"It Is on Prayer That the Effectiveness of Action Depends"

Reverend and dear Brothers in the Priesthood,

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus let us fix the eyes of our minds and hearts on Christ.

We have encountered this Face when his Love  deeply wounded our hearts and we could no longer refrain from asking ceaselessly to be in his Presence as priests.

On the occasion of the traditional World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests that is celebrated on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, I would like to recall the priority of prayer over action since it is on prayer that the effectiveness of action depends.

Let us not get tired of drawing on his Mercy, of letting him look at and heal the painful wounds of our sin:“ Christ does not save us from our humanity, but through it; he does not save us from the world but came into the world so that through him the world might be saved (cf. John 3:17)” (Benedict XVI)

Priesthood is the vocation through which Christ saves us, has called us and is calling us now to abide with him.

The People entrusted to us to be educated, sanctified and governed are the indispensable path for our holiness. In loving, teaching, serving and praying for them we achieve our sanctification.

St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, aware of the extreme need of prayer for all priests, especially those who were lukewarm, wrote in a letter to her sister Céline, “Let us live for souls, let us be apostles, let us save above all the souls of priests.... Let us pray and suffer for them and on the last day Jesus will be grateful” (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Letter 94).

St. John Marie Vianney, known  Curée d’Ars, Patron of Parish Priests said: “If I already had one foot in Heaven and I was told to return to the earth to work to convert sinners, I would gladly return. And if, to do this, it were necessary that I remain on earth until the end of the world, always rising at midnight and suffering as I suffer, I would consent with all my heart”.

May the Lord guide and protect each and every one, especially the sick and those who are suffering the most, in the constant offering of our life for love.

Cardinal Cláudio Hummes