Pope's Priestly Vocation Is His Favorite Gift
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Dec. 6-19, 2019 | Volume 81, Number 3 Pope’s priestly vocation is his favorite gift CAROL GLATZ chemistry in high school, and worked as a bouncer. Catholic News Service The vocation of a priest, on the other hand, would be the exact opposite for Father Bergoglio; it would be draw- VATICAN CITY | In Caravaggio’s painting of Mat- ing people close, not tossing them out, and not worrying thew, the sinful tax collector being called by Jesus to “Fol- about getting dirty in the process. low me,” Pope Francis sees the same unexpected, “Priests who are — allow me to say the word, ‘aseptic,’ grace-filled moment found in his own those ‘from the laboratory,’ all clean and tidy — do not call to the priesthood. help the church,” the pope told Rome’s A 17-year-old Argentine student priests in 2014. headed to a school picnic on Sept. 21, “Today we can think of the church 1953, the feast of St. Matthew, Jorge as a ‘field hospital,’” he said, because Bergoglio felt compelled to first stop “there are so many people who are by his parish of San Jose de Flores. wounded by material problems, by scan- It was there, speaking with a priest dals, also in the church. People wounded he had never seen before and receiv- by the world’s illusions. We priests must ing the sacrament of reconciliation, be there, close to these people,” immedi- he was suddenly struck by “the lov- ately treating those wounds with mercy ing presence of God,” who, like his before delving into the details. episcopal motto describes, saw A priest will reflect on and learn from his him through eyes of mercy and own mistakes, the pope has often said, and chose him, despite his human pray for the grace and courage needed to do imperfections and flaws. what God wants, not what a closed, cold This gift from a “God of sur- or proud heart desires. prises,” a God who offers unex- In his many interviews, the pope pected, unlimited and unmerited has acknowledged his failings as a mercy, would change the young man’s priest, Jesuit provincial, bishop and life. pope. But within Christianity, there Four days before Pope Francis cele- is “a theology of failure,” according brates his 83rd birthday Dec. 17, he will to a 1974 book with the same title celebrate 50 years as a priest — a min- written by U.S. Jesuit Father John istry he sees as being a shepherd who Navone. The book and its theology, walks with his flock and yearns to find which emphasized God’s patience, those who are lost. had an important impact on the fu- Even though he served as auxiliary ture pope, who was going through bishop, then archbishop of Buenos Aires, a difficult, dark time after ending Argentina, for more than 20 years, was a six-year term in 1979 as a young elevated to the College of Cardinals in provincial superior who struggled Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio is pictured cooking in Buenos Aires, 2001 and elected pope in 2013, he has said, with stark divisions among his Argentina. Pope Francis will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his “What I love is being a priest,” which is why confreres. ordination to the priesthood Dec. 13, 2019. At inset is a photo of of all the titles he could have, “I prefer to be “There was a blessed Jorge Mario Bergoglio as seen in his youth in an undated, and two called ‘Father.’” juncture between my the- Vatican City stamps that display two likenesses of the pope — one So much of what Pope Francis experi- ology and his crisis,” Father as a young priest and the other as Pope Francis. (COURTESY OF enced in life and his vocation — with its many Navone has said. “It was a kind MARIA ELENA BERGOGLIO VIA REUTERS | CNS) ups and downs — influenced what he says of light in the darkness to him.” today about the priesthood, what it means It is only by recognizing and and what it should be for the church. admitting one’s failures, the The main source of inspiration of who a pope has said, then seeing that priest must be is rooted in the figure of Je- God still awaits, still offers mercy sus in the Gospels: What did he do? How and forgiveness like the father of did he react? What did he feel and say? the prodigal son, that a priest will Jesus was always on the road and be able to see familiar wounds in always attentive to the people he en- others and share, in turn, that same countered, the pope told priests of the undeserved mercy. Diocese of Rome in 2014. It’s a form of “pastoral suffering” he Like Jesus and the early apostles, the told priests in Rome in 2014; “it means priest is a missionary, and this was part of the reason