Two important items today: one for your prayers and one for your consideration

1. Priest killed in India. Fr Bombacha, 73 R.I.P

2. Priests not immune from temptation, preaches Fr dal Covolo in Rome homily

Year for Priests: Worldwide surge in priests wishing to be with Pope for closing ceremonies.

On the subject of priests, this is the best piece of news to emerge over the past week. So numerous have been priestly applications that the Congregation for Clergy has been forced to extend its deadline for those who wish to be with the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square for the closing ceremony of this Sacerdotal Year.

"I know my own and my own know me." Yes indeed.

(Having trouble with the link to Catholic Culture.org, where I read about this. I'm afraid you'll just have to trust me until I can sort it.)

Priests rally round the Holy Father in Rome

As the Zenit article points out, Wednesday's General Audience was marked by most enthusiastic support for the Pope. I cannot be the only one to have noticed, but everytime he has been under attack the faithful have turned out for the Audience/Angelus in considerably increased numbers, and each time have raised their voices to the extent that he can be left in no doubt as to the love and gratitude they feel towards him for doing what has to be done in the face of ignorant or deliberate calumny.

But this Wednesday, the priests of Rome were there too, accompanied by priests from other countries including the United States, and the Holy Father had a special message for them. Zenit interviewed some of them afterwards. If you have already read the report linked above, you will have found it a consolation in these difficult times. If you have not, then please do not miss it.

In Christo pro Papa

Pope Benedict catechises on the Priesthood, urges Priests to come to Rome Fr. Perini on changing the face of your parish;

The Holy Father devoted yesterday's General Audience to the teaching role of the priest. Read the full text here Referring to the imminent close of the Year for Priests, he identifies two other salient marks of priests, namely their sanctifying and governing roles. One trusts that he will deal with these in future audiences.

In a separate communication, via Cardinal Hummes, he has repeated his invitation to priests to come to Rome in early June and fill St. Peter's Square at the closing ceremonies of the Sacerdotal Year. See here

Father Perini is a Parish Priest in Milan. Read his interview here

Distractions?

The priest who authors the 'Owl of the Remove' blog from his parish in the north of the United States, has a touching and salutary post today. After confessing that he had allowed himself to be distracted during the Triduum by the attacks on Pope Benedict and the Church, he reports on a phone call he received later from one of his parishioners, a mother of five. She told him to stop reading the news, that she and her family love him, and they love the Holy Father. God bless her for this. We can all be comforted and strengthened by the fact that throughout the world, during this difficult time, countless similar acts of loving solidarity with our priests are being shown to them. The Holy See press spokesman, Fr. Lombardi, let it be known in his recent statement that the Holy Father too, is receiving similar and notably strong support through the mail.



Deo gratias.

Please sign new petition in support of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

Please investigate this site and sign the petition here It's international and already I spot Italian, French, Irish and English names. Grateful mantilla twitch to Annie of the LMS Arundel and Brighton blog (link on my Oasis blog). You should all keep an eye on Annie. She's often first with things!

In Christo pro Papa

Easter Morning 2010

To all Spiritual Mothers and friends, with my prayers for a holy and peaceful Easter.
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Cardinal Ruini's Meditations for tonight's 'Via Crucis' from the ColosseumMe

Our Holy Father will preside at this event, to be televised live on EWTN and kto tv (8.15pm UK time). Here's a link to the full text which you may like to print off beforehand. (14 pages)
Please note printer-friendly format in the righthand menu of the Zenit site.

With my prayers for you all,

In Christo pro Papa