Pope Benedict designated June 19, 2009, the Solemnity of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus as the beginning of a year for Priests. He is doing this in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John vianney, a patron of priests. St. John vianney was a member of the Secular Franciscans. Praying for priests and asking God to bless them and strengthen them in their ministry is something dear to the Franciscans. St. Francis speaks of priests in his Testament:

God inspires me, too, and still inspires me with such great faith in priests who live according to the laws of the Holy Church of Rome, because of their dignity, that if they persecuted me, I should be ready to turn to themfor aid. And if Iwere aswise as Solomon and met the poorest priests of the world, I would still refuse to preach against their will in parishes where they live. I amdetermined to reverence, love and honor priests and others as my superiors. I refuse to consider their sins, because I can see the Son of God in them and they are better than I. I do this because in this world I cannot see the most high Son of God with my own eyes, except for his most holy Body and Blood which they receive and administer to others.

We, Franciscans, hear these words often as part of our prayer and reflection on the writings of 
St. Francis. In Holy Name Province, ministry to 
priests has been an important part of our 
service from the beginning. We have helped 
to establish a Seminary for the training of 
priests and many of the friars have worked 
there and in other seminaries in administration, 
teaching and formation. In our retreat ministry, 
we have always provided spiritual support and 
guidance to priests all over the world. Many 
friars are also spiritual directors and mentors to priests. Providing help to priests in parishes 
and other institutions for Masses, confessions, 
other sacramental and nonsacramental ministries happens every day.

These last years have not been easy for priests or 
the rest of the Church. pope Benedict thought 
that all of us could use a year that was set aside 
for priests to pray for them, give them an 
opportunity for renewal and encourage more 
people to answer the call to ministry. We, 
Franciscans, offer this prayer for priests as some- 
thing all of us can do to share in the Year for 
Priests. Join us, we can all do a lot of good with our prayer.