Vatican City: This morning in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis conferred priestlyordination upon ten deacons from several Roman diocesan seminaries: the MajorSeminary, the Seminary of the Oblates, the sanctuary of the Virgin of DivineLove, and the Redemptoris Mater Seminary. Concelebrating with the Holy Fatherwere Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general of His Holiness for Rome,Archbishop Filippo Iannone, O. Carm., vice gerent of the diocese of Rome,auxiliary bishops, and the superiors of the seminaries from which the newpriests came.
The homily delivered by theBishop of Rome was based on the one that appears in the Pontificale Romanum forthe ordination of priests, with one or two personal additions, mainlyemphasizing the mercy that must characterize the new priests. Following areample extracts from his homily.
“It is true that God has madehis entire holy people a royal priesthood in Christ. Nevertheless, our greatPriest himself, Jesus Christ, chose certain disciples to carry out publicly inhis name, and on behalf of mankind, a priestly office in the Church. For Christwas sent by the Father and he in turn sent the Apostles into the world, so thatthrough them and their successors, the Bishops, he might continue to exercisehis office of Teacher, Priest, and Shepherd. Indeed, priests are establishedco-workers of the Order of Bishops, with whom they are joined in the priestlyoffice and with whom they are called to the service of the people of God.”
“Now ... you are to be raisedto the Order of the Priesthood. For your part you will exercise the sacred dutyof teaching in the name of Christ the Teacher. Impart to everyone the Word ofGod which you have received with joy. Remember your mothers, your grandmothers,your catechists, who gave you the Word of God, the faith ... the gift of faith!... Meditating on the law of the Lord, see that you believe what you read, thatyou teach what you believe, and that you practise what you teach. Remember toothat the Word of God is not your property: it is the Word of God. And theChurch is the custodian of the Word of God.”
“You will exercise in Christthe office of sanctifying. … You will gather others into the people of Godthrough Baptism, and you will forgive sins in the name of Christ and the Churchin the sacrament of Penance. Today I ask you in the name of Christ and theChurch, never tire of being merciful. You will comfort the sick and the elderlywith holy oil: do not hesitate to show tenderness towards the elderly.”
“Remember then that you aretaken from among men and appointed on their behalf for those things thatpertain to God. Therefore, carry out the ministry of Christ the Priest withconstant joy and genuine love, attending not to your own concerns but to thoseof Jesus Christ. You are pastors, not functionaries. Be mediators, notintermediaries.”
“Finally, dear sons, exercisingfor your part the office of Christ, Head and Shepherd, while united with theBishop and subject to him, strive to bring the faithful together into onefamily, so that you may lead them to God the Father through Christ in the HolySpirit. Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd who camenot to be served but to serve, and who came to seek out and save what waslost.”
source: vis