From his depiction of the Church as a field hospital, to proclaiming the need to acknowledge the Mercy of God in all situations, Pope Francis has spoken repeatedly about the need of Pastors to meet people in whatever circumstances life has given them and to walk with them in compassion and love.
In his Exhortation on The Joy of the Gospel, he named this “the art of accompaniment.” But what exactly does Pope Francis mean by that term?
Francis has told his Bishops and Pastors: "... the ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all. The confessor, for example, is always in danger of being either too much of a rigorist or too lax. Neither is merciful, because neither of them really takes responsibility for the person. The rigorist washes his hands so that he leaves it to the commandment. The loose minister washes his hands by simply saying, ‘This is not a sin’ or something like that. In pastoral ministry we must accompany people, and we must heal their wounds."
One thing is certain. The fruitful and efficacious implementation of the pastoral initiatives which the Holy Father has encouraged depend upon a Clergy that is prepared and capable of such discernment and accompaniment.
Yet, most Priests (including Priests of my generation) were never schooled in such pastoral skills.
For the most part, we were trained in the classic structure of seminary formation: personal discipline, study and prayer, in that ascending order.
Theologically we were schooled to be “teachers” of the Deposit of Faith found in the Scriptures and Tradition of Holy Mother Church. We were expected to know the fundamental doctrines and dogmas of the Church and to share those teachings with diligence to those entrusted to our care.
As concerns the ministry of the Confessional, the Sacrament was presented as the “tribunal of God’s forgiveness” with the Confessor standing as judge of sinful deeds and as the advocate on behalf of the penitential sinner: our judgments based upon clear and universally binding moral principles and the Absolution we granted always inspired by the Merciful Jesus whose alter-persona we Priests are to His People.
We were not formed or trained to accompany people. We were to teach them, sanctify them with the Sacraments, and see to the administration of the temporal goods of the Church which provided the means of accomplishing these sacred duties.
And now (rather late in the game I might add), we are occasionally scolded by the Holy Father, for being “rigorists” because we sought to diligently and dutifully fulfill the responsibilities with which the Church entrusted us and expected us of us.
I see a parallel in today’s Priesthood with many professions and careers in the secular world.
In today’s competitive marketplace, it is crucial for businesses to be flexible enough to change, in order to remain relevant and profitable. Change in job descriptions and tasks continues to be an issue of controversy and division: how can employers create suitable conditions for a successful changes within the company structure and among employees.
For many people, their jobs largely define who they are. Personal lives change as people get older, so do jobs, careers and organizations. However, human beings, by nature, do tend to resent change and resist it strongly. The whole process can be very distressing and negative emotions oftentimes stem out from it.
These same tensions and challenges exist among Priests today. I believe it is always advisable to recognize the different stages of change and anticipate its impact in order to take preventive measures.
And so, if I may presume to be so bold, I would offer the following advice to my brother-Priests who are being challenged by the new expectations which Pope Francis’ pastoral initiatives are placing squarely on their shoulders.
First, make an informed and determined decision to accept the reality that the Church has been most effectively when it allowed itself to accept change, adapting to the cultures and customs of people and adapting those cultures to the teachings and traditions of the Church. Change has always been a part of the history of the Church, even if the defensive response to the Protestant Reformation contributed to the illusion that the Church was always what the Council of Trent depicted it to be. No one can live in the past. Denying that change happens only makes life and ministry more complicated and burdensome.
Second, read, read, read. Stay informed and alert to what is happening locally in your parish, your diocese, and at the highest echelons of Church authority. Be alert to clues and hints that changes are on the way and be willing to adapt to them or entrust them to others.
Third, maintain open communication channels with superiors and peers. Don’t expect things to pass you by smoothly. Get acquainted with the occurring changes, seek more details from those in authority as well as and peers to form an accurate understanding of the matter. And be honest and vocal about your fears: dealing with the unknown is often resented and daunting.
Fourth, make a personal assessment of your ability and willingness to accept and realistically implement the changes expected of you. Recognize your strengths and where you could bring them into play. At the same time, stay aware your inadequacies and work on improving them. Be flexible enough to look at the different angles of the change and see where you could apply your “existing” skills and knowledge, and what news skills you need to acquire.
Fifth, stay optimistic. Keep a positive attitude and don’t let yourself drown in uncertainty. Involve yourself in the new process; locate yourself properly in the new scenario. Adjust as much as you can.
Sixth and last, be humble enough to admit you may not be able to adjust to the change in expectations and entrust the task to some who is more capable of successfully fulfilling the demands the new changes require.
Many may think that it is too much to expect an aging Clergy to accept change.
Yet, I have always been inspired and admire the Priest who so readily accepted and adjusted to the changes resulting from the Second Vatican Council. Priests who had celebrated the Sacred Liturgy all their lives according to the Tridentine ritual who readily adapted to the reforms of the Council and encouraged their parishes to accept them as well. And these Priests did it so well happily and well!
May our generation of Priests be equally as humble and enthusiastic as were our immediate predecessors.
God bless our Priests and sustain them in the difficult ministry which is theirs to be the faithful Servants of God and His Holy People.
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