Married Priests Now! is calling for a worldwide Candle Light Vigil in support of married priests as the pope and cardinals discuss the role of married priests in the future ministry of the church. Faithful Catholics are encouraged to light candles in their homes, churches and cathedrals and are encouraged to gather in churches, street corners, and in public squares to pray for the future ministry of the church. This demonstration of concern was suggested by Bob Graf of West Virginia. This is his prayer: Let's pray for the healing of the Holy Spirit to come upon the leaders, ourselves, and the whole church. Pray for a new Pentecost, a renewal and rebirth of the listening and serving church, hearing the Spirit, experiencing God's presence, being renewed in faith by God's mercy and love, and renewing the earth with love and service, beginning in each of our marriages.
The Vatican has announced a Summit for Married Priests to be held on Thursday (November 16, 2006) in Rome at the Apostolic Palace. The shortage of priests in the United States, Canada, Ireland and around the world is too big a hardship to bear. Creative inspiration is needed. The pope's action is spurred on by the Married Priests Now! Prelature which has raised the issue and recently sent letters to the Pope and to the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops with recommendations on this problem according to Archbishop Peter Paul Brennan, Vicar General for the Prelature.
One of the real possibilities is the restoration of the married priesthood to the church. St. Peter and the rest of the apostles were married priests and the married priesthood was the norm in the church for the first twelve centuries. Freeing the priesthood of the enforced obligation of celibacy is one of the possible considerations for this summit. The Holy Father can waive that man-made requirement at any time.
Without priests, there will be no Eucharist and the Church, quite frankly, will fade away. One solution is to recall the 150,000 priests who have married since the 1970's. They are experienced and theologically educated. Their experience as husbands and fathers will enhance their ministry in a positive way. Marriage is a sacrament and is a greater calling than celibacy which is also holy. We need to put that Catholic perspective back into our teaching and practice. Your prayers are requested for the fruitful outcome of the Holy Father's deliberations during this summit meeting before his trip to Turkey.
Contact:
Most Rev. Peter P. Brennan
151 Regent Place
West Hempstead, NY 11552 USA
516-485-0616
ddamdg@aol.com Archbishop Brennan
graffamily@aol.com Bob Graf
http://www.orgsites.com/ny/married-priests-now/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarriedPriestsNow/
Kindly send this out to your churches, families, friends and relatives.