Year For Priests
((19 June
2009 to 11 June 2010)
Aid to the
Church in
“To support
priests is a priority of ACN, in particular in countries where the church is
threatened or persecuted. There they expect truly our support, both materially
and spiritually.“ ACN in
“In the
countries in which the Church is suffering, we can say that the priests expect
the spiritual advantages above all”, Marc Fromager, director of the ACN, observes.
He adds:
“We receive daily letters from bishops and priests who ask us not to forget
them in our prayers. We assure them that not only of our prayers but also that
of many others. That is why we launch this special action of spiritual
sponsorship.”
Thus ACN
proposes: “This means concretely that we commit ourselves to pray daily for a
particular priest,” during the Year For Priests ending on June 11, 2010 at the
solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
If you want
to sponsor a priest, please contact ACN. You will then receive free of charge a
prayer card with the first name of the priest and the name of his country.
“They
expect your prayer, which is the most precious gift! Thank you on their
behalf!” concludes Marc Fromager.
ACN-France
29, rue du Louvre, 78750 Mareil-Marly, France
Phone: ++ 33 (0) 1.39.17.30.10
E-mail: aed@aed-france.org
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Sponsoring
a priest
The priests
of the suffering Church need your prayer!
Pray in
particular for one of them by requesting your prayer card which will indicate
the priest’s first name and his country.
Prayer for priests
Father,
I pray for your priests, for all your priests.
I ask you that they may become holy.
I ask you that they may deeply love their
sacrifice and that they may live it lovingly.
I ask you that they may be obedient, have the
spirit of detachment, an demonstrate
invariable and limpid chastity, and also reveal self-denial, have humility, kindness,
zeal, dedication.
I ask you that no one will meet them without
loving you more.
I ask you, Father, that they promote devotion
to Mary that show how much Mary is our Mother.
And that it be so and that your kingdom grow and become stronger through them on earth, I promise you, Jesus, to
immolate [= sacrifice] myself holeheartedly with you.
Amen.
Source:
wwww.aed-france.org and prayer card
At the
occasion of the Year For Priests (June 19, 2009 to June 11 2010), I commitment
myself to pray this prayer daily for (first name of a priest; country).
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Mareil-Marly,
September 2009
Message of
Marc Fromager, national director of Aid to the church in
Commitment
to pray for a priest
Dear
Friends:
At the
occasion of the Year For Priests established by pope Benedict XVI, Aid to the
church in Need (ACN) proposes to its benefactors a special mission of prayer for
priests in need. Bishops of the whole world call upon us to support priests not
only materially but also spiritually. 3,183 priests are presently helped by ACN
on the five continents and their number increases constantly.
Because you
have understood the importance of this mission you have committed yourself to
pray daily for one of these priests until June 11, 2010. His first name and his
country are mentioned on the included prayer card.
This
sponsorship binds the two of you together by an indestructible bond that will
remain in God’s heart. Your prayer support is like an anchor that provides him
with strength and comfort in his ministry.
On behalf
of all the priests who will benefit of the benefactors’ prayers of ACN, we
express all our thanks .
Respectfully
yours,
Marc Fromager,
national director of ACN, France
29, rue du Louvre
78750 Mareil-Marly
France
Phone: 01 39 17 30 10
Fax: 01 39 17 30 19
Courriel: aed@aed-france.org
Site internet: www.aed-france.org
Catholic association
recognized by the Holy See, associate member of the National Council of Solidarity
of the Bishops of France.
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The World
Congress of Priests that will conclude this Year For Priests will take place in
This
congress will end the Year For Priests,
called at the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Saint
Curé d’Ars. The Roman Congregation, in a letter dated August 14, [2009]
indicated that the general theme will be that of faithfulness: “Faithfulness of
Christ, faithfulness of priests”.
Texts
translated from the French by Francis de Ruijte, September 2009
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The beauty
of the Priesthood
Speaking
about the priesthood is speaking about simple and so beautiful life of millions
of young people who, worldwide, grew up like all the others and played with
their companions, laughed, sung, danced.
Speaking
about the priesthood is speaking about hearts capable of venturing into the
invisible, capable to see beyond appearances the beauty which is there and
which invites only to flourish.
3Speaking
about the priesthood is speaking about the capacity to hear, among the
multitude of voices of the world, the voice of God. Not one voice, but the
silence that moves forwards like a river of love and that is an urgent calling:
Come, follow me…
4Speaking
about the priesthood is speaking about a mad desire, inexplicable in words, to
answer to this secret calling. It is risking one’s life in what seems to be
madness in human eyes, but which, fortunately, is wisdom in God’s eyes.
5Speaking
about the priesthood is speaking about a total abandonment to God’s will…
because at twenty of age one does not know what it is to be a priest. In fact,
a whole life is not enough to learn it. It is to abandon oneself as a weak and
sinful man in the hands of one’s Redeemer in order that, becoming a servant of
the Servant par excellence, the Eternal Living One can speak to his children, touch
them and save them.
6Speaking
about the priesthood is speaking about fatherhood. It is becoming a father, not
in a regular family, but to become it from one encounter to another. It is
becoming a listener and compassionate man when his children of all ages rejoice
or suffer. It is becoming open so that they may find back the way to the house
even in the mist and impenetrableness of the night . It is keeping oneself
ready in prayer and compassion of the heart, to bear like Simon of Cyrene their
daily cross.
7Speaking
about the priesthood is speaking about service, for one does not become a
priest for oneself but for others. For all others, no matter what is their
race, their culture, their life’s choices. The priest is dressed for service
for the child presented for baptism as well as for the dying person who enters
into joy.
8Speaking
about the priesthood is speaking about the dignity and the greatness of human
life. It is speaking about the joy which is being offered without ceasing and
which asks only to be shared at the tables of the world and of the bread.
Flowers
just for them
Speaking
about the priesthood is speaking about our brother priests, and one year is
little to thank them and give them homage. So, why not present them with
flowers? Flowers as a sign of thanksgiving, as a sign of recognition for the
gift of their life. Not flowers to decorate the church at a wedding or a
funeral… No, flowers just for them. Through so much indifference and
misunderstanding, these flowers will have a particular smell, a smell which
they cannot forget.
Huguette
LeBlanc, National l Director of the Pontifical Missionary Work
L’Envoi(diocese of Saint-Hyacinthe), September 2009, page 11.
Translated
from the Frendch by Francis de Ruijte, 2009 October.
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Document
created: 2009 September 11.
Latest
update: 2009 October 13