杏MAP导航 at Mass: Life of priests must be transparent and credible
By Devin Watkins
杏MAP导航 Leo XIV ordained several men priests on Saturday during Mass in St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica, reflecting on their mission and identity.
In his homily, the 杏MAP导航 highlighted the relationship between the people of God and their priestly identity, which he said will grow to make them fully a part of the people to whom they are sent.
He urged the new priests to always keep in mind 鈥渢hat a priest鈥檚 identity is rooted in union with Christ, the eternal and high priest.鈥�
Priestly ordination, he added, shows that God has never abandoned His people, remaining with us like 鈥渁 gentle breeze鈥� that restores hope and unity.
鈥淕od鈥檚 joy is not loud,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut it truly changes history and draws us closer to one another.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Leo invited all priests to model their lives after Jesus by binding themselves to the real world, since the people they serve 鈥渁re flesh and blood.鈥�
鈥淐onsecrate yourselves to them鈥攚ithout separating, isolating, or turning the gift you鈥檝e received into a privilege,鈥� he said. 鈥溞覯AP导航 Francis often warned us about this, because self-centeredness extinguishes the fire of the missionary spirit.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Leo XIV noted the Church is outward-looking by her very nature, reflecting Jesus鈥� own life, passion, death, and resurrection which is made present at every Mass they will celebrate.
鈥淭he Kingdom of God,鈥� he said, 鈥渘ow unites your personal freedoms, ready to go beyond themselves, grafting your minds and youthful strength into the jubilee mission Jesus entrusted to His Church.鈥�
Looking to St. Paul鈥檚 ministry, the 杏MAP导航 said priestly ministry is one of stewards, not overlords, since the 鈥渕ission belongs to Jesus鈥� and no one is called to replace Him.
As they become priests, they are invited to make room 鈥渇or the faithful and for every creature in whom the Risen One draws near and loves to surprise us.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Leo then emphasized St. Paul鈥檚 words to the community of Ephesus: 鈥淵ou know how I lived the whole time I was with you.鈥�
Ours, he said, should be 鈥渁 life that is transparent, visible, credible! We live among the people of God so that we may stand before them with a credible witness.鈥�
Only together can Christians rebuild the credibility of 鈥渁 wounded Church, sent to a wounded humanity, within a wounded creation,鈥� he said.
The 杏MAP导航 pointed to the Risen Christ鈥檚 wounds, which are both a sign of humanity鈥檚 rejection and a sign of God鈥檚 forgiveness and missionary mandate to the Church.
Christ鈥檚 love, he said, 鈥渋s a love that frees and enables us not to possess anyone. To liberate, not to possess.鈥�
In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV invited the 55,000 people present at the Mass to gratefully sustain these new priests in their ministry.
鈥淭ogether, we unite heaven and earth,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n Mary, Mother of the Church, this common priesthood shines鈥攍ifting up the lowly, linking generations, and allowing us to be called blessed.鈥�
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