World Priest Day Theme
Blessed John Paul II established that, on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the Church will observe the World Day of prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.
In 2002, the Catholic Church announced a special annual world priest day, a day of prayer for the sanctification of priests to be held on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The 2010 to 2011 ''Year of The Priests'' was a tremendous success worldwide. We are most grateful to all who participated in making this year of prayer such a special gift to all priests.
We strongly encourage each and every one of the faithful to begin, if not already doing so, to pray for our priests today - this day, this very moment - in preparation through prayer, celebration of the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, so that the 15th June 2012 will be an even greater celebration of the priesthood of Jesus Christ worldwide.
download the 2012 World Priest Day poster (pdf)
60-HOUR ADORATION TO MARK POPE'S 60 YEARS AS A PRIEST
Benedict XVI Celebrates Anniversary on June 29
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 21, 2011 (Zenit.org).- The Congregation for the Clergy is inviting the faithful to mark Benedict XVI's 60th anniversary as a priest this June 29 with 60 hours of prayer.
The intention proposed by the congregation, according to L'Osservatore Romano, is the sanctification of priests and to obtain from God the gift of new and holy vocations.
A note signed by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza and Archbishop Celso Morga Iruzubieta, prefect and secretary of the congregation, notes that the anniversary is a "particularly propitious" occasion to draw near to Benedict XVI, and to express to him gratitude, affection, and communion in the service of God and his Church and, above all, in that "shining of the Truth on the world," which he calls us to.
The hours of adoration can be continuous or distributed throughout the month of June and are addressed in particular to involve priests, the letter suggests.
The congregation proposed that the prayer vigil can culminate on July 1, feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Day of Prayer for Priests.
"Thus homage could be rendered to the Pontiff with an extraordinary wreath of prayer and of supernatural unity, capable of showing the real center of our lives, from which every missionary and pastoral effort derives, and the authentic face of the Church and of her priests," the prelates reflected.
The Congregation for the Clergy then indicated some guidelines for the prayer, particularly centered on the Apostle Peter. It suggested Gospel passages from John 20 and 21 and Matthew 16.
In addition to praying for the Pope's life, health, happiness and protection from every evil, the faithful are asked to pray for bishops, priests, deacons and all ministers of the Gospel, that they may be faithful to their vocation and their self-giving, and to remember the Church, vocations, the laity and deceased priests.