One Big New Year's Resolution: Pray for Priests!

While browsing the Catholic news sites I came across an interesting bit of news. Fr. Corapi has disappeared from the internet. His Black Sheepdog website is gone and he no longer has a presence on Facebook. Patrick Madrid posted a short comment hoping that Father has reconciled with his religious order, S.O.L.T. I echo that hope.

Thinking about Fr. Corapi brought to mind all the priests who have touched my life over the years: the priests who gave me the sacraments, heard my confessions, counseled me during crises, etc. I also thought about the priests who failed: those who preach heresy and dissent, the pastor who left to marry and the associate who left to immerse himself in the Dupont Circle lifestyle, the one who fled to the Episcopal priesthood, and the one who stole another man's wife and family before he went out the door.

Priests are every bit as susceptible to the temptations of the flesh as the rest of us. And, in fact, I once read that Satan has a special corps of shock troops to go after priests because a fallen priest often brings down others with him. As Jesus said, when the shepherd is struck, the sheep scatter.

So, all you concerned Catholics and others of good will, let us make one of our resolutions to pray and make sacrifices for priests. Many of them live lonely lives. They often are castigated by parishioners for their flaws and condemned for preaching the truth. A former pastor of mine carried a thank-you note around in his missal from a parishioner who had the wisdom and courtesy to be grateful. Wouldn't it be wonderful to write one note a month to a priest or minister who has made a difference in your life. That would truly make 2012 a year of favor from the Lord. Gratitude is one of those virtues (along with obedience, humility, and fear of the Lord) that provide the rockbed foundation of the spiritual life.

Excuse me, gotta go write a thank-you note to a priest.

Prayer for Priests

Pray for Priests through the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Today is the first day of the year dedicated by the Holy Father to priests. And what an appropriate day for it to begin, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is also the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean Vianney, patron saint of parish priests. Wow! What a double whammy of grace. Make that a triple whammy. St. Jean Vianney had great devotion to the Blessed Mother who has a special love for her priests. What a powerful intercessor she is and how wonderful when a priest knows it and calls on her to pray for himself and his sinful flock.

Here's what St. Jean says about her: The heart of this good Mother is all love and mercy; she desires only to see us happy. We have only to turn to her to be heard. The Son has His justice, the Mother has nothing but her love. God has loved us so much as to die for us; but in the heart of Our Lord there is justice, which is an attribute of God; in that of the most Holy Virgin there is nothing but mercy. Her Son being ready to punish a sinner, Mary interposes, checks the sword, implores pardon for the poor cviminal. "Mother," Our Lord says to her, "I can refuse you nothing. If Hell could repent, you would obtain its pardon."

...All that the Son asks of the Father is granted Him. All that the Mother asks of the Son is in like manner granted to her. When we have handled something fragrant, our hands perfume whatever they touch: let our prayers pass through the hands of the Holy Virgin; she will perfume them.

Pray every day for holy priests during this special year dedicated to them. They are under constant attack by the evil one for good reason. A holy priest can bring many souls to God. A bad priest puts his flock on the fast track to hell.