The recent scandals that exposed the deplorable sexual abuse of children and young people by some Catholic priests and other religious have seriously damaged the much respected and dignified image of the Catholic priesthood.
Nevertheless, we, as priests and religious alike, while suffering as a result of the sins of our brothers and sisters who betrayed their vocation, are called once again to delve deeper into Christ’s personal and collective calling he made to us so as to better make him visibly present in the Church and the world.
As Pope Benedict XVI recently encouraged us: “At this painful time, I want to acknowledge the dedication of your priestly and religious lives and apostolates, and I invite you to reaffirm your faith in Christ, your love of his Church and your confidence in the Gospel’s promise of redemption, forgiveness and interior renewal. In this way, you will demonstrate for all to see that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more (cf. Rom 5:20)” (Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland, 10).
Maundy Thursday is perhaps, the best opportunity for us priests to rediscover and reaffirm with extraordinary vigour and zeal the profound richness of our vocation. In the words of an old preacher: Non nova ut sciatis, sed veteran ut faciatis: what is important is not to know new things, but to put into practice those that are known. In other words, what we need to realise as priests is that, by our very calling, we are “servants of Christ” (1 Cor 4, 1). In what sense are we so? The letter to the Hebrews explains our singular identity. “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Heb 5, 1). The common root of the ministerial priesthood, be it that of bishops, presbyters and deacons, is the sacrament of Holy Orders. The latter is “the sacrament though which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536). In view of this definition, we, as priests, are servants of Christ, since we wholly participate in his evangelising endeavour, precisely by continuing his work in the world. “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you” (Jn 20, 21). The fact that we, priests, are “sent” to continue the work of Jesus, means that ours is the very same identity and mission of Christ as designed by the Father from eternity. In Father Raniero Cantalamessa’s explanation, “to continue the work of Christ implies therefore for the priest to give witness to the truth, to make the light of what is true shine”. This we do in certain ways. Firstly, by teaching “holy doctrine”, therefore sound teaching to God’s flock. Secondly, to patiently assist God’s people in their arduous journeys of faith in order to experience this truth, which is God, more profoundly and personally.
Our priestly calling to be faithful continuators of Christ’s work demands that we adopt a merciful attitude towards God’s people. This was recently highlighted by Fr Cantalamessa, the preacher to the papal household. “To be continuators in the world of the work of Christ means to make one’s own this basic attitude in confrontations with the people, even the most distant. Not to judge but to save. The human quality on which the Letter to the Hebrews most insists in delineating the figure of Christ as Priest and of every priest should not go unobserved: likeableness, the sense of solidarity, compassion in confrontations with the people”. This must be so because Christ is not “a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4, 15). As a result, each and every one of us priests, “is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people” (Heb 5, 1- 3).
Thus, compassionate priests are not only committed servants of Jesus Christ but also play an indispensable role in the healing, renewal and reparation of the immense harm that recent decades of abuse of children and vulnerable young people have inflicted on the victims, the Church and the public’s perception of the Catholic priesthood and religious life.
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap
Franciscan Capuchin Friary
SAN GWANN