International Pilgrimage and Retreat for Priests

August 6-13, 2007, in Ars, France

Shrine of the Cure of Ars
Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney

Some Fifty members of the Corpus Christi Movement gathered in Ars for a time of retreat and fraternity. Ars echoes to many a priest’s heart as the place that is our home and source of inspiration as we put the hand to the plough of working in the Lord’s Vineyard. We had come from all five continents speaking different languages but joined in our love of the priesthood, need for solidarity and closeness to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

Fr. Bob Conroy, Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers led us in the Spiritual Exercises. He invited us to embrace the nothingness of Curé of Ars and Mother Teresa so we could both find a true zeal for souls and love for the poor.

He spoke of Mother’s inspiration of 1947 and 1948 when she had seen herself at the foot of the cross joined with the Mother of God amongst the Poorest of the Poor, being asked by Jesus to satiate his thirst for souls. He helped us understand more of Mother’s darkness and how this had shaped so much of her life as Foundress. He called us to a deep love for Jesus in the poor and to understand how our priesthood gave us the heart and the consecration to sanctity and reconcile. After the retreat we journeyed to Lyons to visit Our Lady of Fourvière, the protectress of many occasions for the people of that ancient city.

At lunch we were joined by Cardinal Barbarin and one of his youthful auxiliaries who gave us a great hope and rejoiced in our presence along with the Sisters’ Community in Lyons. In the afternoon we visited the House of Paulina Jaricot, the foundress of the Pontifical Missions, another remainder of our call to mission.

The next day we pilgrimed to Paray-le-Monial, home to the Sacred Heart and place of rest of St. Marguerite Mary Alacoque and St. Claude de la Colombière. It was more than fitting to finish our time together consecrating our mission and priesthood to the Sacred Heart which speaks of the tender love of Jesus and our call to be ready to suffer the love and sacrifices for the sanctification of souls.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Pray for us

St. Jeane Marie Vianney Pray for us