Pope Francis has challenged Spain’s seminarians and priests to draw closer to God, their bishops, their fellow priests, and God’s people.
Vatican News
“Good morning. You’re so cool!” With these words Pope Francis greeted the brothers of the seminary of Toledo, Spain. He jokingly asked them if they had come to Rome for tourism or for penance.
“Priests must be close to the four groups”
Challenging the bishops, professors, collaborators and seminarians present to develop a simple spirituality, the Pope advised them to approach four types of people: first, they must be closer to God, so that they “seek the Lord.” The second is mutual closeness, which must occur between priests and bishops. Pope Francis warned: “A priest who is not close to his bishop is ‘crippled’ and is missing something.”
Additionally, he reminded the group that they must have a sense of solidarity with each other, “which is ingrained in the seminar from the beginning.” The final group with whom priests must maintain intimacy are the laity, “God’s holy and faithful people.”
eucharistic celebration
Pope Francis recalled the seminary team’s preparation of an ancient tradition commemorating the placing of the Holy Eucharist in the Holy Ark for the first time, what he called a “reserved” celebration of the procession. He highlighted three important moments of this tradition: the sacrifice of the Mass, the presence of the Holy Eucharist throughout the day and the closing procession. The Pope emphasized that this commemoration highlights fundamental aspects of the priesthood.
The first is the Mass, because it is the moment when Jesus comes into our lives. Pope Francis said: “Jesus calls us as the Church to make ourselves present in the priests and in the people, in the sacrament and in the word.” After the Holy Mass, the offering of the Blessed Sacrament is made in monstrances throughout the day. The Pope encouraged seminarians and priests to use the time before the Eucharist as an opportunity to listen to God. It is, he said, “simply a personal encounter, an encounter of love, in which Jesus illuminates and sustains our earthly journey.”
The third and last part of the festival is the Procession of the Monsters. Pope Francis used it as a reminder that the purpose of the priestly apostolate is to bring Christ to his people. At the end of the meeting, he greeted the team and said: “I hope that, without taking our eyes off the one who guides us, we learn to walk together in the hope of the encounter that we already savor here in the sacraments. I have done it.”
