You Shall Be a Blessing

German Cardinal Gerhard Mller is a voice contemporaryCatholic priests need to hear. You Shall Be a Blessing is anaffirmation of priestly life and ministry presented in twelveletters. Mller offers personal encouragement through finelyhoned theological and spiritual insight on the meaning, history,and importance of the priesthood to todays Catholic Church.Vocational identity is an enduring concern among Catholicpriests, bishops, teachers, and many lay Catholics around theworld, particularly because of the challenges wrought by achanging Church and rapidly shifting culture. The struggle tonavigate the personal and sacramental meanings of a priestsplace in the Church is made more difficult by the dishearteningloss of the Churchs credibility in recent years and by seismic shiftsaway from the practice of religion by believers across the westernworld. Yet most priests continue to serve and lead the people intheir care with great compassion, conviction, and desire to serve.In You Shall Be a Blessing, Mller, former prefect of theCongregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, writes as a spiritualfather and careful teacher in twelve letters to priests, offeringclear picture of their role in the life and work of the Church.He also addresses the theological tasks and spiritual disciplinesneeded by priests as they give witness to the Word, serve,and sanctify the Church.Cardinal Gerhard Mller