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Priesthood is a life marked by compassion, pope tells Rome clergy

By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY February 18, 2010 (CNS) -- Priesthood isn't a job that one fulfills a few hours a day, but it is a way of life focused on serving as a bridge between God and suffering humanity, Pope Benedict XVI told priests of the Diocese of Rome.

Priests are called to live not just "in blessed contemplation," but "to enter like Christ into human misery and take it up, going to the people who are suffering" and sharing their pain, the pope said Feb. 18 as he led the clergy in "lectio divina," a prayerful reading and meditation on selections from the Letter to the Hebrews on the mystery of priesthood.

Priests are called to be "real mediators between humanity and God," he said, and in order to do so they must be totally dedicated to God, yet fully human and deeply compassionate in the face of the concerns, anxieties, joys and sorrows of others.

The pope, speaking without a prepared text, reflected at length on the New Testament letter. He explained the possible meanings of some of the words in their original Greek and referred to other Scripture passages, liturgical texts, the ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Socrates, the seventh-century St. Maximus of Constantinople, St. John of God, the German Scripture scholar Adolf von Harnack and Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, a specialist on the Letter to the Hebrews.

The pope said the letter's description of Christ as the high priest makes it clear that Christ offered God the perfect sacrifice by willingly giving his life for the sins of humanity, but he also offered God his tears for the sorrows of the world.

As humanity cried out, "God, help us, hear us," Jesus carried the cry of humanity to God and "in this way realized his priesthood, the function of mediator, transporting and taking on the suffering of the world," he said.

"Our priesthood, too, is not limited to the act of worship of the holy Mass in which everything is consigned into the hands of Christ; offering all of our compassion, the sufferings of this world so far from God, is a priestly act," the pope said.

"Priesthood is not something that involves a few hours, but is realized through our whole pastoral life with its sufferings, weaknesses, sadness and also joy, naturally," he said.

The pope ended his meditation by praying that God would help him and all priests continually deepen their understanding of the mystery of priesthood, "to live this mystery better and better and, in that way, help the world open up to God so the world would be redeemed."

VATICAN CITY, 16 FEB 2010 (VIS) - "Witness Awakens Vocations" is the title of the Pope's message for the 47th World Day of Prayer for Vocations that will be celebrated on 25 April - Good Shepherd Sunday - the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Here follow excerpts from the document:

"The fruitfulness of our efforts to promote vocations depends primarily on God's free action, yet, as pastoral experience confirms, it is also helped by the quality and depth of the personal and communal witness of those who have already answered the Lord's call to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life, for their witness is then able to awaken in others a desire to respond generously to Christ's call."

"A fundamental element, one which can be seen in every vocation to the priesthood and the consecrated life, is friendship with Christ. If the priest is a "man of God", one who belongs to God and helps others to know and love him, he cannot fail to cultivate a deep intimacy with God, abiding in his love and making space to hear his Word."

"A third aspect which necessarily characterizes the priest and the consecrated person is a life of communion. In a particular way the priest must be a man of communion, open to all, capable of gathering into one the pilgrim flock which the goodness of the Lord has entrusted to him, helping to overcome divisions, to heal rifts, to settle conflicts and misunderstandings, and to forgive offences."

"If young people see priests who appear distant and sad, they will hardly feel encouraged to follow their example. They will remain hesitant if they are led to think that this is the life of a priest. Instead, they need to see the example of a communion of life which can reveal to them the beauty of being a priest."

"It can be said that priestly vocations are born of contact with priests, as a sort of precious legacy handed down by word, example and a whole way of life."

"Every priest, every consecrated person, faithful to his or her vocation, radiates the joy of serving Christ and draws all Christians to respond to the universal call to holiness. Consequently, in order to foster vocations to the ministerial priesthood and the consecrated life, and to be more effective in promoting the discernment of vocations, we cannot do without the example of those who have already said "yes" to God and to his plan for the life of each individual. Personal witness, in the form of concrete existential choices, will encourage young people for their part to make demanding decisions affecting their future."

"May this World Day once again offer many young people a precious opportunity to reflect on their own vocation and to be faithful to it in simplicity, trust and complete openness."

February 08, 2010

During his Angelus audience on Sunday, February 7, Pope Benedict XVI said that sinful man must "recognize his own poverty and inadequacy, his own limits and sin," in order to open himself up to "the Lord and his astounding mercy." During this Year for Priests, he encouraged the faithful to pray that priests will "not trust in their own strength but open themselves to the action of God's grace."

Phil Lawler a director of the Catholic Culture Project writing some Concrete Suggestions for the Year of Priests wrote this: -

There are plenty of reasons to make a good confession; this is just one more. This sadly neglected sacrament offers astonishing spiritual benefits for the penitent; that’s an issue for another day. For now, consider what how it helps the priest/confessor.

The Year for Priests is designed to spark “interior renewal” in the Catholic clergy: to help priests realize the nature of their ministry in persona Christi. In announcing his plans for this special year, Pope Benedict acknowledged that many priests are seduced by a secularized view of their role; they see themselves as community leaders and administrators and teachers and counselors but not necessarily as missionaries. The remedy, the Pope stressed, is for each priest to identify himself with Christ and his ministry.

For most of their waking hours priests are acting as community leaders and administrators and teachers and counselors, so it’s a challenge for them to remain mindful of their ministerial identity. Even when he celebrates Mass, a priest with a weak understanding of sacramental theology might think of himself as the convener and presider and leader of the assembly—might think, in other words, that he is the center of attention—rather than recognizing that he is acting as an alter Christus, and the Eucharistic sacrifice is work of Jesus Christ.

But no sane man believes that he has the power to forgive sins on his own authority. Each time he says the words of absolution, the priest reminds himself that he is acting as a minister of the Church, absolving sins in the name of Jesus Christ. Pope Benedict urged priests to identify themselves with Christ’s ministry; in the confessional they have no choice.