Priestly “Identity-Mission”

In his General Audience today, Pope Benedict XVI focused his catechesis on the Year for Priests, calling it a Year that offers “opportunity for the inner renewal of all priests and, consequently, for the revitalization of their commitment to the mission.” The Holy Father called St. John Vianney had a “complete identification with his ministry” and called on all priests to fashion their ministry after the example of this beloved saint.

“In fact, it is by considering the dual term ‘identity-mission’ that each priest will become better aware of the need for that progressive self identification with Christ which guarantees the faithfulness and fruitfulness of his evangelical witness. Thus, in the life of a priest, missionary announcement and worship are inseparable, just as sacramental identity and evangelizing mission are likewise inseparable.”

“The goal of priests’ mission is, we could say, ‘of worship’: that all men and women may offer themselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, receiving the charity which they are then called to dispense abundantly to one another. … Love for others, concern for justice and the poor are not so much a question of social morals as the expression of a sacramental conception of Christian mor ality because, through priestly ministry, the spiritual sacrifice of all the faithful is accomplished, in union with the sacrifice of Christ, the only mediator. This is the sacrifice that priests offer bloodlessly and sacramentally while awaiting the second coming of the Lord.”

“In the face of so many uncertainties and so much weariness, even in the exercise of priestly ministry, it is vitally important to regain a clear and unequivocal view of the absolute primacy of divine grace”, said the Holy Father. “The mission of each individual priest depends, then, also and above all on an awareness of the sacramental reality of his ‘new existence’. Upon the certainty of his own identity – not artificially and humanly constructed but freely and divinely given and received – depends his perennial enthusiasm for the mission.”

“Having received such an extraordinary gift of grace with their consecration, priests become permanent witnesses of their own encounter with Christ”, and “are able to carry out their mission to the full, announcing the Word and administering the Sacraments.”

“Following Vatican Council II”, Pope Benedict added, “in some places the impression arose that there were more important things in the mission of priests in our time: some people believed that the priority was to build a new society.”

Yet “the two essential elements of priestly ministry” always remain “announcement and power”, said the Holy Father recalling how Christ sent His disciples out to announce the Gospel giving them the power to drive out demons. “Announcement and power”, in other words “Word and Sacrament, are the pillars of priestly service, over and above the many forms it can take.”

The Pope continued: “When the ‘diptych’ of consecration-mission is not taken into due account, it becomes truly difficulty to understand the identity of priests and of their ministry in the Church. … During this Year for Priests”, he said, “let us pray for all the clergy. … Prayer is the primary duty, the true path of sanctification for priests and the heart of authentic pastoral care of vocations.”

And he concluded: “The low numbers of priestly ordinations in some countries not only must not discourage us, it should stimulate us to dedicate greater space to silence and to listening to the Word, to improving spiritual guidance and the Sacrament of Confession, so that the voice of God, which always continues to call and to confirm, may be heard and followed by many young people.”

(Information can be found at http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/dinamiche/d0_en.htm)

“Prayer is the primary duty, the true path of sanctification for priests and the heart of authentic pastoral care of vocations.” It is important for all those who are discerning the call to the priesthood to continue the conversation with our Lord. It has been said that a vocation to the priesthood grows in silence and stillness. Take time to “chill” with the Lord. You don’t necessarily have to talk; find a church that offers Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and simply listen to the whispers of the spirit. “Dedicate greater space to silence and to listening to the Word.” Seek “spiritual guidance” and continue participating in the “Sacrament of Confession, so that the voice of God, which always continues to call and to confirm, may be heard.”