate the Year of Priests last Friday, the day when the Western Church celebrates the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Pope Benedict explained the connection with the year coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the death of that humble champion of priests St. John Mary Vianney. He then tied all of it into ending a year set aside to honor and emulate the great Apostle Paul. Ever the teacher, Benedict XVI began with this question: "Why a Year for Priests?...And why should it recall the holy 'Cure of Ars' who apparently did nothing out of the ordinary?"

His answer was prophetic, underscoring the role of the Church in continuing the redemptive mission of the Savior until He returns. The Church always uses time as a tutor. As mother and teacher she invites the faithful to live it in all of its richness through entering into it and allowing it to be informed by the great events of the faith, "Divine Providence ordained that the figure [of St. John Mary Vianney] should be associated with that of St. Paul" because, "although the two saints followed very different life paths, ... these exists nonetheless a fundamental factor that unites them: their total identification with their ministry, their communion with Christ", said the Holy Father.

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"The aim of this Year for Priests is to support each priest's struggle towards spiritual perfection, 'upon which the effectiveness of his ministry particularly depends', and to help priests, and with them the entire People of God, to rediscover and revive an awareness of the extraordinary and indispensable gift of Grace which the ordained ministry represents, for the person who receives it, for the entire Church, and for the world which would be lost without the real presence of Christ.

"Although the historical and social conditions in which the 'Cure of Ars' worked have changed, it is right to ask how priests can imitate him by identifying themselves with their ministry in modern globalized societies", said the Pope. "In a world in which the common view of life leaves ever less space for the sacred, in place of which 'functionality' becomes the only decisive category, the Catholic concept of priesthood could risk losing its due regard, sometimes even in the ecclesial conscience".

The Pope addressed two views of priesthood, "which do not in fact contradict one another". On the one hand "a social-functional conception which identifies the essence of priesthood with the concept of 'service'. ... On the other hand there is a sacramental-ontological conception" which sees priestly ministry "as determined by a gift called Sacrament, granted by the Lord through the mediation of the Church. "What", the Pope asked, "does it mean for priests to evangelize? In what does the primacy of announcement exist? ... Announcement coincides with the person of Christ", he said, "a priest cannot consider himself as 'master' of the Word, but as its servant".

"Only participation in Christ's sacrifice... in His 'kenosis' (self emptying)" He continued "... and docile obedience to the Church ... makes (the) announcement authentic. ... Priests are Christ's servants, in the sense that their existence - ontologically configured to Him - have an essentially relational character. The priest is in Christ, for Christ and with Christ at the service of humankind. Precisely because he belongs to Christ, the priest is radically at the service of man".

Benedict XVI concluded by expressing his hope that "the Year for Priests may lead all the clergy to identify themselves completely with Christ Who died and rose again, so that, imitating St. John the Baptist, they may be ready 'to diminish' that He may grow; and that, following the example of the 'Cure of Ars', they may be constantly and profoundly aware of their mission, which is both sign and presence of the infinite mercy of God".

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There you go Monsignor. A great answer from a great and holy priest, our Holy Father Pope Benedict. And thank you for being a priest and making this mystery real as well to so many.

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