ON PRIESTLY DIGNITY AND PROPRIETY
 
The following are words of advice of Pope St. Pius X to priests on
the need for priestly dignity and propriety:
 
"In order never to be guilty of any unedifying act, the priest must
regulate his actions, his movements and his habits in harmony with
the sublimity of his vocation. He who on the altar almost ceases to
be mortal and takes on a divine form, remains always the same, even
when he comes down from the holy hill and leaves the temple of the
Lord. Wherever he is, wherever he goes, he never ceases to be a
priest, and the serious reasons that compel him always to be grave
and appropriate accompany him with his dignity everywhere.
 
"Hence he must have that gravity that will ensure that his words, his
bearing, and his way of working arouse love, win authority and excite
reverence. For, the very reasons that oblige him to be holy make it a
duty for him to show it by his outward acts in order to edify all
those with whom he is obliged to come into contact. A composed and
dignified exterior is a powerful eloquence which wins souls in a much
more efficacious manner than persuasive sermons. Nothing inspires
greater confidence than an ecclesiastic who, never forgetting the
dignity of his state, demonstrates in every situation that gravity
which attracts and wins universal homage.
 
"If, on the contrary, he forgets the holiness of the sacred character
which he bears indelibly impressed and engraved on his soul, and if he
fails to show in his outward conduct a gravity superior to that of
certain men of the world, then he causes his ministry and religion
itself to be despised. For when gravity is wanting in its leaders,
the people lose respect and veneration for them."
 
Taken from "Catholic Family News" August 2003 - Special Issue
dedicated to Pope St. Pius X.
 
"With our soul full of fear for the strict account we shall have to
give one day to the Prince of Pastors, Jesus Christ, with regard to
the flock entrusted to us by Him, we pass our days in continued
anxiety to preserve the faithful, as far as possible, from the most
pernicious evils by which human society is at present afflicted." -
Pope St. Pius X (1903-1914)
 
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PRAYERS FOR HOLY PRIESTS
 
My Dear Jesus, Thou desirest that we pray the Lord of the harvest
that He send zealous laborers into His harvest. Deign to raise up in
Thy Church, and especially in this diocese, numerous and holy priests
who, taking Thy Divine Heart as their Model, will, in the exercise of
their holy priesthood, promote the glory of Thy heavenly Father and
the salvation of those souls whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy
Precious Blood. Give us truly holy priests who, inflamed with the
fire of Thy divine love, seek nothing but Thy greater glory and the
salvation of souls.
 
O Mary, Queen of the clergy, pray for us; obtain for us a number of
holy priests.
 
PRAYER TO BE SAID AT THE PRIEST'S COMMUNION
 
O Lord, may Thou find shelter and rest gently within the heart of Thy
priest... Make him, O Lord, a priest according to Thy heart: meek,
humble, zealous, so that all he does will be for Thine honor and
glory. Mold him into a man of prayer and labor, insensible to earthly
things, and sensible only to Thy love and to the graces of the Holy
Ghost. Amen.

Excellent reasons for priests tow wear clerical garb or their habit in public.  I was a little surprised that St Pius didn't mentioned that, and then it occurred to me that he probably could not conceive of a priest not doing so.