On the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - the World Day of Prayer for Priests - Cardinal Vincent Nichols thanked a 400-strong gathering of diocesan priests in Westminster Cathedral for their witness, fidelity, generosity and love of the Lord.

In his homily at the special Mass to celebrate the secular priesthood, Cardinal Nichols offered three points to promote a renewal of love for the Lord in and through the priestly ministry.

Firstly he encouraged his brother priests to live each day in "joyful gratitude for all that they have been given". Secondly, he said they should rely totally on the mercy of God and, thirdly, the Cardinal said that priests are "always called to be missionary priests, not professional clerics".