I have a profound admiration for the vocation of the diocesan parish priest. It has been described as a relentless vocation with constant demands. In the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, Ignatius writes that "the education of priests, as a work of the highest value, is to be considered one of the chief ministries of the Society." (VII #290) Yet the wellspring of any priest's successful ministry is a deep, personal, daily relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the deeper spiritual formation that Ignatian Spirituality can so well serve priests in their ongoing formation. We dedicate this edition of Forty Weeks to all diocesan priests who hunger for Jesus' healing and transformative love and mercy in their daily lives. Christ shares both his priesthood and its graces with you, his brothers, as well as a special place in his Sacred Heart.Dr. Schuchts and I pray that this spiritual resource will give you a way to nourish your soul and so increase the fruitfulness of your ministry of sharing in Jesus' priesthood.
