LETTER TO BISHOPS   

Sorel-Tracy, October 15, 2008

 

Excellency:

Which bishop does not like to have good and holy priests at his side to work in his diocese? Which priest has not as his ideal to become the best possible priest who is latent in him and can be developed with God’s grace? What is the greatest need of society if not spiritual leadership?

Better and holier priests means greater influence on parishes and organizations, on economics and politics, on intellectual life and sports, etc., in one word on the whole of society. That is a worthy purpose to pray for and to commit oneself to. Better and holier priests stands for better and holier lay people.

There are several methods to pray for priests in a committed way: (1) a monthly prayer calendar; (2) an Internet campaign; (3) a one-day-per-month commitment; (4) a one-hour-per-week adoration; (5) a prayer booklet; (6) a diocesan folder; (7) a prayer card at the back of a picture; and so on.

The most practical and most efficient method of commitment and prayer I know is the Daisy Movement because it is a “Adopt A Priest Program” (AAPP), a spiritual adoption of a priest through prayer.

There are several reasons: (1) the more direct and the more personal link between the priest and his prayer partners; (2) the special characteristic of the spiritual adoption of the priest by his Petals through prayer; (3) the regular recurrence of weekly offering and prayer for the adopted priest; (4) a commitment promised for life; (5) the priest knows who prays for him each day of the week and the Petal knows that the priest knows it; (6) priest and lay people form a spiritual family.

Moreover, the ideas and principles of the Daisy Movement (Adopt A Priest Program) -- which exists already 27 years -- resemble much those of a recent document issued by the Congregation for the Clergy (December 8, 2007) entitled Adoration for Priests, even though the vocabulary is not always the same; see www.clerus.org/clerus/dati/2007-12/07-999999/Adoration_for_priests.pdf.

You will find enclosed a “Prayer for the Growth and Spreading of the Daisy Movement”. It is available in six (6) languages on the Internet, from which you can download it. Or you can order the printed 40-page booklet in English or French from me. It is free. However, any gift to help us to pay for printing and distribution costs will be gratefully accepted.

You can find information on the Daisy Movement at

www.paxetbonum.net/daisy.html (in English)

www.paxetbonum.net/marguerite.html (in French).

 

Praying for priests is important. They will make the Church (diocese, parish) a holier people of God. Let us choose the best method available.

I pray with you and for you.

Respectfully yours,

 

Francis de Ruijte, ofm
95, chemin Sainte-Anne
Sorel-Tracy, QC  J3P 1J6
E-mail: Francis.de.Ruijte@paxetbonum.net
Phone: (450) 742-7299
Fax: (450) 743-7666