On the 4th Sunday of Easter and 58th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Holy Father Francis presided over the Holy Mass in the Vatican Basilica, during which he conferred Presbyterial Ordination upon nine Deacons, six of whom were from the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary, two from the Diocesan College Redemptoris Mater, and one from the Seminary of Our Lady of Divine Love.
His Excellency Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, His Holiness’ Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome; H.E. Monsignor Gianpiero Palmieri, Vicegerent of Rome; some Cardinals, Auxiliary Bishops; Superiors of the Seminaries concerned and Pastors of the Ordinands concelebrated with the Holy Father.
Read Exaudie’s interview with Salvatore Marco Montone, 1 of the 9 New Priests.
The Homily, pronounced by the Holy Father in the course of the Eucharistic Celebration, was essentially the Homily provided in the Ritual for the Ordination of Presbyters to which, however, he added some considerations.
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The Holy Father’s Homily
Dearest brothers, these, our sons, were called to the Order of the Presbyterate. We reflect, attentively to what ministry they will be elevated in the Church. As you know, brothers, the Lord Jesus is the only Supreme Priest of the New Testament; however, in Him, all the holy People of God were constituted a priestly people. Nonetheless, the Lord Jesus wished to choose, among all His disciples, some in particular, so that they would exercise publicly in the Church in His name the priestly office in favor of all men, continuing His personal mission as Teacher, Priest and Shepherd.
After mature reflection, we are now about to elevate these brothers to the Order of Presbyters, so that they cooperate in the service of Christ, Teacher, Priest, and Shepherd, in building the Body of Christ, which is the Church, the People of God and Temple of the Holy Spirit.
As for you, beloved sons, who are about to be promoted to the Order of the Presbyterate, consider that, by exercising the ministry of the Sacred Doctrine, you will be participants in the mission of Christ, only Teacher. Like Him, you will be shepherds; this is what he wants from you. To be shepherds, shepherds of the faithful Holy People of God; shepherds that go with the People of God, sometimes before the flock, sometimes in the middle or behind, but always there, with the People of God.
There was a time — in the language of a time — when there was talk of an “ecclesiastical career,” which didn’t have the same meaning it has today. This isn’t a “career,” it’s a service, a service as that which God did for His People. And this service of God to His People has “features,” has a style, a style that you must follow, a style of closeness, a style of compassion, and a style of tenderness. This is God’s style: closeness, compassion, and tenderness.
Closeness, there are four ways of the closeness of a priest: closeness to God in prayer, in the Sacraments, in the Mass. Talk with the Lord, be close to the Lord. He made Himself close to us in His Son, the whole story of His Son. He was also close to you, to each one of you, in the course of your life until this moment. <But> He was also there in bad times of sin. Closeness, be close to the faithful Holy People of God. But, first of all, close to God, with prayer. A priest who doesn’t pray slowly extinguishes the fire of the Spirit within — closeness to God.
Second: closeness to the Bishop, closeness. I remember once, a long time ago, a priest who had the misfortune — let us say it thus — to “slip.” The first thing I had in mind was to call the Bishop. Call the Bishop also in bad moments, to be close to him — closeness to God in prayer and closeness to the Bishop. “But I don’t like this Bishop . . .” But he is your father. “But this Bishop treats me badly . . . “ Be humble, go to the Bishop.
Third: Closeness among you. And I suggest you make a resolution this day: never speak badly of another priest. If you have something against another, be men, be brave: go there and say it to him to his face. “But this is something very bad . . . I don’t know how he will take it . . . “ Go to the Bishop, so that he may help you, but never, never bad mouth. Don’t be gossipers; don’t fall into gossip. Keep unity among you: in the Presbyteral Council, in the Commissions, at work – closeness among you and with the Bishop.
And the fourth: for me, after God, the most important closeness is to the faithful Holy People of God. None of you studied to become a priest. You studied the ecclesiastical sciences, how the Church says things must be done. But you were chosen, taken from the People of God. The Lord said to David: “I took you from the flock.” Don’t forget from where you came: from your family, from your people . . . Don’t lose the scent of the People of God. Paul said to Timothy: “Remember your mother, your grandmother . . . “ Yes, from where you came. And the People of God . . . The author of the Letter to the Hebrews says: “Remember those that introduced you to the faith.” Be priests of the people, not clerics of the State!
The four ways of closeness of the priest: closeness with God, closeness with the Bishop, closeness among you, closeness with the People of God — the style of closeness, which is God’s style. However, God’s style is also one of compassion and tenderness; don’t close your heart to problems. And you will see so many! When people come to tell you problems and to be accompanied . . . spend time listening to them and consoling them; have compassion, which leads you to forgiveness, to mercy. Please, be merciful, be forgivers, because God forgives all. He doesn’t tire of forgiving; we are the ones that get tired of asking for forgiveness. Closeness and compassion, but tender compassion, with that family tenderness, of brothers, of a father . . . with that tenderness that makes you feel that you are in God’s House.
I wish you this style, this style that is God’s style.
And then, I mentioned something to you in the Sacristy, but I would like to mention it here, before the People of God. Please, turn away from vanity, from the pride of money. The devil enters “by the pockets.” Think about this. Be poor, the faithful Holy People of God were poor. Poor priests who love the poor; don’t be climbers — the “ecclesiastical career” . . . Then you become a functionary, and when a priest begins to be a businessman, be it of the parish or the college, be it wherever it is, he loses that closeness to the people, he loses that poverty that makes him like Christ, poor and crucified, and becomes a businessman, a businessman priest and not a servant. I heard a story that moved me. One day, a very intelligent, very practical, very capable priest, who was responsible for many administrations, but had his heart attached to that office, saw that one of his dependents, an elderly man, had made an error; he rebuked him and kicked him out. And that old man died because of this. That man had been ordained a priest and ended up as a merciless businessman. Keep this image before you always; keep this image always.
Shepherds close to God, to the Bishop, among you, and to the People of God. Shepherds: be servants as shepherds, not businessmen, and turn away from money.
And then, remember that this manner of four ways of closeness, this way of being shepherds, because Jesus consoles the shepherds because He is the Good Shepherd. And seek consolation in Jesus; seek consolation in Our Lady — don’t forget the Mother — always seek consolation there, be consoled from there.
And put the crosses — they will exist in our life — in the hands of Jesus and Our Lady. And don’t be afraid; don’t be afraid. If you are close to the Lord, to the Bishop, among you, and to the People of God, if you have God’s style — closeness, compassion, and tenderness — don’t be afraid, as everything will go well.
© Libreria Editrice Vatican
[Original text: Italian] [Exaudi’s translation by Virginia M. Forrester]
