|
Posted July 25, 2006
Thoughts About the Priesthood
A salient thought about the priesthood that was passed onto www.jknirp.com.
We now pass it on to you.
The faithful expect only one thing from priests: that they be specialists in
promoting the encounter between man and God.
The priest is not asked to be
an expert in economics, construction or politics. He is expected to be an
expert in the spiritual life.
With this end in view, when a young priest
takes his first steps, he needs to be able to refer to an experienced
teacher who will help him not to lose his way among the many ideas put
forward by the culture of the moment. In the face of the temptations of
relativism or the permissive society, there is absolutely no need for the
priest to know all the latest, changing currents of thought; what the
faithful expect from him is that he be a witness to the eternal wisdom
contained in the revealed word.
Solicitude for the quality of personal
prayer and for good theological formation bear fruit in life. Living under
the influence of totalitarianism may have given rise to an unconscious
tendency to hide under an external mask, and in consequence to become
somewhat hypocritical.
Clearly this does not promote authentic fraternal
relations and may lead to an exaggerated concentration on oneself.
In
reality, we grow in affective maturity when our hearts adhere to God. Christ
needs priests who are mature, virile, capable of cultivating an authentic
spiritual paternity.
For this to happen, priests need to be honest with
themselves, open with their spiritual director and trusting in divine mercy.
|
|
|
