During the Year for Priests, the Pope profoundly meditated the connection between prayer and the priesthood, seeing it as an essential part of a priest's life and mission. According to Archbishop Piacenza, the secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, the Mass is the most excellent prayer that a priest can offer."In the celebration of the Mass, which is the summit, the climax, of all acts of worship, prayer and sacrifice, priests are configured. So, if I had to ask what a priest is, I would first of all have to look at the mystery of the Eucharist, that is, the mystery of the Cross, which is obviously represented in the mystery of the Eucharist."Archbishop Piacenza explained that since a priest acts "in persona Christi" during the mass -- that is, it is Christ Himself who is present and acting - it is in this prayer that a priest is closest to Christ and exercises his most sacred ministry. Nevertheless, the prelate did not overlook other forms of prayer, such as the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic adoration."In the midst of everyday activities, adoration is an extremely fruitful moment."He also mentioned praying the rosary and meditating the Word of God, and connected prayer with priests' pastoral activity, because the prayers of ordained ministers, as well as their pastoral commitment, have but one goal in the end: to bring people to Christ."It is He who must preach; it is He who must listen to confessions; it is He who must celebrate, Jesus Himself.  Prayer, we could say, helps priests to fulfill what St. John Baptist said, 'He must increase while I must decrease.'"

During the Year for Priests, the Pope profoundly meditated the connection between prayer and the priesthood, seeing it as an essential part of a priest's life and mission. According to Archbishop...leggi tutto