Priestly holiness

The occasion of Dun Gorg's canonisation is a powerful stimulus to us Maltese and Gozitan priests. It is a committed remembrance to what we are called to live in, with and for the Church - a priestly holy life.

Dun Gorg instigates in us priests a turning back to that zeal and vision we lovingly embraced on the day of our priestly formation and ordination. His persuading attitudes encourage us to deepen or espouse back our unique vocation as good shepherds.

As Jesus teaches us, the good shepherd is the one who "lays down his life for the sheep" (Jn 10, 11) principally by knowing them personally and showing them concern accordingly. But how can we priests be good shepherds for our flock if we do not have an intimate relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd?

Holiness is the basis for our fruitful apostolic life. The "Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests" Presbyterorum Ordinis, highlights this essential foundation within a priestly life when it says: "This holy council... urges all priests that they strive always for that growth in holiness by which they will become consistently better instruments in the service of the whole People of God..." (Presbyterorum Ordinis, 12).

Prayer, retreats, spiritual reading and journaling, having fellowship with other priests, and going to spiritual direction are surely effective means through which the Holy Spirit imparts His sanctifying grace. Holiness is not impossible to obtain if it is sought with the greatest simplicity, openness and honesty of heart, mind and will.

As fellow human beings and Christians, we priests are not exempt from the harsh winters and dryness that our spiritual life presents to us. We have our own issues and difficulties to deal with in our constant journey to reach the perfection Christ requires from us.

We sin like each and every person on earth. Yet we have the assuring hope that Christ never has, is and will be deserting us. He promised us: "I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matt. 28, 20). Those of us who are open to Him and to those He sends us along the way to accompany us on our itinerary of fidelity know perfectly well how much this is true.

For those of us priests, who for various reasons, have given up or are living a mediocre priestly life, Dun Gorg's canonisation is a kind and challenging invitation to seek once more the face of Christ. As Pope John Paul II said in one of his speeches:

"Christian holiness does not mean being sinless, but rather means struggling not to give in and always getting up after every fall. Holiness does not stem so much from the effort of man's will, as from the effort never to restrict the action of grace in one's own soul, and to be, moreover, grace's humble 'partner'." Is not priestly holiness a never-ending struggle and partnership with God's ongoing grace, which comes to us priests in many ways?

Dun Gorg's canonisation stands as a powerful, encouraging and life-giving moment for us priests to keep this spiritual combat going, by fortifying it through an outstanding openness to the help Christ gives us through his Church as well as certain chosen individuals from the People of God who, by a special divine calling, are not only following Christ with an undivided heart but are also called to serve Him by spiritually accompanying his priests.

Dear People of God, may you make your own the following prayer by Cardinal John O'Connor so that by your prayers and support we priests can live with great joy, commitment and inspiration our sacerdotal vocation for Christ's glory and the well being of his Church:

"Lord Jesus, we your people pray to You for our priests. You have given them to us for our needs. We pray for them in their needs.

"We know that You have made them priests in the likeness of your own priesthood. You have consecrated them, set them aside, anointed them, filled them with the Holy Spirit, appointed them to teach, to preach, to minister, to console, to forgive, and to feed us with Your Body and Blood.

"Yet we know, too, that they are one with us and share our human weaknesses. We know too that they are tempted to sin and discouragement as are we, needing to be ministered to, as do we, to be consoled and forgiven, as do we. Indeed, we thank You for choosing them from among us, so that they understand us as we understand them, suffer with us and rejoice with us, worry with us and trust with us, share our beings, our lives, our faith.

"We ask that You give them this day the gift You gave Your chosen ones on the way to Emmaus: Your presence in their hearts, Your holiness in their souls, Your joy in their spirits. And let them see You face to face in the breaking of the Eucharistic bread.

"We pray to You, O Lord, through Mary the mother of all priests, for Your priests and for ours. Amen."