Saint John Mary Vianney taught his parishioners primarily by the witness of his life. It was from his example that they learned to pray, halting frequently before the tabernacle for a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. “One need not say much to pray well” – the Curé explained to them – “We know that Jesus is there in the tabernacle: let us open our hearts to him, let us rejoice in his sacred presence. That is the best prayer." And he would urge them: “Come to communion, my brothers and sisters, come to Jesus. Come to live from him in order to live with him… “Of course you are not worthy of him, but you need him!”. This way of educating the faithful to the Eucharistic presence and to communion proved most effective when they saw him celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Those present said that “it was not possible to find a finer example of worship… He gazed upon the Host with immense love”. “All good works, taken together, do not equal the sacrifice of the Mass” – he would say – “since they are human works, while the Holy Mass is the work of God”. He was convinced that the fervour of a priest’s life depended entirely upon the Mass: “The reason why a priest is lax is that he does not pay attention to the Mass! My God, how we ought to pity a priest who celebrates as if he were engaged in something routine!”. He was accustomed, when celebrating, also to offer his own life in sacrifice: “What a good thing it is for a priest each morning to offer himself to God in sacrifice!"
In my nearly thirty-nine years as a Catholic priest, the offering of the Mass each day has formed the heart of my spiritual life. Rare has been the day that I have not stood at the altar, offering the Holy Sacrifice, and those few days I have not done so, it has been because of illness or something unavoidable.
Even though now in retirement I am alone in my private chapel on most days, nonetheless I have the immense privilege of joining with the Faithful throughout the world in lifting up to the Father the perfect Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It is a special joy when I am joined by family for Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, but whether the Chapel is full or if I am by myself, it is the same Sacrifice with the same dignity as a Mass offered on the high altar in St. Peter’s Basilica.
I have gone back frequently to the Holy Father’s letter inaugurating the Year of the Priest, drawing inspiration and guidance from his words, and giving thanks for the inestimable gift of being a priest in Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
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You can read the whole letter at this link:
https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/letters/2009/documents/hf_ben-xvi_let_20090616_anno-sacerdotale.html