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Skriven 2006-05-10 07:00:04 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

PRIESTS MUST LIVE FOR CHRIST AND FOR OTHERS

VATICAN CITY, MAY 7, 2006 (VIS) - Today, the fourth Sunday of Easter and the
43rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the Pope presided at a Eucharistic
celebration in the Vatican Basilica, conferring priestly ordination on 13
deacons of the diocese of Rome and on two religious of the Order of Discalced
Carmelites.

In his homily, the Pope referred to the figure of Christ the Good Shepherd, Who
gives His life for His flock, humankind, Who recognizes them and is recognized
by them, and Who remains at the service of unity.

The priestly spirit, said Pope Benedict, is opposed to "careerism, the attempt
to arrive 'high up,' to seek out a position through the Church, serve oneself
and not serve others. This is the image of a man who, through the priesthood,
seeks to become important and famous." Yet, he added, "the only legitimate
ascent towards the ministry of the shepherd is the cross. That is the door."

To be a priest, the Pope affirmed, is not "to desire to be someone important,
... but to live for others, for Christ, and through Him and with Him to live
for the men and women He seeks, whom He wants to lead along the path of life.

"We enter the priesthood through a Sacrament," said the Holy Father, "and this
means through the total donation of self to Christ, so that He may use me as He
wishes, so that I serve Him and follow His call even when this contrasts with
my own desires for self-fulfillment and respect. To enter by the door, which is
Christ, means knowing Him and loving Him ever more deeply, that our will may
unite with His and our action become one with His action."

The Pope highlighted the importance for priests of "the daily Eucharist," which
"must become a school of life for us, one in which we learn to donate our
lives."

He also underlined the importance of "a practical and concrete knowledge of the
people entrusted to us. ... The pastor cannot be content with remembering names
and dates, his knowledge must also be a knowledge of the heart. This, however,
is only fully possible if the Lord has opened our own hearts."

Benedict XVI concluded by emphasizing how priests "must concern themselves with
everyone," especially "those who believe and live with the Church," but also
with "bringing God's invitation to His banquet to those men and women who have
still not heard of it."
HML/PRIESTHOOD/... VIS 060508 (430)

SUMMARY

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