… a determined witness to the Gospel.  
In today’s world, as in the troubled times of the Curé of Ars, the lives and activity of priests need to be distinguished by a determined witness to the Gospel. As Pope Paul VI rightly noted, “modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”.[32] Lest we experience existential emptiness and the effectiveness of our ministry be compromised, we need to ask ourselves ever anew: “Are we truly pervaded by the word of God? Is that word truly the nourishment we live by, even more than bread and the things of this world? Do we really know that word? Do we love it? Are we deeply engaged with this word to the point that it really leaves a mark on our lives and shapes our thinking?”.[33] Just as Jesus called the Twelve to be with him (cf. Mk 3:14), and only later sent them forth to preach, so too in our days priests are called to assimilate that “new style of life” which was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and taken up by the Apostles.[34]
 
It was complete commitment to this “new style of life” which marked the priestly ministry of the Curé of Ars. Pope John XXIII, in his Encyclical Letter Sacerdotii nostri primordia, published in 1959 on the first centenary of the death of Saint John Mary Vianney, presented his asceticism with special reference to the “three evangelical counsels” which the Pope considered necessary also for diocesan priests: “even though priests are not bound to embrace these evangelical counsels by virtue of the clerical state, these counsels nonetheless offer them, as they do all the faithful, the surest road to the desired goal of Christian perfection”.[35] The Curé of Ars lived the “evangelical counsels” in a way suited to his priestly state. His poverty was not the poverty of a religious or a monk, but that proper to a priest: while managing much money (since well-to-do pilgrims naturally took an interest in his charitable works), he realized that everything had been donated to his church, his poor, his orphans, the girls of his “Providence”,[36] his families of modest means. Consequently, he “was rich in giving to others and very poor for himself”.[37] As he would explain: “My secret is simple: give everything away; hold nothing back”.[38] When he lacked money, he would say amiably to the poor who knocked at his door: “Today I’m poor just like you, I’m one of you”.[39] At the end of his life, he could say with absolute tranquillity: “I no longer have anything. The good Lord can call me whenever he wants!”.[40] His chastity, too, was that demanded of a priest for his ministry. It could be said that it was a chastity suited to one who must daily touch the Eucharist, who contemplates it blissfully and with that same bliss offers it to his flock. It was said of him that “he radiated chastity”; the faithful would see this when he turned and gazed at the tabernacle with loving eyes”.[41] Finally, Saint John Mary Vianney’s obedience found full embodiment in his conscientious fidelity to the daily demands of his ministry. We know how he was tormented by the thought of his inadequacy for parish ministry and by a desire to flee “in order to bewail his poor life, in solitude”.[42] Only obedience and a thirst for souls convinced him to remain at his post. As he explained to himself and his flock: “There are no two good ways of serving God. There is only one: serve him as he desires to be served”.[43] He considered this the golden rule for a life of obedience: “Do only what can be offered to the good Lord”.[44] – An excerpt from A Letter Proclaiming a Year for Priests by Pope Benedict XVI on June 16, 2009
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
Happy Easter! 
 
Today, I would like to continue reflecting upon the Letter of Pope Benedict XVI announcing the Year for Priests.  It is a rich reflection on the importance of priesthood, with a focus on the example of Saint John Vianney, the Patron of Priests.  The section quoted above, with its various quotes from Pope Saint Paul VI, Pope Saint John XXIII, and, many important words of, Saint John Vianney gives us a most needed insight on the virtues of the priest – one whose life is not a performance, show, or entertainment but rather the priest should be known to us by his own ‘determined witness to the gospel.’ 
 
No doubt, many priests fail in this regard – they grow stale or weak in their virtue, seeking only the esteem and praises of people.  Or, even worse, in lukewarm virtue they grow bitter caring the yoke of the cross and become disinterested in the Lord and his people.  No excuses, just a tragic observation.  For all the more reason, just as you would do for your spouse or a loved one who has difficulties or is in the midst of a challenge, I ask the laity to pray and fast for the holiness of their priests – encourage them to be priests who live for the Lord Jesus and model virtue for the People of God.  Your witness of charity – wanting only the best for the other – will bear tremendous spiritual fruit and inspire others, perhaps even other members of the laity, to live better lives.  Pray for your priests, that his heart will not desire the pleasures and comforts of this age but that he will only seek to follow Christ.  Our clergy, if there are faithful, will not be entertainers or politicians; rather, a good priest will give us ‘a determined witness to the gospel.’
 
For our reflection today, I included the virtues of Saint John Vianney.  Without a consideration of how this great ideal of the priesthood is lived, it becomes a fleeting pious thought.  Virtue transforms the gifts of God into moments of grace on earth.  Thus, we consider the ‘new style of life’ that is demanded from every priest, a live marked by: poverty, chastity, and obedience.  These virtues are the ‘Evangelical Councils’ – the wisdom of the Gospel – for all Christians, and form the traditional vows of Consecrated Religious.  In this way, supporting our priests means to encourage them in a simple, modest, and humble life.  Perhaps it is easier understood in the negative – be conscious of these virtues when offering a priest a gift or inviting him to an event, or speaking with him.  In short, don’t be the temptation against the good, and necessary, ‘new style of life’ that a priest should model for all of us to follow.  The most convincing way to encourage the virtue of others is to live the virtue yourself.  All are called the new life of Christ, each according to their vocation and state-in-life.  Priests, especially Parish Priests, lead the People of God principally by their manner of life, so again I urge you to pray and fast for your priests that they will form their lives according to the standard of the Gospel, the evangelical councils.
 
 
In closing, a prayer by Saint John Vianney for priests:
 
God, please give to your Church today
many more priests after your own heart.

May they be worthy representatives of Christ the Good Shepherd.
May they wholeheartedly devote themselves to prayer and penance;
be examples of humility and poverty;
shining models of holiness;
tireless and powerful preachers of the Word of God;
zealous dispensers of your grace in the sacraments.

May their loving devotion to your Son Jesus in the Eucharist
and to Mary his Mother be the twin fountains of fruitfulness for their ministry.
Amen.
 
 
 
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
 
 
Know of my prayers for you, please pray for me!
 
Father Wilke
 
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!