Sacerdotii nostri primordia

Sacerdotii nostri primordia (Latin: At the beginning of our priesthood ) is an encyclical of Pope John XXIII. with which he, on August 1, 1959, the 100th anniversary of the death (4 August 1859) of Saint John Mary (Jean -Marie ) Baptist Vianney thought.

About the Saints

In his opening words he referred to the " beginning of his priesthood ," which with his ordination and the beatification - both in 1905 - this saint it is in a wonderful relationship. Then he described the life of the Holy Curé of Ars and recalls its spiritual properties. The message of this teaching writing lies in the following key statement: Whenever priests would pray before the altar, they should remember that " the Eucharistic Prayer in the full sense of the holy sacrifice in the Mass is " Without trade, there would be no real presence. His credo was, that the abiding presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist is an extension of the Eucharistic Sacrifice.

"With the exercise of this obvious and fervent devotion to the Eucharist grows the spiritual life of the priest and he is equipped with the missionary force of the greatest apostles. "

Just as the Curé of Ars, the John XXIII. called here as groundbreaking and as an example, who had spent most of his long hours of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and during his sermons, often turned to the Tabernacle, and with deep emotion, " He's here! " said, so shall also the clergy their understand and practice office.

To the priests and bishops

To the priests and bishops student John XXIII. Wrote, they should learn to live along the lines of the Gospel, to be strong in faith, hope and love, so that they acquire the attitude of prayer in the practice of these virtues. The bishops, he urged that they should regard as their brothers and friends because of this community, ie in the same priesthood and service, the priest. Because on the bishops laste the heavy concern for the sanctification of their priests. These notes were then later, during the Second Vatican Council, "Decree on Priestly Training ( Optatam Totius ) " and the " Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests ( Presbyterorum Ordinis ) " their input.