Ave Maria! Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. It is also the 60th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Pope Benedict XVI at the age of 24. A 6/27/11 article from Zenit entitled "Joseph's Ratzinger's Happiest Day" reports that "As the universal Church relives that day on Wednesday, the Pope has not wished it to be a moment of personal exaltation. Rather, it has been designated a day to promote thanksgiving to God for the gift of the priesthood and to ask him to call forth new vocations." How typical of the Holy Father's utter selflessness! So today "the whole Church is celebrating the day as a time of prayer for priests" even as we give special thanks for our beloved Holy Father and his priestly vocation and life.
This same article quotes from Memoirs of 1927-1977 by Pope Benedict, in which he recalls ""radiant summer day" of his ordination.
"We should not be superstitious," he wrote, "but at the moment when the elderly archbishop laid his hands on me, a little bird -- perhaps a lark -- flew up from the high altar in the cathedral and trilled a little joyful song. And I could not but see in this a reassurance from on high, as if I heard the words, 'This is good; you are on the right way.'"
The fruits of our Holy Father's life and priestly ministry bear witness not only to his being "on the right way" but also to his generosity in responding to God's choice and his faithfulness in following His call. How blessed we are by the Holy Father's presence in our lives and his papal leadership of our church! May our dear Lord bless him richly and abundantly, today and always!
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