The prefect of the Dicastery for Clergy in the Vatican, Cardinal Lázaro You Heung sik, sent a letter to all the priests of the world, in which he explained that it is in the Heart of Jesus where the key to the human dimension and spiritual maturity lies. of all the priests.
In the missive dated June 7, Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and World Day for the Sanctification of Priests, the Korean cardinal recognizes at the beginning that “much has been said and written about the importance of the human dimension and emotional maturity in life of the priest”, as well as “the numerous signs of fragility that appear in this area”.
Receive the main news from ACI Prensa by WhatsApp and Telegram
It is increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channels today:
“In every ecclesial and social context there are many observations about the lack of education about feelings and emotions, as well as the presence of emotional illiteracy and lack of affectivity; “Some speak of a globalization of indifference, of a growing cynicism, along with narcissism and self-referentiality,” the cardinal continues.
“How can we take care of our humanity to help us also bear fruit in this way, if not by turning once again to Jesus and his Gospel?”, the prefect of the Clergy then questions, highlighting the importance of internalizing “the same feelings even more in ourselves.” of the Heart of Christ and in our lifestyle.”
The cardinal then recalls that “our heart is fragile and complicated, but beautiful… It is a battlefield, a ‘mixture’ of mud and spirit, guardian of infinite desires and an icon of limits to the point of sclerocardia, but at the same time a place where love is an immense experience of which one feels inundated and of which he is capable, which has as its ultimate source God himself, the Trinity of love.”
“Our most human heart, therefore, is the place where Christ wants to continue coming, dwelling, dwelling, palpitating until he allows himself to be pierced by love and by love, in imitation of him.”
The prefect also highlights that the Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds each priest of “the misery and smallness of our hearts, but even more so of the infinite and regenerating mercy of the Heart of God manifested in the Heart of Jesus.”
“It is on the side of the pierced Heart where we want to take refuge to rediscover the confidence and tenacity of the Fisherman of Galilee who, after finding himself poor and unsuccessful, with empty boats and nets, throws his heart into the open sea, trusting in the Word of Jesus” .
In this way, each priest will be able to “bring liberation and consolation to everyone, announcing the good news to the poor and proclaiming a year of grace as pilgrims and witnesses of hope.”
After highlighting the importance of sacraments such as the Eucharist, the real presence of Jesus, the cardinal encouraged people to also entrust themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and put into practice what she tells everyone: “Do what He tells you.”
To conclude, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy encouraged people to pray to ask God for more holy vocations; and to pray for all priests: “let us always take care of them and support them with our affection and closeness.”
Walter Sánchez Silva
I have been a husband since 2008. My wife and I have three children here and one who went to heaven in 2023, before he was born. Since I joined ACI Prensa in 2005, I have had the opportunity to cover various events of the Catholic Church. Among them, the World Youth Days in Cologne, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro and the apostolic trips of Pope Benedict XVI to Mexico and of Pope Francis to South Korea. I have been sent to the Vatican to cover the Family synods, in 2015; of the Amazon, in 2019 and that of Synodality, in 2023. I closely follow the situation of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, which suffers persecution from the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega, as well as current ecclesiastical events in the region.