Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On the VI Sunday of Easter, April 27, the Holy Father Benedict XVI presided a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, during which 29 deacons (28 from the Diocese of Rome and 1 from Propaganda Fide’s Urban College), were ordained to the priesthood. “Usually the ordination of new priests takes place on the fourth Sunday of Easter, known as Good Shepherd Sunday, which is also world day of prayer for vocations, but this year it was not possible because I was preparing for my journey to the United States of America,” the Pope explained at the beginning of his homily.
Referring to the scripture readings of the day that, “illuminate the mission of the priest,” the Pope recalled the First Reading from Chapter 8 of the Acts of the Apostles, that narrates the mission of Philip of Samaria, quoting the passage that says, “There was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:8), and saying, “In that city of Samaria, traditionally despised and almost excommunicated by the Jews, the call of Christ’s Gospel resounds, opening the hearts of all those who listen to a great joy.” Speaking to the future priests, the Pope continued, “My dear friends, this is also your mission: bring the Gospel to all; so that all may experience the joy of Christ and that there may be great joy in every city... Announce and witness this joy: this is the very heart of your mission... In order to be collaborators in the joy of others, in a world that is often sad and negative, the fire of the Gospel must burn brightly within each of you, the joy of the Lord must live in you. Only then will you be messengers of this joy, only then will you bring it to all, especially those who are sad and disillusioned.”
Another element for meditation from the First Reading was the gesture of the imposition of the hands performed by Peter and John, invoking the Holy Spirit. This gesture recalls the rite of Confirmation and is the central gesture of the rite of Holy Orders. “Without saying a word the consecrating Bishop, followed by the other priests who are present, poses his hands on the heads of the ordinantes, thus expressing our invocation that God infuse them with the Holy Spirit, making them participants in Christ’s priestly ministry... My dear Ordinants, in the future, you must frequently return to this moment, to this gesture which while is not magic, it is rich in mystery, because this is the origin of your new mission. In that silent prayer two freedoms meet: the freedom of God, through the Holy Spirit and the freedom of man. The imposition of the hands expresses the specific nature of this meeting: the Church, represented by the Bishop who stands tall with his hands outstretched, who prays that the Holy Spirit consecrate the candidate; the deacon, who kneels, receiving the imposition of the hands and who entrusts himself to the mediation. The union of these gestures is important, but the invisible movement of the Spirit which it expresses is infinitely more important; a movement that is perfectly evoked by sacred silence, which embraces all, internally and externally.”
In the Gospel, Jesus promises to pray to the Father to send the Spirit, described as “another Advocate” (Jn 14:16). The Pope continued his homily saying, “The first Advocate is in fact the Son made flesh, who came to defend man from the Accuser, who is Satan. In the moment in which Christ, his mission fulfilled, returns to the Lord, they send the Spirit, as Defender and Consolator, so that he may always remain with the faithful, living within them. Thus, through the workings of the Son and the Holy Spirit, an intimate relationship of reciprocity is created between the Father and his disciples... All of this depends however on one condition that Christ makes at the very beginning and later repeats at the end: “If you love me.” Without love for Christ, which lies in the observance of his commandments, the faithful excludes himself from the Trinitarian movement and begins to fold in on himself, losing all capacity to receive or communicate God.”
Jesus’ words “If you love me,” are spoken at the Last Supper, in the moment of the institution of the Eucharist and the Priesthood. While these words are addressed to the Apostles, “in a certain way they are also addressed to all their successors and to priests, who are the closest collaborators of the Apostles successors,” the Pope said. “Receive them with faith and love! Let them be imprinted in your heart, to accompany you along your lifelong journey. Don't forget them, do not lose them along the way! Read them over and over, meditate on them often and above all pray over them. So you will remain faithful to Christ’s Love and you will become aware with an ever new joy how His Divine Word will ‘walk’ beside you and ‘grow’ within you.”
Reflecting on the Second Reading, from the First Letter of Peter, Benedict XVI addressed the future priests, saying: “Adore Christ the Lord in your hearts: that is, cultivate a personal relationship of love with Him, a love that is first and foremost, unique and all-encompassing, in which all other relationships are lived, purified, illumined, and sanctified. The ‘hope that is within you’ is linked to this ‘adoration,’ to this love of Christ, that through the Spirit, we might say, lives in us. Our hope, your hope is God, in Jesus, and in the Spirit.”
The Pope concluded his homily with this wish: “May the hope rooted in faith be always and increasingly yours! May you always be witnesses and be wise and generous givers, sweet and strong, respectful and confident. May you be accompanied in this mission and protected always by the Virgin Mary, who I exhort you to welcome anew, as did the apostle John beneath the Cross, as your Mother, the Star of your life and your priesthood.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 28/4/2008; righe 73, parole 1,002)
