Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus . . .

On today's solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of the clergy.

In a Letter to Priests from the Vatican given on the Solemnity of the Annunciation this year, Cardinal Piacenza and Archbishop Iruzubieta write, 

" The expression found in Scripture 'This is the will of God: your holiness!' (1Thess. 4:3), though addressed to all Christians, refers to us priests in particular, for we have accepted the invitation to "sanctify ourselves" and to become "ministers of sanctification" for our brothers."

Please join me today in praying for all priests:

O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church:
Grant it love and the light of Your Spirit,
And give power to the words of Priests
so that hardened hearts might be brought to repentance and return to You, O Lord.
Lord, give us holy Priests;
You yourself maintain them in holiness.
O Divine and Great High Priest,
may the power of Your mercy
accompany them everywhere and protect them
from the devil's traps and snares
which are continually being set for the soul of Priests.
May the power of Your mercy,
O Lord, shatter and bring to naught
all that might tarnish the sanctity of Priests,
for You can do all things.

Amen.

(Sr Faustina Kowalska)