Texts for Reflection

Pope Benedict XVI on the Priesthood

• Letter Proclaiming a Year for Priests on The 150th Anniversary of the “Dies Natalis” of the Curé of Ars
  • A wonderful reflection on Saint John Mary Vianney and the priesthood given June 16, 2009.
  • Homily at the Mass for the Conclusion of the Year for Priests on June 11, 2010
  • Homily at the Mass Opening the Year for Priests on June 19, 2009
• General Audiences given during the Year for Priests
  • Why a Year for Priests? June 24, 2009
  • On the Priest’s Mission as Teacher, April 4, 2010
  • On the Priest’s Mission to Sanctify, May 5, 2010
  • On the Priest’s Mission to Govern, May 26, 2010
• Chrism Mass Homily on Holy Thursday, March 20, 2008
  • The essence of priesthood is service. All priests are encouraged to renew their “yes” to the call of God.
• Chrism Mass Homily on Holy Thursday, April 13, 2006
  • The Lord makes us priests His friends. We should recommit ourselves to this friendship every day.
• “If You Abide in Christ, You Will Bear Much Fruit”
  • Address to seminarians attending World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, on August 19, 2005.
• On the Nature of Priesthood
  • Speech given by Cardinal Ratzinger on October 1, 1990 at the opening of the Synod of Bishops on priestly formation.
  • Papal and Magisterial Documents on the Priesthood

• Amantissimi Redemptoris
  • On Priests And The Care Of Souls – Encyclical of Bl. Pope Pius IX on May 3, 1858
• Haerent Animo
  • To The Catholic Clergy On Priestly Sanctity – Apostolic Exhortation of Pope St. Pius X on August 4, 1908
• Ad Catholici Sacerdotii
  • On the Catholic Priesthood – Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on December 20, 1935
• Menti Nostrae
  • On the Development of Holiness in Priestly Life – Apostolic Exhortation To The Clergy Of The Entire World of Pope Pius XII on September 23, 1950
• Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia
  • On St. John Vianney and the Priesthood – Encyclical of St. Pope John XXIII on August 1, 1959
• Presbyterorum Ordinis
  • Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests of Second Vatican Council on December 7, 1965
• Sacerdotalis Caelibatus
  • On The Celibacy of the Priest – Encyclical of Pope Paul VI on June 24, 1967
• Pastores Dabo Vobis
  • “On the Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of the Present Day” – Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II on March 25, 1992
• Directory On The Ministry And Life Of Priests
  • Congregation for the Clergy on March 31, 1994
• The Priest and Confession
  • Excerpt, Apostolic Exhortation “Reconciliatio et Paenitentia”, Pope John Paul II on February 12, 1984.
• “The Priest, Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community”
  • Congregation for the Clergy on August 4, 2002
• Eucharist And Confession: Set Out Anew From God’s Mercy To Rediscover Priestly Identity
  • Congregation for the Clergy on August 28, 2002
  • Letters of Pope Saint John Paul II to Priests for Holy Thursday

• 1986 on the Cure of Ars and the Identity of the Priest
• 2005 in the Year of the Eucharist
• Search for letters from other years
• Letters to My Brother Priests: Complete Collection of Holy Thursday Letters (1979-2005) – Book