Pope Benedict XVI's 15th international trip to Portugal, from May 11 to 14, culminated in his much-awaited visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. This apostolic journey gave the Holy Father the opportunity to accentuate the need to relearn conversion, prayer, penance and the theological virtues. The first recipients of such an urgent call are none other than us priests.
In his address following the celebration of vespers with priests, religious, seminarians and deacons at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Fatima, on May 12, the Bishop of Rome presented Mary, the Mother of the Son Incarnate, as the model of priestly consecration. "Each one of us is called to be with Mary and like Mary, a humble and simple sign of the Church who offers herself constantly as a spouse into the hands of her Lord... In this 'upper room' of faith which is Fatima, the Virgin Mother shows us the way to place our pure and holy offering into the hands of the Father."
Bearing in mind Pope Paul VI's insightful observation that "modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses" (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 41), Benedict XVI harped on the dire exigency that priests rediscover and relive with committed zeal and wisdom the ever pertinent and convincing value of fidelity. "Let me open my heart and tell you that the greatest concern of every Christian, especially of every consecrated person or minister of the altar, must be fidelity, loyalty to one's own vocation, as a disciple who wishes to follow the Lord. Faithfulness over time is the name of love, of a consistent, true and profound love for Christ the Priest."
One of the dominant themes within Jesus's post resurrection appearances is fidelity. Before entrusting the governance of his flock to Peter, Jesus demanded from him a solemn declaration of fidelity. "Do you love me?" (Jn 21, 15-17). It is when Peter thrice declared: "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you" (vv 15-17), that Christ sealed Peter's fidelity by his own: "Feed my lambs". "Tend my sheep." "Feed my sheep" (vv 15-17). Since both the lambs and sheep are Jesus's not Peter's, a special relationship with Jesus, "the Good Shepherd" (Jn 10, 11. 14) is essential. In his simple yet profound characteristic style, Pope Benedict reiterated that an intimate friendship with Jesus is the sine qua non way of being a priest, a pastor according to Christ's heart. "In this Year for Priests... may grace in abundance come down upon you that you may live joyfully your consecration and bear witness to your priestly fidelity grounded in the fidelity of Christ. This evidently supposes true intimacy with Christ in prayer, since it is the powerful and intense experience of the Lord's love that brings priests and consecrated persons to respond to his love in a way that is exclusive and spousal."
Within the Johannine understanding of ordained ministry, Jesus's message becomes more convincing if his representatives serve one another. After washing his disciples' feet, Jesus told them: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (Jn 13, 14). Thus, John's concept of the sacred ministry is to "have... part in" Jesus (Jn 13, 8), precisely by loving through serving. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13, 34-35).
The German Pontiff takes up Christ's challenge by promoting the intrinsic value of priestly fraternities. "Fidelity to one's vocation requires... that you be concerned for one another and support one another fraternally. Moments of common prayer and study, and sharing in the demands of the priestly life and work, are a necessary part of your life. It is a fine thing when you welcome one another into your homes with the peace of Christ in your hearts! It is important to assist one another with prayer, helpful advice and discernment! Be especially attentive to those situations where there is a certain weakening of priestly ideals or dedication to activities not fully consonant with what is proper for a minister of Jesus Christ. Then is the time to take a firm stand, with an attitude of warm fraternal love, as brother assisting his brother to 'remain on his feet'."
From the Fatima Shrine, Pope Benedict XVI greatly exhorted us priests that closeness to Christ and one another are two solid foundations on which our fidelity to God and his people entirely depends. Let us heed his message. This is Fatima calling!