One of my Twitter followers is a convert from the Baptist faith. Yesterday he tweeted that he thought Catholics spent alot more time 'whining' than protestants. That thought struck me because I was thinking that today is the day to start a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the intentions of World Priest Day on July 1. Because Easter was late this year, the Feast of the Sacred Heart is late and coincides with the Feast of the Precious Blood which is always on July 1.
I doubt that anyone would argue with the statement that the Catholic priesthood is increasingly under attack. As anyone who simply believes what the Catechism teaches, follows the Holy Father and lives out their faith knows, in 2011 that simple belief and practice raises the ire of many many people. More so for Catholic priests because, if they're living their priesthood, they are a "sign of contradicition", like Simeon called Jesus, whose very presence often convicts others of sin. As such, Catholic priests, in a sense, walk around with a target on their backs for the world, the flesh and the devil.
So, in considering beginning a novena today for our priests, bishops and Holy Father, I thought about all the Catholics who say, "Oh, I can't do novens, I always forget." or "I can't fast, it gives me a headache." or "The bishops are all corrupt, why should fast for them?" etc. I've heard all of these statements more than once and it reminds of my Twitter-friend's statement regarding Whiny Catholics. We don't have to be too prophetic to be able to state categorically that, as the 21st Century advances, orthodox Catholics need to step up to the plate, stop whining and start helping our parishes, our priests, our bishops and our Holy Father. One way to do that is to actively participate in any way we can--through rosaries, novenas, fasting etc--in order to help construct what charismatics call a "prayer cover" for those whom God has called to lead the Church during this tumultuous time.
Here is an excerpt and the website for World Priest Day with a lot of information. Please consider participating! http://www.worldpriestday.com/
Annual Day of Prayer for Priests
Blessed John Paul II has established that on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart the Church will observe the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.
In 2002, the Catholic Church announced a special annual world priest day, a day of prayer for the sanctification of priests to be held on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The 2009 to 2010 ‘’Year of The Priests’’ was a tremendous success worldwide. We are most grateful to all who participated in making this year of prayer such a special gift to all priests.
We are now especially interested in receiving messages from lay people young and old alike, to be viewed on line. We also ask priests to share their stories of ministry with their brother priests and the lay people of the world on line.
We strongly encourage each and every one of the faithful to begin if not already doing so to pray for our priests, today, this day this very moment, in preparation through prayer, celebration of the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, so that the 1st July 2011 will be an even greater celebration of the priesthood of Jesus Christ worldwide along with the new Annual Rosary Relay.
I doubt that anyone would argue with the statement that the Catholic priesthood is increasingly under attack. As anyone who simply believes what the Catechism teaches, follows the Holy Father and lives out their faith knows, in 2011 that simple belief and practice raises the ire of many many people. More so for Catholic priests because, if they're living their priesthood, they are a "sign of contradicition", like Simeon called Jesus, whose very presence often convicts others of sin. As such, Catholic priests, in a sense, walk around with a target on their backs for the world, the flesh and the devil.
So, in considering beginning a novena today for our priests, bishops and Holy Father, I thought about all the Catholics who say, "Oh, I can't do novens, I always forget." or "I can't fast, it gives me a headache." or "The bishops are all corrupt, why should fast for them?" etc. I've heard all of these statements more than once and it reminds of my Twitter-friend's statement regarding Whiny Catholics. We don't have to be too prophetic to be able to state categorically that, as the 21st Century advances, orthodox Catholics need to step up to the plate, stop whining and start helping our parishes, our priests, our bishops and our Holy Father. One way to do that is to actively participate in any way we can--through rosaries, novenas, fasting etc--in order to help construct what charismatics call a "prayer cover" for those whom God has called to lead the Church during this tumultuous time.
Here is an excerpt and the website for World Priest Day with a lot of information. Please consider participating! http://www.worldpriestday.com/
Annual Day of Prayer for Priests
Blessed John Paul II has established that on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart the Church will observe the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.
In 2002, the Catholic Church announced a special annual world priest day, a day of prayer for the sanctification of priests to be held on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The 2009 to 2010 ‘’Year of The Priests’’ was a tremendous success worldwide. We are most grateful to all who participated in making this year of prayer such a special gift to all priests.
We are now especially interested in receiving messages from lay people young and old alike, to be viewed on line. We also ask priests to share their stories of ministry with their brother priests and the lay people of the world on line.
We strongly encourage each and every one of the faithful to begin if not already doing so to pray for our priests, today, this day this very moment, in preparation through prayer, celebration of the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, so that the 1st July 2011 will be an even greater celebration of the priesthood of Jesus Christ worldwide along with the new Annual Rosary Relay.
