The rule of life that Pope Francis proposes to priests: Take care of themselves

During his meeting with priests, religious, consecrated persons and seminarians, the second event of his brief visit to Corsica, Pope Francis stressed that it is essential to “take care of oneself”, in order to be able to take care of others.

Before his arrival at the Cathedral of Santa María Assunta, Pope Francis blessed the people who greeted him with affection from the popemobile.

“Poverty a blessing”

After thanking the “life given”, the work and commitment, as well as the testimony of the priests and religious, the Holy Father recalled that the grace of God “is the foundation of the Christian faith and of every form of consecration in the Church ”.

He then referred to the “problems and challenges related to the transmission of faith” present in the European context.

He specified that the religious of Europe “experience it every day, discovering themselves small and fragile; There are not many, they do not have powerful means; “The environments in which they work are not always favorable to welcoming the proclamation of the Gospel.”

He clarified that this “poverty” is a “blessing” that teaches that the Christian mission “does not depend on human forces, but above all on the work of the Lord, who always works and acts with the little we can offer him.”

Therefore, he encouraged them to put God at the center, and not themselves. “This is something that perhaps every morning, when the sun rises, every pastor, every consecrated person should repeat in prayer: also today, in my service, let it not be me in the center, but God.” He also warned about a danger of worldliness, which is vanity”, looking too much at oneself.

Walking with the Lord, the Pontiff continued, “every day we are presented with an essential question: how am I living my priesthood, my consecration, my discipleship?” In a humorous tone, he asked the religious not to forget “their boss,” that is, the Lord.

“You don’t live on income with the Lord”

In this context, he stressed that it is essential to “take care of oneself”, in order to be able to take care of others, “because priestly or religious life is not a ‘yes’ that we have pronounced once and forever.”

“You don’t live off income with the Lord. On the contrary, the joy of meeting Him must be renewed every day; At every moment it is necessary to listen to his voice again and decide to follow him,” he said.

Pope Francis remarked that “a religious who gives himself, wears himself out, works for the Kingdom of God, it is also more necessary that he take care of himself,” and warned that a priest, a nun, a deacon who neglects himself “will also end up for neglecting those entrusted to him.”

For this reason, he proposed to them a “rule of life” that includes the daily appointment with prayer and the Eucharist, the dialogue with the Lord, each one according to his own spirituality and his own style.

“We must be afraid of those people who are always active, always in the center, who perhaps because of too much zeal never rest, never take a break for themselves. That is not good, spaces and moments are needed in which each priest and each consecrated person takes care of themselves,” he clarified.

He also exhorted them to live fraternity, to bring Jesus to others, to give hearts the consolation of the Gospel, and not to be afraid of changing, “to review old schemes, to renew the language of faith, learning by “At the same time, the mission is not a question of human strategies,” but rather a question of faith, of passion for the Gospel and for the Kingdom of God.

Pope Francis also asked to avoid bitterness, as well as envy, a “yellow vice,” and gossip. In particular, he invited priests to forgive everything, and to “always forgive,” without “torturing people in the confessional.”

“Even in moments of fatigue or discouragement, do not give up. Present your hearts to the Lord; He manifests himself and lets himself be found if they take care of themselves and others. In this way, He offers comfort to those He has called and sent. Continue forward with courage, He will fill you with joy,” Pope Francis encouraged them.

Pope Francis calls for peace in the Middle East

Before reciting the Marian Angelus prayer, the Holy Father paused to remember regions suffering from the violence of war, especially in the Holy Land, “where the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus.” He also invited prayers throughout the Middle East, for Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Myanmar.

“May the Holy Mother of God obtain her holy peace for the Ukrainian and Russian people, so that they may understand each other,” Pope Francis said.

Finally, he reiterated that war is always “a defeat,” even those that occur “in parishes and religious communities.”