Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Castel Gandolfo (Agenzia Fides) - “With her faithful and ministers, the Church is on earth the priestly community organically structured as the Body of Christ, to efficiently carry out in union with her head, the historic mission of salvation...In fact, the members do not all have the same function: and this is the beauty and the life of the body. The particular identity of priests and laity must be seen in the light of the essential difference between priestly ministry and the 'common priesthood'. Hence it is important to avoid the secularization of clergy and the 'clericalization' of the laity. In this perspective, the lay faithful must undertake to give expression in real life - also through political commitment - to the Christian view of anthropology and the social doctrine of the Church.” This was the recommendation expressed by the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the second group of Bishops from Brazil (the Northeast II Region), whom he received in an audience on September 17 in the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, on the occasion of their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit.
In his address, the Pope recalled that “priests must distance themselves from politics in order to favor the unity and communion of all the faithful, thus becoming a point of reference for everyone.” He also reflected on the importance of “making this awareness grow among priests, religious, and lay faithful, encouraging and being attentive so that each will be motivated to act according to his own state.”
Reflecting once more on the relationship between the common priesthood and the ministerial priesthood, which “is currently one of the most delicate points in the being and life of the Church,” Benedict XVI added: “The small number of priests could, in fact, lead communities to resign themselves to this scarcity, consoling themselves at times with the fact that this shows even more the importance of the role of the laity. The lack of priests does not justify a more active and abundant participation of the laity. The truth is that the greater the faithful's awareness of their own responsibilities within the Church, the clearer becomes the specific identity and inimitable role of the priest as pastor of the entire community, witness to the authenticity of the faith, and dispenser of the mysteries of salvation in the name of Christ the Head.”
Benedict XVI then recalled that “the mission of salvation entrusted by the Father to His own Incarnate Son has been entrusted to the apostles and by them, to their successors...Thus, the function of the clergy is essential and irreplaceable in announcing the Word and celebrating the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.” This is why “there is an urgent need to ask the Lord to send workers into his harvest, the Holy Father added. “Priests should manifest the joy of fidelity to their own identity, with enthusiasm for the mission.”
Then, addressing his “beloved brother Bishops,” the Holy Father exhorted them to make an effort to assure the communities in their dioceses the presence of an ordained minister, not resigning themselves to consider the current situation with a shortage of priests, as something “normal or typical for the future.” Recalling what he had already reminded the first group of Brazilian Bishops (see Fides 8/9/2009), the Pope exhorted the Bishops to concentrate efforts “to encourage new priestly vocations and find the pastors your dioceses need, helping one another so that all of you have better-trained and more numerous priests to support the life of faith and the apostolic mission.”
In concluding his address, the Pontiff highlighted that those who have received Holy Orders “are called to live the grace and commitments of Baptism in coherence and fullness of grace.” “The daily celebration of the sacrifice of the altar and the daily prayer of the liturgy of the hours should always be accompanied by the testimony of a life that becomes a gift to God and others and thus, becomes orientation for the faithful.” The Holy Cure of Ars continues to be a valid model even today for all priests, “especially in living a life of celibacy as a requirement for the total giving of self, expressed through that pastoral charity which Vatican Council II presents as the unifying center of a priest's being and actions.” Among those who “try to imitate Jesus Christ, each of them being not only a pirest, but also a victim and oblation like Jesus,” along with John Mary Vianney, the Holy Father mentioned Fray Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvao, who lived in Sao Paulo (Brazil) and was canonized on May 11, 2007, who was a “fervent adorer of the Eucharist...living in constant adoration.”
Lastly, the Holy Fahter highlighted that there are already “many signs of hope for the future of particular Churches,” invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary and asking that she intercede for the entire people of God in Brazil, “Pastors and faithful may, with a courageous and joyous spirit, openly announce the mystery of the Gospel.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 18/9/2009)
