New evangelization needs faithful priests, Pope says

I stumbled upon this from the Catholic News Service today:

Well-prepared priests essential for new evangelization, pope says

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Without well-prepared priests, "the new evangelization" of society will be just a slogan, Pope Benedict XVI said. "Today we see a need for each priest to be a witness of the infinite mercy of God with a life completely conquered by Christ and for them to learn this from the very first years of their preparation in the seminary," the pope said ... Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien of Baltimore was seated in the front row. Pope Benedict said the training of seminarians and priests is crucial for ensuring that "the new evangelization is not just an attractive slogan, but that it becomes a reality." A priesthood candidate's time in the seminary, he said, must be like the time the disciples spent alone with Jesus after being called to follow him and before being sent out to preach the Gospel.

For the full text of the talk, click here.

The new evangelization involves everyone, regardless of their vocation. But, as the pope says, the witness of holy priests is critical. Which also means that an important part of our mission in the new evangelization must be to pray for and offer support to priests and seminarians. How many of us were influenced by the priests in our lives - in good or bad ways?

(On a side note, does anybody remember the name of the organization of lay people whose mission is to support priests and seminarians?)

So take some time today to thank the Lord for holy priests, pray for more men to answer the call to live "a life completely conquered by Christ" and ask the Lord to guide your parish priest. Also, check out the ordination class of 2009, and pray for them - their stories are pretty amazing testimonies to God's persistence, grace and love.

For example:
“People would be surprised to know that I once said at the age of 26 after mass one day, ‘why would anyone ever want to become a priest?’ This was a period in my life where faith, a prayer life with God, etc. were not ‘on the radar’. […] The Lord (thanks be to God) revealed the ‘why’ to me and for that I will be eternally grateful.”
Father David Kuttner
Diocese of Spokane