I usually read the Vatican News Services each morning on the Internet (Vatican Information Service and Zenit).

It helps me to think not only in terms of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain but also in terms of the Church Universal.

It is important for a bishop to maintain proper perspective because each Diocesan Bishop has responsibilities not only to a Particular Church (Diocese) but also to the Church Universal.

Recently, I have noted that a number of the addresses and homilies of the Holy Father are about the priesthood. When he travels outside the Vatican his schedule is demanding. Yet with all the meetings he has with so many different groups of God’s People, he follows the example of his predecessors and always finds time to meet with priests.

The text of his addresses and homilies gives us insight into why he gives so much attention to priests. The Holy Father stresses:
1) the essential role of priests in the life of the Church;
2) the importance of priests living the priesthood as the Church understands it and
3) the need for the witness of priestly holiness.

At a time of the year when many priests celebrate jubilees, I want to use my column to offer a review of the substantive and remarkably clear teaching of Pope Benedict XVI on the priesthood.

I offer this review for all the readers of this column since all committed Catholics deal with priests on a regular basis. However, the review is addressed in a special way to priests, to seminarians and to those who are thinking seriously about the priesthood.

The following concepts are keys in the Holy Father’s teaching:

Chosen
The Holy Father reminds priests that they were chosen by Christ to serve him in this millennium. Since they are chosen, priests are to believe in the power of the priesthood – to act in relation to God on behalf of the people and to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin.

Priests are reminded that they act in the name of Christ who wants to use their lips, their hands, their spirit of sacrifice and their talents. The Holy Father states that the dignity of the priesthood of Christ in which priests share can make them tremble.

He says that we may find it hard to believe that Christ called us specifically. We ask, “Could not Jesus have chosen someone else more capable, more holy?” We must reflect on the fact that God chose each one of us and in that choice we find confidence.
 
Love
The Holy Father tells priests, “At your ordination when your hands were anointed with oil – a sign of the Holy Spirit – you were destined to serve the Lord as his hands in today’s world. You were taken into his hands and into his heart.”

Therefore, immerse yourself in his love and give him your love. Your anointed hands can no longer serve selfish purposes. They must continue to witness to the love of Christ for the world.

Prayer
Are we not tempted to say with Peter, “Lord, depart from me for I am a sinful man”? Once again the Holy Father challenges priests to remember that God chose each one of us.

Priests must not become discouraged because prayer requires effort or that Jesus may seem to be silent. The Holy Father teaches, “In truth, there is a need for silence. In a world of so much noise, there is a need for silence, especially for the silent prayer of adoration.”

Be assiduous in prayer, he tells priests. Do not be consumed with haste as if time dedicated to Christ in prayer is considered to be time wasted. Teach the faithful to pray. Live intensely the administration of the sacraments in the name of Christ.

Affective maturity
The Holy Father challenges priests to understand that “In reality we grow in affective maturity when our hearts adhere to God. Christ needs priests who are mature, virile and capable of cultivating an authentic spiritual paternity.”

For this to happen, priests need to be honest with themselves, open with their spiritual director and trusting in divine grace and mercy.

Expectations
The faithful expect only one thing from priests: that they will be specialists in promoting the encounter between God and his people. A priest is expected to be an expert in the spiritual life.

He instructs young priests to seek the prayerful guidance of more experienced priests so they do not lose their way among the many ideas put forward by the culture of the moment. The Holy Father makes a startling statement considering he is a consummate intellectual and skilled theologian.

He teaches that there is no need for a priest to know all the latest changing currents of thought; what the faithful expect from him is that he be a witness to the eternal wisdom contained in the revealed word that he learns in theological formation.

Presence
Stand firm in your faith! Be authentic in your life and your ministry. Gazing upon Christ, live a modest life in solidarity with the faithful to whom you have been sent. Be accessible!

Serve in the parishes, in the confessional, accompany the new movements and associations, support families, be available to the sick, to the young and remember the poor and the abandoned.
 
Conclusion
The teaching of the Holy Father is material for reflection for priests. It lists the criteria for a daily examination of conscience and for retreat reflection.

It is the formula for balance in the life of every Bishop and Priest. When these elements of papal teaching are lived, priestly life is alive and priestly witness is effective. When these elements of papal teaching are not accepted and lived, then priestly life becomes a progressively difficult struggle.

We live in an age in which the Church must regain credibility and, in that process, attract candidates for the priesthood who will freely and perseveringly choose to live the teaching of the Church on the priesthood. Priests, seminarians, candidates for the seminary – listen to the teaching of the Church! Open yourselves to it and support one another with it.

In union with the Holy Father, I ask the archdiocese to pray for the holistic growth and joyful perseverance of all priests, to pray that seminarians will be deeply committed to the Lord as they approach ordination and to pray that candidates for the seminary will continue to journey in the Spirit with the Archdiocesan Vocation Directors.