Ecce Sacerdos

“Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers”

“Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers”. This means that the harvest is ready, but God wishes to enlist helpers to bring it into the storehouse. God needs them. He needs people to say: yes, I am ready to become your harvest labourer; I am ready to offer help so that this harvest which is ripening in people’s hearts may truly be brought into the storehouses of eternity and become an enduring, divine communion of joy and love. “Pray the Lord of the harvest” also means that we cannot simply “produce” vocations; they must come from God. This is not like other professions, we cannot simply recruit people by using the right kind of publicity or the correct type of strategy. The call which comes from the heart of God must always finds its way into the heart of man. And yet, precisely so that it may reach into hearts, our cooperation is needed. To pray the Lord of the harvest means above all to ask him for this, to stir his heart and say: “Please do this! Rouse labourers! Enkindle in them enthusiasm and joy for the Gospel! Make them understand that this is a treasure greater than any other, and that whoever has discovered it, must hand it on!”

We stir the heart of God. But our prayer to God does not consist of words alone; the words must lead to action so that from our praying heart a spark of our joy in God and in the Gospel may arise, enkindling in the hearts of others a readiness to say “yes”. As people of prayer, filled with his light, we reach out to others and bring them into our prayer and into the presence of God, who will not fail to do his part. In this sense we must continue to pray the Lord of the harvest, to stir his heart, and together with God touch the hearts of others through our prayer. And he, according to his purpose, will bring to maturity their “yes”, their readiness to respond; the constancy, in other words, through all this world’s perplexity, through the heat of the day and the darkness of the night, to persevere faithfully in his service. Hence they will know that their efforts, however arduous, are noble and worthwhile because they lead to what is essential, they ensure that people receive what they hope for: God’s light and God’s love.

BENEDICT XVI

Meeting with Priests and Deacons – Freising 14 September 2006

Ecce Sacerdos

This is a local program begun by a good friend and priest, Fr. Rob Jack.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our good intentions to do something BIG, such as to pray more for our priests, we can get so tangled up in organizing it, that we get stuck in the machinery and never get to our goal!

This is a simple and effective program Fr. has started, asking us to pray one decade of the Rosary for one priest a day. He lists a local priest on his website every day, going alphabetically. Even if you don't have a moment to stop and look up the name of the priest, God knows who he is, and offer your decade up for him when you have a few free minutes.

I ask you to begin something like this in your parish. Father has mentioned in addition to this, if just 10 people in each parish would commit to praying for their parish priests and parishioners, we will all see wonderful results. You don't need a huge committee or program, just 10 people per parish to quietly commit to an hour of adoration a week, or a decade of the rosary a day, or whatever the Holy Spirit inspires you to do. Father says it would be best to go to your parish priest and explain to him your intentions, and take it from there. Keep it simple and it will be most effective! But let us begin. Every avalanche began with a pebble. Be the pebble in your parish.

Prayer for Priestly Renewal:Fr. Rob Jack. God our Father, you have given us Jesus Christ as the High Priest of the New and Eternal covenant. Through him we are redeemed and made your children. The sacrifice of your Son continues through the men he has chosen to teach, lead and sanctify your Church. Bless your priests. Renew them in mind heart and body. Help them to boldly proclaim the Gospel of your Son. Increase in them a love for the people you sent them to serve. Renew in them a deep love for the Eucharist. Keep them close to the Virgin Mary, who is their spiritual mother. Send them the gifts of the Holy Spirit to help them carry their burdens and strengthen them against temptation. Give them purity of heart and clarity of vision to do your will. Make them holy and deepen their joy for their priestly vocation. May their lives and ministries inspire other men to follow in their footsteps and lead others to Jesus Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.