杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

After a meditation by the Cardinal Vicar of Rome, Angelo De Donatis, the priests of the diocese had the opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation during a penitential liturgy at St John Lateran. Normally, 杏MAP导航 Francis, as the Bishop of Rome, is present for the event, and personally hears the confessions of several priests. This year, however, due to a 鈥渟light indisposition鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 鈥減referred to remain in the vicinity of Santa Marta鈥�, according to a statement from the Director of the Holy See Press Office. The Holy Father鈥檚 prepared remarks were read out to the Roman clergy by Cardinal De Donatis.

In his address, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflects on the 鈥渂itterness鈥� some priests experience, while expressing the hope that it might 鈥渟how us [clergy] the way to greater adoration of the Father, and help us to experience anew the power of His merciful anointing鈥�.

Sources of bitterness

The 杏MAP导航 finds three particular causes of bitterness focused around priests鈥� relationsships: with the faith, the bishop, and other priests.

With regard to the faith, he says bitterness is rooted in disappointment, which springs from our own misguided expectations, rather than any failing on God鈥檚 part. To move from disappointment to hope, he says, we must move beyond ourselves, to trust in God.

The 鈥渙missions鈥� by bishops can also be a source of bitterness for priests, who sometimes see a kind of 鈥渟oft authoritarianism鈥� when people who see things differently from the bishop are excluded, or when perceived loyalty is valued above competence. Although the bishop must have the final say, 杏MAP导航 Francis says that authoritarianism is not the answer; rather, bishops should consult the needs of all, and engage everyone in decisions that concern the common good.

Relationships among priests, the 杏MAP导航 notes, have been affected by scandals, especially sexual and financial scandals. This can lead to a 鈥淒onatist鈥� vision of the Church that separates the 鈥渋mpeccable鈥� from the erring or sinful, which in turn leads to a sort of ecclesiological puritanism. In response, the 杏MAP导航 says, we must remember that in this life, 鈥渢he wheat and the chaff鈥�, good people and bad, will always be found together in the Church.

The dangers of 鈥渋solation鈥�

All these things can make it more difficult to form relationships, the 杏MAP导航 says, adding that there is also a question not simply of loneliness, but of 鈥渋solation鈥�: isolation with respect to grace, a feeling of distance from the spiritual world; isolation from history, focusing on the here and now rather than the larger picture of salvation history; isolation from others, an 鈥渋nability to establish meaningful relations of trust and evangelical sharing鈥�.

To combat this, it is important for priests to have a wise spiritual father, to be able to share their burdens, lest they close in on themselves, and draw away from others.

Communion with the people of God

杏MAP导航 Francis closes his reflections by reminding the clergy that the People of God know their shepherds better than anyone else; they respect them, accompany them, and pray for them. 鈥淲e add our own prayers to theirs, and ask the Lord to turn our bitterness into fresh water for His people,鈥� he says in conclusion. 鈥淟et us ask the Lord to give us the ability to recognize what is causing bitterness in us, and thus allow ourselves to be reconciled people who reconcile; people at peace who bring peace, hopeful people who instil hope.鈥