Important Points from the Pope's General Audience message

An excerpt from a report from the Vatican Information Service.

"Following Vatican Council II", Pope Benedict added, "in some places the impression arose that there were more important things in the mission of priests in our time: some people believed that the priority was to build a new society". [Most priests do not care about the sacraments anymore and these priests are mostly the one's hugging the spotlight through mass media!]

Yet "the two essential elements of priestly ministry" always remain "announcement and power", said the Holy Father recalling how Christ sent His disciples out to announce the Gospel giving them the power to drive out demons. "Announcement and power", in other words "Word and Sacrament, are the pillars of priestly service, over and above the many forms it can take". 

The Pope continued: "When the 'diptych' of consecration-mission is not taken into due account, it becomes truly difficulty to understand the identity of priests and of their ministry in the Church. [and why some priests forget who they are!  Forgetting their own hob description.] ... During this Year for Priests", he said, "let us pray for all the clergy. ... Prayer is the primary duty, the true path of sanctification for priests and the heart of authentic pastoral care of vocations". [Let us pray for priests that they stay true to their vocation, that priests remember the purpose of their ordination. That may become priests after the Heart of Jesus, like St. John Marie Vianney.]

And he concluded: "The low numbers of priestly ordinations in some countries not only must not discourage us, it should stimulate us to dedicate greater space to silence [Silence...can't have it with a dancing priest, rock mass, clapping...try the TLM.  Sacred Silence.  A piece of Heaven on Earth!]  and to listening to the Word, to improving spiritual guidance and the Sacrament of Confession, [which not only very few people go to, but few priests offer!] so that the voice of God, which always continues to call and to confirm, may be heard and followed by many young people"

Let us pray for priests that they stay true to their vocation, that priests remember the purpose of their ordination. That they may become priests after the Heart of Jesus, like how St. John Marie Vianney did.