Wednesday, March 26, 2008

The Church needs priests who live authentic obedience

Lima, Mar 25, 2008 / 03:02 pm (CNA).- Bishop Kay Schmalhausen of Ayaviri in southern Peru said this week that the Church needs priests who are willingly obedient and have an intense spiritual life.

During the Chrism Mass of Holy Week, the bishop reminded priests that their lives “should be oriented toward replicating the supreme model who is Jesus Christ. A priest does not live for himself, nor has he been consecrated to do his own will.”

Bishop Schmalhausen said obedience is a primary characteristic of the priestly life and that only by embracing it “will we be will authentically free, our ministry fruitful for the Kingdom and our priestly life happy and truly complete.”
[...]
Authentic obedience, he told priests, which frees the person from attachments, selfishness, pride and anger, springs forth from a heart “purified through an encounter with Jesus....”
Something a number of Belleville priests should consider. But, alas, it's probably too late for them. Nevertheless, we should continue to pray for priests.


No comments: