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REFLECTING ON OUR PRIESTHOOD
Letter to a Young Priest
By Francis Cardinal Arinze
ISBN 9966-08-298-0; 112 pages; publication date 2008; price: US$

The booklet is Cardinal’s Golden Jubilee Letter to the priests. It begins with a statement of appreciation for the sacred priesthood. Then moves on to discuss Four major loves of the priest: for Jesus, for the Holy Scriptures, for the Church and for the Blessed Virgin Mary. The priest is called to follow that evangelical way of life which Jesus lived – by example and word, especially by obedience, poverty and simplicity and chastity.

The prayer life of the priest, with the Holy Eucharist at its centre, is also put into consideration. This includes a reflection on the Trinitarian dimension of the priest’s prayer and especially on his reliance upon the Holy Spirit. “All this will flower in the priest’s apostolate being marked by faith, zeal, truth, love and joy.” The priest’s relationships with people will bear the mark of a minister of Christ, a servant of God’s holy people.

The reflection also invited the priest to prepare for the sunset of his life. The Cross will not be lacking in the life of the priest, nor will trials of various kinds. And since we have on earth no lasting city but seek one which is to come (cf. Heb 13:14), the priest cannot fail to consider that the evening of his earthly pilgrimage will arrive. How does he prepare for this sunset of his earthly life and the opening out into life everlasting?

Table of Contents

I. APPRECIATION FOR THE SACRED PRIESTHOOD
1. Old Testament Roots
2. Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest
3. The Priesthood of Christ in His Church
4. An Indelible Mark
5. “Little Me” Also Chosen!  

II. FOUR LOVES OF THE PRIEST
6. Love Summarises It All
7. The Priest’s Love for Jesus Christ
8. The Priest’s Love for Holy Scripture
9. The Priest’s Love for the Church
10. The Priest’s Love for the Blessed Virgin Mary

III. THE PRIEST AND THE GOSPEL WAY OF LIFE
11. The Priest Learns from Jesus the Obedient
12. The Priest Follows Christ Who Lived Poor
13. The Priest Follows Christ Who Was Chaste
IV. The Prayer Life of the Priest
14. Following the Example Set by Jesus
15. Three Prayers of the Priest
16. Centrality of the Holy Eucharist
17. The Liturgy of the Hours in the Life of the Priest
18. Some Prayer Intentions of the Priest           
19. Trinitarian Prayer, Under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit

V. FAITH, ZEAL, TRUTH, JOY AND LOVE IN THE PRIEST’S APOSTOLATE 
20. Faith Fundamental
21. Zeal in the Ministry, Following Christ’s Example
22. Missionary Zeal
23. Zeal in the Confessional
24. Discernment in Choice of Apostolate
25. Preaching the Cross of Christ
26. Joy in the Priest’s Ministry
27. Love for the People in the Priest’s Ministry

VI. THE PRIEST’S RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE
28. The Priest’s Respect for Every Human Being
29. The Priest’s Availability
30. The Priest’s Relationship with His Bishop   
31. The Priest’s Association with His Brother Priests   
32. Avoiding Bad Company Between Priests   
33. The Priest’s Relationship with the Lay Faithful
34. The Priest’s Relationship with Consecrated Men and Women
VII. The Cross in the Life of the Priest
35. Suffering and Its Many Origins       
36. Any Use for Trials in the Priest’s Life?

 VIII. TOWARDS THE SUNSET OF LIFE
37. Material Provisions for Older Priests
38. Evening Comes