Benedict XVI on the Most Precious Blood
Yesterday, after praying the Angelus, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the Precious Blood of Christ. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the...
One Who Prays Is Never Alone
Here is a translation of the Holy Father’s teaching during yesterday’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square. He continues to foster a fruitful celebration of...
“What a frightening thing to be a priest!”
The Holy Father is elucidating his plan for The Year of the Priest. Here is his Wednesday audience: Dear brothers and sisters, The Heart of...
Votive Mass of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest
The Initiative of Pope Pius XI With the beginning of the Annus Sacerdotalis, a number of people have asked me about the Votive Mass of...
Saint Pio: Model of Priestly Holiness
Like all great men of God, Padre Pio had himself become prayer, soul and body. His days were a living rosary, that is, a continuous...
The Priesthood is the Love of the Heart of Jesus
LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI PROCLAIMING A YEAR FOR PRIESTS ON THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE “DIES NATALIS” OF THE CURÉ OF ARS...
Saint Ephrem said . . .
Honour the priests with diligence, as good stewards of the household. Give due honour to their degree, and search not out their doings. In his...
Priests Called to Conversion of Life
The Letter to Priests Archbishop Mauro Piacenza’s letter should be communicated without delay to all priests. He invites priests to prepare for the opening of...
For the Sanctity of Priestly Life
The image is Adé Béthune’s Christ the Priest. The vine and branches of John 15:1-8 surround the wood of the Cross. Christ is depicted in...
The Old Man Who Gives You Flowers
And, for Mother’s Day, another touching excerpt from E. Boyd Barrett’s autobiographical A Shepherd Without Sheep: In spite of his rebellion, his confusion of mind,...
Has No One Condemned You?
In A Shepherd Without Sheep (Bruce Publishing, 1956), E. Boyd Barrett, who left the priesthood in stormy circumstances and, after twenty years, was reconciled, and...
I will cure their wounds
I am reading the Italian translation of Sacerdotes di Cristo, texts of Conchita Cabrera de Armida, selected and presented with a theological introduction by Juan...
Towards the Year of the Priest
In his 1986 Holy Thursday Letter to Priests, Pope John Paul II wrote: The Mass was for John Mary Vianney the great joy and comfort...
Venite, benedicti Patris mei
Wednesday of Pascha Come, you blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom, alleluia prepared for you since the foundation of the world, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia...
Hoc Est Hodie
Pope Benedict XVI is a master of mystagogical catechesis. This homily for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper probes the words of institution and consecration...
The Origins of the Priesthood in the Church
I am in awe of the Holy Father’s homilies at the Chrism Mass and at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. These are inspired words....
Let us love the friends of the King
This 15th century painting of the miraculous Mass of Pope Saint Gregory the Great is in the Church of Sant’Andrea in Palermo, Sicily. Above, we...