Signs of the Times  

 
  Pope Benedict XVI has declared a "Year for Priests" beginning with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19th.  The year will conclude in Rome with an international gathering of priests with the Holy Father in 2010.  With the announcement of this Year for Priests, the Pope has declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Cure of Ars.
    Following is an excerpt from Butler's Lives of the Saints about St. John Vianney (Patron saint of Confessors/Priests):
     "...was born in Dardilly, France and was ordained in Grenoble in 1815...like and angel from heaven he entirely renewed the condition of his neglected and forgotten parish.  Continually engaged for many hours daily in hearing confessions and in giving spiritual direction, he introduced the frequent reception of the Eucharist and organized pious sodalities; and in a remarkable manner, he inspired into souls a tender devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  And deeming that it was his duty to expiate the sins of the flock accredited to him, he spared neither prayers, nor vigils, nor mortifications and continual fastings.
      Since Satan could not endure such great virtues in this man of God, he assailed him.  First, with mere annoyances, and afterwards, in open combat; but the holy priest endured even the most malevolent injuries.  He was very often asked by the neighboring priests to labor for the salvation of souls after the manner of the Missionaries, either by preaching sermons, or by hearing confessions, and he was always at hand in every case."
      Please pray for our priests that they might always be faithful to their sacred calling.




       "In the realm of nature, a mystery is a truth not understood, which, one believes withal because one sees it.  In the sphere of religion, a mystery is a truth not understood, which one believes because God has revealed it."                                           Fr. A. Butler