Authentic priestly identity

Holy Thursday offered priests the opportunity to ponder the birth of their priesthood. They recalled that most evocative moment when, on the day of their ordination, they prostrate themselves on the sanctuary floor. It is a gesture of deep humility and obedient openness that was splendidly designed to prepare the new priest’s soul for the sacramental imposition of hands, through which Catholic belief holds that the Holy Spirit enters him to accomplish his work.

Once the priest rises from the floor, he kneels before the bishop to be ordained. His hands are then anointed for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice, while the congregation chants: “Living spring, fire, love, anointing of the soul”.

Through ordination, in an ontological sense, the priest becomes Christ’s witness in the service of the Word and the sacraments. He is, likewise, the real testimony of Christ, the one Priest.

At the moment of ordination, the priest receives a new mode of being. He is marked by the priestly character, which is a real, indelible, spiritual sign.

This character does not separate the priest from humanity. On the contrary, it places him in its midst, so that he can devote himself to its service.

The priestly character inserts him into the priesthood of Christ, who is “the key, the centre and the goal of all human history” (Gaudium Et Spes, n. 10), “the alpha and the omega” (ibid., n. 45) of visible and invisible realities.

The proper formation of candidates to the priesthood is therefore imperative.

The March 2012 Holy See document on the findings of what is known as the “Apostolic Visitation” to certain dioceses, seminaries and religious institutes in Ireland speaks of, among other things, the necessity to ensure that the formation provided is rooted in authentic priestly identity. To show greater concern for the intellectual formation of seminarians, ensuring that it is in full conformity with the Church’s Magisterium. To re-evaluate the pastoral programme, ensuring that it is sacramental, priestly and apostolic and duly concerned with preparing candidates to celebrate the sacraments and to preach.

Of first importance in the seminary must be friendship with Christ, centred on the Eucharist and nurtured especially by prayer and meditation on the word of God. This friendship with Christ is authentically expressed in sacrifice, love of neighbour, chastity and apostolic zeal. It likewise demands fidelity to studies and a certain detachment from the things of this world.

Priests invariably face the challenge of telling people, by their very presence, who a priest is and what is his identity.

The Church expects them to devote themselves totally to their pastoral ministry within the presbyterate gathered closely round its bishop. It also expects them to keep effectively in mind that dissent from the fundamental teachings of the Church is not the authentic path towards renewal.

This comes out very clearly in the Holy See’s new document on the situation of the Church in Ireland. No state of life escapes temptations and priests have to identify their own too.

“You will refuse to be captured by the attraction of material things and will not put your joy in money, big cars and a high position in society. Party politics are not for you. It is the proper area of the lay apostolate. Rather, you are the chaplains of the laity, who in political matters should assume their own distinctive role.” That was the strong advice John Paul II gave to the priests and seminarians of Nigeria on February 13, 1982.

Pope Benedict XVI’s advice to priests is also very clear. Addressing the clergy during his May 2006 visit to Poland, he said:

“The faithful expect only one thing from priests: that they be specialists in promoting the encounter between man and God. The priest is not asked to be an expert in economics, construction or politics. He is expected to be an expert in the spiritual life. With this end in view, when a young priest takes his first steps, he needs to be able to refer to an experienced teacher who will help him not to lose his way among the many ideas put forward by the culture of the moment.

“In the face of the temptations of relativism or the permissive society, there is absolutely no need for the priest to know all the latest, changing currents of thought. What the faithful expect from him is that he be a witness to the eternal wisdom contained in the revealed word. Solicitude for the quality of personal prayer and for good theological formation bear fruit in life. Christ needs priests who are mature, virile, capable of cultivating an authentic spiritual paternity.”

The gospel is not announced by word only. It is announced, to a greater extent, by living.

A much learned priest once wrote that a true man of the Church will not be a fanatic, will have no time for mere showing-off, will not let himself be enlightened, guided and shaped by habit or convention but by truth.

A true man of the Church will hold himself apart from all coteries and all intrigue. He will understand that the Catholic spirit, which is at the same time both rigorous and comprehensive, is a spirit that is charitable rather than quarrelsome, in distinction from every kind of spirit of faction.