On this day, the feast of St Mary Magdalene, in 1534, Blessed Pierre Favre celebrated his first Mass. Favre was the first of the Companions of St Ignatius of Loyola, soon to become the Jesuits, to be ordained priest. In this second article of a series marking the Church’s ‘Year of the Priest’, French theologian Bernard Sesbouee SJ explains how the specifically Jesuit model of priesthood evolved and was ‘confirmed and enriched’ by the teaching of the Second Vatican Council. [Read more…] about Priesthood in the Society of Jesus
Jesus our Priest
The Year of St Paul has ended and we have now begun the Year of the Priest, which will be marked on Thinking Faith with a series of articles and reflections. In an extract from a new anthology on priesthood, Gerry O’Collins SJ shares some thoughts on the priesthood of Christ, as understood by Paul, and considers how ordained ministry continually draws on aspects of Christ’s priesthood. [Read more…] about Jesus our Priest
Pope Benedict Proclaims a Year for Priests
On the forthcoming Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday 19 June 2009 – a day traditionally devoted to prayer for the sanctification of the clergy –, I have decided to inaugurate a “Year for Priests” in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the “dies natalis” of John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests worldwide. This Year, meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world, will conclude on the same Solemnity in 2010. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus”, the saintly Curé of Ars would often say.
Complete letter: Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedicat XVI Proclaiming a Year for Priests on the 150th Anniversary of the “Dies Natalis” of the Curé of Ars.