I celebrated another birthday recently, my 69th revolution around our sun (for heliocentrists) or the 69th revolution of the sun around the plane of our world (for flat-earthers)! Whichever physical construct of Creation is the most accurate, I am grateful to our Creator that He has been gracious and generous in affording me the opportunity of yet another year to “try and get it right” when it comes to incorporating the Gospel values into my life. Praised be the Lord now and forever!
Perhaps it is the blessing of another birthday which wells up so many memories within me.
Over the years, I have come to appreciate, in a way I never could as a young man, the wisdom and insight of the Professors under whose tutelage I was privileged to study the history and teachings of the Church. Their dedication and their care for those of us in Priestly formation went fairly unnoticed by us in the vigor and brashness for which youth itself is notorious. It is unfortunate that only now am I coming to realize how much I and my brother-Priests benefited from their wisdom and foresight.
I had the very good fortune to complete my theological studies in Rome at two most prestigious Pontifical Universities: the Gregorianum and the Angelicum.
The Jesuits at the Greg were merciless instructors who relentlessly insisted that we students get the facts right and learn the fundamentals of theological study and reflection. The Dominicans at the Angelicum were equally insistent that we assimilate what we learn in our studies and incorporate these truths in our preaching in a way in which ordinary people could understand and appreciate the depth of God’s love and mercy toward each and all of us.
To know the truths of faith (and the moral demands they make upon us) and to communicate those truths (in a way which inspires confidence in God’s merciful love): this is to be a Priest, a Pastor of souls.
Many times in the actual experience of Priestly service, I have found the two roles to be paradoxical.
As teacher, I was called upon to insist that the truths of faith are universal and apply to everyone equally in all circumstances. As Pastor, I was expected to communicate these truths in a way which never obscured or contradicted God’s mercy which puts the individual human person above any other consideration, even the moral expectations which flow from the Gospel itself.
I think it was Saint John Vianney who offered this counsel to Priests everywhere: “Be a lion in the pulpit, but a lamb in the Confessional.”
Whether or not I succeeded will be God’s judgment upon my life and ministry. The Lord knows I certainly have tried.
I know I’ve always admired those Priests who embodied both the gift of being brilliant scholars and humble ministers of God’s loving Grace. So many good men, wonderful Pastors, come to mind. I have been blessed to know them and be touched by their generous service and care.
This is my singular vision of Pope Francis. He is, first and foremost, a Pastor of souls.
This is what I understand Francis to be saying when he speaks about the Church and Priests “accompanying people” in the journey of faith. To be with them, accepting them as they are, calling them to noble and perfect life of charity, yet understanding that they, we, all of us, are frail souls wounded by sins of pride and self-absorption.
The Priest is to be with God’s people, not simply as mentor and judge, but primarily as a friend acting in the person of Christ Himself, the Perfect Friend who laid down His Life for us precisely in the moment that we rejected Him.
To some, this understanding of Priesthood will seem to be a sort of capitulation, a compromise of truth and moral order which deconstructs the elaborate truths of the Catholic Faith. For some, it is much easier to search for the purity of truth in the antiseptic atmosphere of academia, devoid of the messiness and complexities of real life. They will never fully comprehend that the affirmation of truth alone will never bring one to experience the profound conversion that comes when a soul shattered by despair experiences the acceptance and embrace of the Merciful Christ, the Shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to rescue the 1 lost lamb.
It is because Francis understands what it means to be a Pastor that he rejects those in whom a fear of the world is so great that they retreat from a sinful world and its wounded sons and daughters.
As a Pastor, Francis inspires all of us to have confidence in the Holy Spirit and to trust Him enough to accompany each other in all the situations and circumstances of life and to be especially present and comforting in moments of weakness or failure.
I believe Pope Francis understands that, for many, it will be impossible to hold onto the hope and security which the Gospels offer even as they witness people whose lives deny or contradict the truths and moral precepts the Gospels communicate.
The Holy Father understands and accepts the fact that these people, who are good and decent human beings whose motives of preserving the integrity of the Faith are equally good and noble, are simply afraid to fully trust in the mercy of Christ.
It is clear that Francis is disposed to love and embrace them nonetheless, as he challenges the Church to foster and promote charity and mercy, perhaps even at the cost of finding comfort in the familiar disciplines and customs of the past. For this, conservative and fearful souls will resist and challenge him. Yes, in this his final role as Pastor, Francis models the “Suffering Savior Jesus”, our High Priest and Redeemer.
Let us pray for our Holy Father and for the Church. Even in these challenging times, may we trust in the Holy Spirit as our Guide and Consoler. Let no disagreement ever separate us from His Wisdom or from one another.
God bless us as we continue to rejoice in the Christmas Season!
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