suffering for and with the person. And a 21-year-old Bergoglio chose to enter the Society of Je- this is not easy! To suffer like a father and sus. “I was attracted to its position on, to put it in military mother suffer for their children.” terms, the front lines of the church, grounded in obedi- At a time when the priesthood continues to suffer, ence and discipline. It was also due to its focus on mis- most visibly with the scandal of abuse and negligence by sionary work,” he said in a 2010 book-length compilation its members, the pope has continually offered priests a of interviews with Sergio Rubin and Francesca Ambro- hopeful understanding of their vocation. getti. Change, transformation and holiness are painful, but But there is a balance the priest must juggle that in- “the Lord is purifying his bride and is converting all of us corporates Jesus’ compassion and that strong discipline, to him. He is making us experience the trial so that we qualities he needed to do well both at school and at work, may understand that without him we are dust. He is sav- Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio greets worshippers beginning with part-time jobs at the age of 13. ing us from hypocrisy, from the spirituality of appearanc- after celebrating Holy Thursday Mass in 2008 at a church in He swept floors in a factory, did administrative tasks, es. He is blowing his Spirit to restore beauty to his bride,” the Parque Patricios neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. worked at a laboratory while specializing in applied he told Rome’s priests in 2019. n (ENRIQUE GARCIA MEDINA, REUTERS | CNS) WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Dec. 6-19, 2019 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE Bishop John Noonan blesses the altar and new Schoenstein pipe organ on the solemnity of Christ the King, Nov. 23. “The organ completes and fulfills the original plans of the shrine to have a beautiful place of worship with liturgical music to complement the setting,” he said. (PHOTOS BY HENRY BARON) New pipe organ dedicated at basilica GLENDA MEEKINS of the Florida Catholic staff ‘An organ is made up of all the instruments, all the voices. ORLANDO | “We have come together So the organ is a wonderful to bless this new organ, installed so the celebration of the liturgy may become analogy for us.’ more beautiful and solemn,” said Bishop John Noonan just prior to blessing the new — Father Paul Henry Schoenstein pipe organ at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the “The purpose of music in the liturgy is Universe, Nov. 23. The staff spent a little above all to give glory to God and to lead us to more than five years working on coordinat- holiness,” Bishop Noonan added. “Thus the ing its purchase and installation. music of the organ wonderfully expresses the Father Paul Henry, rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Msgr. Joseph Harte, the basilica’s first new song that Scripture tells us to sing to the Universe, standing at center, thanks those whose generous donations made the reality rector, was thrilled. “This was a fulfillment Lord.” The bishop then proclaimed a prayer of the new Schoenstein pipe organ possible. of a dream,” he said. “We had dreams to of blessing: “We your people, joyously gath- build this place and make it as spectacular ered in this basilica, wish to join our voices for Our Lady as we could.” As he heard the to the universal hymn of praise. So that our softness and “speech” from late August to Quoting Musican Sacram from the Second violins and trumpets sound the Alleluia song may rise more worthily to your maj- November. The three months it took to tune Vatican Council (VI, 62) Bishop Noonan said, and Gloria, he said, “I was thinking back to esty, we present this organ for your blessing: the pipes’ “speech” was well worth the wait “The pipe organ is to be held in high esteem in the days when I was wondering if this place grant that its music may lead us to express our as music from prolific composers such as the Latin Church, since it is its traditional in- would ever be built. It’s the grace of God prayer and praise in melodies that are pleas- Perry, Handel, Widor, Rutter and more were strument, the sound of which can add a won- and the Mother of God.” He added gratitude ing to you.” heard throughout the liturgy, showcasing the derful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies to Father Paul Henry, the basilica’s current This was the third attempt purchase and beauty of the organ and elevating the liturgy and powerfully lift up men’s minds to God rector, for completing the project monsi- install the organ.