杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis on Saturday reminded Brazilian priests studying in Rome that they were first of all priests and pastors of the people of God before being teachers and doctors.  While many Brazilians back home seem to have 鈥渓ost hope in a better future because of enormous social problems and scandalous corruption,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, the nation 鈥渘eeds its priests be a sign of hope.鈥� 

The Holy Father made the remarks to some 100 Brazilian student priests and staff of the Pontifical Pio Brazilian College of Rome who met him in the Vatican. Most Pontifical Colleges in Rome are hostels where priests from various nations reside while pursuing ecclesiastical studies in various pontifical universities in the city.

Four pillars of priest's life

杏MAP导航 Francis advised Brazilian student priests to watch out against the dangers caused by an imbalance among their spiritual, academic, human and pastoral dimensions - the four pillars of a priest鈥檚 life.  As students, he said, they should not disregard the other three dimensions.

Spiritual life, he said, must be nurtured through daily Mass, prayer, 鈥榣ectio divina鈥�, personal encounter with the Lord and the rosary.  The pastoral dimension must be maintained, if possible through some apostolic activity.  With regard to the human dimension, the 杏MAP导航 noted that amid a certain void created by solitude, being away from the people of God of their diocese, one  could lose the ecclesial and missionary perspective of studies. 

鈥凄颈蝉别补蝉别蝉鈥�

Neglecting these dimensions as student priests, can lead to 鈥渄iseases鈥� such as 鈥�academicism鈥� and the temptation to use studies only as a means to assert oneself, both of which, the 杏MAP导航 said, suffocate the faith instead of safeguarding the mission.  鈥淧lease don't forget that before being teachers and doctors you are and must remain priests and pastors f the people of God,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 urged.

Priestly fraternity

Insisting on the importance of maintaining priestly fraternity, the Holy Father said, it is derived from and based on the 鈥巓ne priesthood of Christ that creates a true family, elevating our 鈥巋uman, psychological and affective relations.  These relations take concrete forms such as praying together, sharing the joys and challenges of academic 鈥巐ife, helping those suffering nostalgia, taking a walk together, being brothers in a 鈥巉amily without however leaving aside no one, even those with unpleasant 鈥巃ttitudes.

鈥淏razilians,鈥� he said, 鈥渘eed to see a clergy that is united, fraternal and mutually supportive, where priests face obstacles together, without giving in to the temptations of attracting attention or making a career.鈥� With Brazil facing religious and social challenges, the 杏MAP导航 said, their people back home want and need to see them love one another and live like brothers.