Thursday, April 17, 2014

A Capuchin Priest Today










A Special “Year of the Priesthood” from June 19, 2009 – June 19, 2010 had been declared by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI calling the Universal Church to pray for the Priests. The Church immediately swung into action by planning celebrations in the form of seminars, symposiums, circulars, articles and books on the theme. The laity out of deep respect and loyalty to priests have begun praying for them.  As Capuchin Franciscan could we ask ourselves as how would St. Francis think and say about a year dedicated to the Priests. He was faithful to Christ, His Church and obedient and faithful to Priest of his times. He enumerated in his writings that a distinctive role of the priest is to preach the Gospel and to minister the sacraments. But Francis would like to see his priest friars’ quenching the thirst and satisfying the hunger for Jesus Christ in a different manner from those who are non Franciscans. What makes the Capuchin priest unique is the spirit of Saint Francis he brings to his priesthood. This is evident in the manner in which he greets people, the style of his preaching, and the simplicity of his life. His priesthood becomes fashioned by his prayer and by the fellow Capuchins with whom he lives. Community life allows him the fraternal support and the connectedness to the human condition that broadens his perspective. Through the Incarnation, Jesus entered the world in the flesh, not to be served but to serve. Franciscan spirituality views the world and ministry in these incarnational terms. In the same way, the Capuchin priest preaches and ministers in concrete, human ways and attempts to bring God to others sacramentally, personally and through the Word of God.
A Capuchin priest should follow the example of Blessed Virgin Mary who carried Jesus in her most holy womb. A Capuchin priest should emulate the example of John the Baptist who trembled and did not dare to touch the holy head of Jesus while baptising Him. A Capuchin priest who should keep in mind that the tomb in which He lay for some times is so venerated that it invites him to be holy, just and worthy to touch Him with hands and receive Him in his heart and mouth, and offer Him to others to be received. As Francis honoured and loved the Lord Jesus, a Capuchin priest must love and honour Him above all others.
St. Francis based his entire life on the word of God and listened to it practically every moment of his life. A Capuchin priest is called more particularly for the divine functions should not only listen to and do what God says in His words, but he should also guard and protect the word. St. Francis says, “Therefore, I admonish all my brothers and encourage (them) in Christ that wherever they come upon the written words of God they venerate them so far as they are able”. He continues, “But if any of the brothers do not wish to observe these things, I do not consider them to be Catholics nor my brothers, and I do not wish to see them or speak with them until they shall have done penance. I say this also of all others who go wandering about with no regard for the discipline of the Rule, for our Lord Jesus Christ gave His life that He might not lose the obedience of the most holy Father”. (cf. Phil 2:8)
What difference does it make to be Capuchin priest in your ministry and what difference does it make to other that you are a Capuchin priest? “There seems to be a totally different way in which people relate to a Capuchin priest as opposed to how they relate to the secular clergy. There are examples where the faithful do confess that the Capuchin priest give us more of Jesus through their well prepared homilies, more scripture and down to earth approach about life.

A Capuchin priest should be more hospitable and approachable to the faithful in the parish. He should make them feel that you not only preach but you talk to them as persons precious in the eyes of God. What should be crucial in the ministry of a Capuchin priest is his “Capuchin spirit” which should touch the lives of the faithful. The charism and spirit of St. Francis should be manifested in our dealings with the people. A Capuchin priest should bring in all Franciscan qualities like simplicity, joy and community in his apostolate. A Capuchin priest who belongs to St. Francis has the power and spirit and he must bring that to the people in getting close to them in all their situations and events.
A Capuchin priest should be good liturgist who plans all his celebrations to make it more meaningful and participative. He serves the Church in such way that people abound in faith and trust in the Lord through lively and meaningful liturgy. The celebration of all the Sacraments in our Capuchin parishes should be according to the mind of St. Francis which is to evoke reverence and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
As a man of community a capuchin priest should bring a sense of community to his parish situations. He should be able to inculcate a sense of belongingness that will invite participations from all quarters. Make them more franchised with approach that we belong to the same community and this way of administering will invite people’s involvement in community projects. As community man he should become more accessible to people in order to have a “we feeling” in the parish. Being more with them let them feel that we are all part of that big community that God has created. This community sense should come from our fraternal charism which should be demonstrated through words and deeds. The Capuchin charism of fraternity should have a great influence on the way minister and the way in which people relate to us as ministers. A Capuchin priest must have a collaborative approach in the parish and ministry which can make a difference to build a strong bond. The Capuchin priest should be more human in their approach to parishioners which can lead to build better rapport and relationships. As man of one heart and mind Capuchin should bring about unity among the parishioners forgetting caste, creed, class and colour. A Capuchin promotes the language of the heart which builds and allows growth not division and distinction.
A Capuchin priest can make a difference if he follows what the founder and father St. Francis said about priests. Let us contemplate and reflect on the following in our attitude and approach to the priest in our fraternity and neighbourhood.
“We must also frequently visit churches and venerate and revere the clergy not so much for themselves, if they are sinners, but because of their office and administration of the most holy Body and Blood of Christ which they sacrifice upon the altar, receive and administer to others…” (Later Admonition and Exhortation, 1220?)
“Afterwards the Lord gave me, and gives me still, such faith in priests who live according to the rite of the holy Roman Church because of their orders that, were they to persecute me, I would still want to have recourse to them. And if I had as much wisdom as Solomon and found impoverished priests of this world, I would not preach in their parishes against their will. And I desire to respect, love and honour them and all others as my lords. And I do not want to consider any sin in them because I discern the Son of God in them and they are my lords. And I act in this way because, in this world, I see nothing corporally of the most high Son of God except His most holy Body and Blood which they receive and they alone administer to others. I want to have these most holy mysteries honoured and venerated above all things and I want to reserve them in precious places. Wherever I find our Lord’s most holy names and written words in unbecoming places, I want to gather them up and I beg that they be gathered up and placed in a becoming place. And we must honour all theologians and those who minister the most holy divine words and respect them as those who minister to us spirit and life.” (The Testament, 1226). Br. Michael Fernandes, Provincial Minister

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