杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

In his prepared remarks, 杏MAP导航 Francis commemorated three fundamental aspects of Father Pino Puglisi鈥檚 priesthood, in this way, he explained the importance of bringing to life what is preached using 鈥渢hree simple verbs鈥�.

Celebration

The first verb is 鈥渢o celebrate鈥�, began 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淭ake and eat: this is my Body given up for you鈥�. He explained that these words of Jesus, recited today like any other day, 鈥渕ust not remain on the altar.鈥�

鈥淭hey must be carried into life鈥� because they remind us that the priest is a man who offers his whole life for others. 鈥淥urs, dear priests, is not a career, but a gift of self; it is not a job, but a mission. Each day, with no holidays, with no rest鈥�. 鈥淭his鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渋s how Father Pino lived鈥�.

鈥楶riestly workout鈥�

He said priests share with the world the peace Jesus gives. The 杏MAP导航 said priests bring 鈥渦nderstanding where there is discord, harmony where there is dispute and serenity where there is hostility鈥�. The priest is also called to 鈥渂ring to life鈥� the words: 鈥淚 absolve you from all your sins鈥�, making him a 鈥渕an of forgiveness鈥�.

鈥淭he gym in which the priest trains to become a man of forgiveness is the seminary... For the consecrated religious it is in the community鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淚t is there鈥�, he said, that the 鈥渄esire to unite needs to be cultivated.鈥�

鈥淭hink of Father Pino鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渨ho always made himself available to everyone and waited for all with an open heart - even the delinquent.鈥�

Accompaniment

The second verb is 鈥渢o accompany鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis said accompanying 鈥渋s the keystone to being a priest today鈥�. He remembered that Father Pino 鈥渟poke to young people more than speaking of young people.鈥�. 鈥淒rawing out of them the truest questions, and the most beautiful answers.鈥� This, 杏MAP导航 Francis said is a mission that 鈥渟tems from patience, listening, and from having the heart of a father鈥�.

Mother Church

杏MAP导航 Francis briefly addressed women religious. He told them that their mission is an important one, because 鈥渢he Church is a Mother, and her way of accompanying must always have a maternal trace to it鈥�. So 杏MAP导航 Francis invited women religious to 鈥渞eveal the Church鈥檚 maternal face.鈥�

Witnessing

杏MAP导航 Francis said the final verb is 鈥渢o bear witness鈥�, which, he said, 鈥渃oncerns us all鈥�. He said that in Pino Puglisi鈥檚 home, a 鈥済enuine simplicity stands out鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 explained that Father Pino鈥檚 simple life is 鈥渢he eloquent sign of a life consecrated to the Lord, one that seeks neither consolation nor glory from the world鈥�.

He said that 鈥淟ife speaks louder than words鈥� and that we 鈥渟erve in simplicity鈥�.

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis invited the men and women religious, seminarians and clergy of Palermo to 鈥渂ear witness to hope鈥�. 鈥淭he person who witnesses to hope does not indicate what hope is鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渂ut who hope is. Christ is hope鈥�.