When receiving seminarians from the “Our Lady of the Apostles” Major Seminary in Getafe (Spain) at the Vatican on August 3, Pope Francis pointed out what God and the Catholic Church expect from priests, and recalled “four fundamental aspects ” in their training.
The Holy Father received in audience around 8:00 am (local time) the seminarians, who arrived accompanied by the Bishop of Getafe, Mons. Ginés García Beltrán, and his Auxiliary Bishop, Mons. José María Avendaño. They were joined by the rector and the trainers of the seminary, which currently trains more than 30 young people.
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In a video message diffused On August 2, Bishop Ginés García Beltrán assured that they arrived in Rome “with an open heart to listen to what the Pope wants to tell us, the recommendations that the Pope wants to give us, but above all to meet him and be able to reiterate our filial adhesion. , to be able to reiterate our union with him and the need we have to work together with the entire Church.”
The seminarians, as the Holy Father highlighted at the beginning of today’s meeting, visited Rome on a pilgrimage to the tomb of the apostles Peter and Paul, within the framework of the celebration of the 30 years of the founding of the Major Seminary “Our Lady of the Apostles.”
Although originally created in 1992, a year after the Diocese of Getafe – suffragan of the Archdiocese of Madrid – was erected, the seminary moved in October 1994 to its current location, in Cerro de los Ángeles, where it is also located the Monument to the Sacred Heart and the hermitage of Our Lady of the Angels.
The place, Pope Francis highlighted today, is “traditionally considered the geographical center of the Iberian Peninsula.”
What God and the Catholic Church expect from priests
The Holy Father recalled that Saint John Mary Vianney, patron of priests whose feast day the Catholic Church celebrates on August 4, “said that ‘if we understood well what a priest is on earth, we would die: not of fear, but of love.’ ”.
“Inspired by this thought of the holy Curé of Ars, in which we find summarized his life of complete consecration to God and his parishioners, I would like to remind you, dear seminarians, that you too have received this call of love from the Lord, and with the help of Their trainers and many other people are preparing to one day receive the gift of the priesthood.”
The Pope then pointed out that “this path of configuration with Jesus, good shepherd, is not without difficulties; For this reason, every time I meet seminarians I remind them that they have to go through it taking care four fundamental aspectswhich are spiritual life, study, community life and apostolic activity.”
“It is essential that they do not lose sight of the harmonization that they must carry out of this quadruple reality, because The Lord, and the Church, expect priests to beabove all, men of integrity and generosity in their response to the vocation received, always available to listen and forgive, determined to live to the fullest their total dedication to God and their brothers, with special predilection for those who suffer the most, for the poor and the discarded,” he indicated.
At the end of his message to the seminarians, Pope Francis assured that he asks “the Lord Jesus that He be for each of you the center of your life, that He molds your hearts according to His, and that He always keeps you very close to Him.” heart”.
“And to Our Lady of the Angels, may she watch over you and accompany you on your path. Thank you very much,” she concluded.
David Ramos
Graduated in Communication Sciences from the Universidad Privada del Norte in Trujillo, Peru. With more than 12 years of experience in Catholic journalism working at ACI Prensa, I have been based in Mexico since 2018. I have covered Pope Francis’ trips to Ecuador, Paraguay, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Panama.