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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