VATICAN (CNS): Priests “anointed” by the Holy Spirit should be authentic agents of harmony rather than “instruments of division,” Pope Francis said, during the celebration of the chrism Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 6.
The pope addressed his homily to about 1,800 concelebrating priests on what he called “the birthday of the priesthood,” the institution of the Eucharist celebrated Holy Thursday.
He said that building harmony is not only a way of improving the Church or being polite, but “an intrinsic demand of the life of the Spirit.”
Pope Francis noted, “If others see in us people who are dissatisfied and discontented, who criticise and point fingers, where else will they find harmony? How many people fail to approach us, or keep at a distance, because in the Church they feel unwelcomed and unloved, regarded with suspicion and judged?”
He said, “In God’s name, let us be welcoming and forgiving, always.”
Among the principal concelebrants were: Cardinal Angelo Cardinal De Donatis, the pope’s vicar for Rome; Giovanni Battista Cardinal Re, dean of the College of Cardinals; Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, vice dean; Francis Cardinal Arinze, and Auxiliary Bishop Baldassare Reina of Rome.
With thousands of laypeople were in attendance, Pope Francis discussed the problems priests and bishops face in their vocations and encouraged them to look to the Holy Spirit to embrace their calling in times of doubt.
“Sooner or later, we all experience disappointment, frustration and our own weakness; our ideals seem to recede in the face of reality, a certain force of habit takes over, and difficulties that once seemed unimaginable appear to challenge our fidelity,” the pope said.
In this “watershed” moment, he said that priests may either “drift toward mediocrity and settle for a dreary routine” or be reinvigorated by the Holy Spirit.
“Priestly maturity comes from the Holy Spirit,” he said. “Our priesthood does not grow by quick fixes but an overflow of grace.”
Setting aside his prepared text, Pope Francis shared that he was thinking of priests “in crisis, who are disoriented and don’t know how to take back up the way of the anointment of the Spirit.”
The pope said, “To these brothers, I am thinking of you, and I simply say, ‘have courage,’ the Lord is greater than your weaknesses, than your sins, entrust yourself to the Lord. A double life won’t help you, nor will tossing everything out the window. Look ahead and let yourself be caressed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.”
Welcoming the Spirit into one’s life “happens when we admit the reality of our own weakness,” he said.
The pope said that priest should be honest and ask themselves, “Does my fulfilment depend on my abilities, my position, the compliments I receive, my promotions, the respect of my superiors or coworkers, the comforts with which I surround myself? Or on the anointing that spreads its fragrance everywhere in my life?”
Spiritual life becomes “liberating and joyful once we are no longer concerned to save appearances and make quick fixes,” said the pope.
He ended his homily with two “simple and important words” for the priests: “Thank you.”
He said, “Thank you for your ministry, which often is carried out with great effort and little recognition,” before praying that they would be “apostles of harmony.”
