杏MAP导航 Francis: A priest's primary obligation is to keep love alive
By Christopher Wells
鈥淟ove, the first love, is what has called us all here, and keeping it alive is our principal obligation,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said Thursday to Latin American formators and seminarians.
In prepared remarks consigned to members of the Latin-American, Brazilian, and Mexican Pontifical Colleges, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥淓very vocation is born of a love of predilection,鈥� while reminding priests that God 鈥渉as given us a special task which draws us closer to Him: to give ourselves for others.鈥�
Acting in persona Christi
To act, as priests do, in persona Christi, 鈥渋n the person of Christ,鈥� is to be 鈥渁 true icon of Jesus,鈥� he continued, through prayer, the generous offering of one鈥檚 very self, and humility.
杏MAP导航 Francis explained that prayer means presenting 鈥渆ach concrete situation to the presence of God."
Self-giving, Eucharistic, offering of one鈥檚 whole being, the 杏MAP导航 said, involves not just a 鈥渢heoretical readiness for martyrdom, but a radical acceptance that we are here to do His will and renounce our own.鈥�
Finally, humility means 鈥渒nowing that I myself am on the journey, in need of prayer, even more than those I have been called to serve.鈥�
The Holy Father invited priests and seminarians not 鈥渢o underestimate the power of the intercession of those whom God has placed in your path.鈥� In a word, he said, 鈥渞ely on the prayers of all the members of the faithful people of God; and do not forget to pray for your pastors and for me.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by invoking upon them Jesus鈥� blessing and the watchful care of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas.
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