Benedict XVI uses St. Alphonsus Liguori as example to inspire priests

At today's General Audience

Prefect promotes Adoration for Vocations and Holy Clergy

Cardinal Piacenza says every diocese needs a chapel devoted to these intentions.
If your diocese has one, please let the Cardinal have some feedback!
For Zenit report on his recent statement please see here.

Full text of Pope's address to Seminarians; Cardinal Prefect writes to priests before Lent

For full text of Pope Benedict's Lectio Divina to Roman seminarians see here

For news of Cardinal Piacenza's letter see here

Pontiff recommends mentors for young priests ...

....and urges Clergy tokeep pursuing Lost Sheep

See Zenit report here

Sister Briege McKenna and the Priesthood

Please see the excellent blog 'All the Little Epsilons', for more details. You will be inspired.

Pope urges entire Church to pray for Vocations

See Zenit report here ; link to full text at foot of Zenit item.

Have a blessed and happy feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Pope sets doves free for world peace

Click for Rome Reports video clipPope sets doves free for world peace

I like Rome Reports, but their commentaries sometimes leave a lot to be desired in the accuracy department. If you are slapdash in the small things, why should you be trusted in the large ones?
This clip is a case in point. Since when have two doves been designated as a flock? As far as I know only two doves are released whilst the Pope is at his window. In any case he only releases the first dove, and the charm of this particular occasion, was that the second dove twice flew back into the Holy Father's study, mainly because the young boy who tried to project it into the air, couldn't get the right angle to ensure its flight. Only the second dove twice did a u-turn, the first bird having been deftly released by Pope Benedict. He can hardly have been too surprised by the second dove's behaviour because exactly the same thing happened last year. As it was this year, the second bird nearly landed on the Pontiff's head!
The metaphor about peace which the commentary transmits, is perhaps justifiable, but no more so than the one I prefer. Namely, the dove is symbolic above all of the Holy Spirit. Last year a friend and I agreed that it was as if the Dove didn't want to leave the Successor of Peter, a symbol of the presence of the Holy Spirit with our Holy Father. That would have given a hopeful balance to the commentary.

Recommended Reading today

Zenit reports on the Pope's address to Seminarians on the nature and effect of Priesthood

Father Mark at Vultus Christi has a beautiful and meditative post on Cardinal Piacenza's recent address on celibacy.

Rorate Caeli has the full text of interview with the Bishop of San Merino on the topic of Liturgical Reform after Vatican Council II and the present Pope's attempt to introduce a 'true' interpretation of that Council's intentions.

Cardinal Piacenza: Priestly Celibacy Congress in Ars, France

The Congress ended Wednesday. Today Zenit has two items reporting the Cardinal's contribution here and here. Both reports have link to the full text of his address.