KUALA LUMPUR — In conjunction with the Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the churches of the Sacred Heart in Bentong and Kuala Lumpur came together for the Holy Hour to pray for the Sanctification of Priests. The Holy Hour at Peel Road, Kuala Lumpur, was presided over by His Grace Archbishop Julian Leow.
Pope St John Paul II designated the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus as a Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests in 2002. In his apostolic exhortation, Pastores Dabo Vobis, he states that God promises the Church not just any sort of shepherd, but shepherds “after his own heart”. And God’s “heart” is revealed itself to us fully in the heart of Christ, the good shepherd.
Archbishop Leow, in his address, invited the faithful to recognise and pray for all priests. He thanked them for giving their life for the love of God and for the service of his people. He said it’s a special moment to reflect on the life and mission of the priests who are Called, Chosen and Sent to proclaim the Gospel.
He also asked the faithful to pray for the priests, that they may continue to live holy lives as they find new paths, and be open in their role as Priests after the Heart of Jesus. The priests are to radiate humility, love of God and the people in their ministry. He encouraged the faithful to walk together with the priests so that they can walk in the path of Jesus and bring God’s love to all whom they meet.
The multilingual Holy Hour included the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, chaplet and litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. There were additional prayers for priests from Pope Benedict XVI, St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, and Pope St John Paul II. The solemn hour also included hymns from the parish children and teenagers as well as an introductory video featuring the priests of the KL Archdiocese.
Despite the restrictive circumstances, the Media, Liturgy and Vocation teams, together with the two seminarians of the Sacred Heart Church, managed to organise the online Holy Hour for the faithful to participate in the Prayer of Sanctification for the Priests.
