Holy Thursday

Today is Holy Thursday. It is the day the Church celebrates the institution of the priesthood and the Eucharist. At Chrism Masses in dioceses around the country, the sacramental oils were blest and priests renewed their vows.

So on this day that honors the priesthood of Christ in the Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood of the Church; let us pray for our priests. Let us dedicate ourselves to support and encourage them this year. Let us create homes and churches that not only pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life but also know the joy of having their children serve the Church. Let us put aside our complaining that our priests are sometimes not all we want them to be and instead be willing to offer up our very selves for our priests, from our parochial vicars to pastors and chaplains to our bishops and for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.

Mary, Mother of priests, pray for our priests that they grow in holiness and humanity as they learn the fullness of being in persona Christi. Amen.