Pope Francis' Concerns about the Priest Today

1. “Priest who seldom goes out of himself”- Pope Francis notices that there are priests who seldom go out of themselves and they missed out:

a) they fail to anoint the people. Priests are made to be pastors and not to leave the flock “without a shepherd.” They have to be with the people and pasture them with the oil that anoints them and saves them. But the Pope says: “The priest who seldom goes out of himself, who anoints little – I won’t say “not at all” because, thank God, the people take the oil from us anyway – misses out on the best of our people, on what can stir the depths of his priestly heart” (Chrism Mass 2013). In other words, Pope Francis says that when a priest does not serve the people, he misses out the treasure of the priesthood which is found in his relationship with the people. The value of the priesthood is manifested in the Shepherd-Sheep relationship;

b) they become managers rather than mediators. To go out of oneself means work for God and for the Church without any form of reward in return. Unlike managers and intermediaries, they receive payment from what they worked for. For priests, their pastoral work and ministry is for God and so they just receive words of thanks from the people but managers they receive money, prestige, and honor in return. Pope Francis said, a priest who works like a manager “never hears a warm, heartfelt word of thanks.” He said that this is the reason why many end up as “sad priests”;

c) they become Pelagians. Pope Francis says: when priests do not anymore go out, it would be tantamount to say that the faithful would just rely on human nature as good and there will be no need for God’s grace. If we do not “anoint” or seek ways to bring people to conversion and and be led to the sacrament of baptism, we would be like the Pelagians who rejected infant baptism and denied the reality of original sin. According to Pelagius, man can attain salvation by his own effort alone;

d) they will not be able to touch the lives of people. Pope Francis says that priests have to be with the people he is called to serve. A priest has to know and smell the “odor of the sheep.” He said: “his anointing is meant for the poor, prisoners and the sick, for those who are sorrowing and alone.” He reminded priests that “Our people like to hear the Gospel preached with “unction”, they like it when the Gospel we preach touches their daily lives…”

e) they would be able to receive the gratitude of people. The priests who go out of themselves and go to the “edges will receive the incomparable and priceless gratitude of people. Pope Francis said that priests have to go “to the “outskirts” where people of faith are most exposed to the onslaught of those who want to tear down their faith. People thank us because they feel that we have prayed over the realities of their everyday lives, their troubles, their joys, their burdens and their hopes.”

2. “Priests are the Least of Men”- Pope Francis reminded priests that the oil of anointing that they receive is the incomparable grandeur of the gift granted to them for the ministry. Priests are the least of men but because of the ordination they had, the Lord anointed them in Christ with the oil of gladness, and this anointing invites them to accept and appreciate this great gift: the gladness, the joy of being a priest. Priestly joy is a priceless treasure, not only for the priest himself but for the entire faithful people of God: that faithful people from which he is called to be anointed and which he, in turn, is sent to anoint” (Chrism Mass 2014).  Pope Francis wanted that all priests should give thanks to God for the gift of ordination that made them precious in the eternal plan of salvation. Yet, to appreciate this gift he mentioned these four reminders: a) The priest is the poorest of men unless Jesus enriches him by his poverty, b) the most useless of servants unless Jesus calls him his friend, c) the most ignorant of men unless Jesus patiently teaches him as he did Peter, d) the frailest of Christians unless the Good Shepherd strengthens him in the midst of the flock. Pope Francis would like to say that in the priest’s “littleness” he will find his priestly joy. A priest who is humble, simple, and “little” is one who can easily find the joy of his priesthood. Pope Francis mentioned the three forms of joy:

a) anointing joy- there is a joy that priests receive during ordination. It is joy that is linked to the sacrament of ordination where priests are anointed to serve God and the Church. It is a priestly joy that is endowed to the person and “it has penetrated deep within our hearts, it has shaped them and strengthened them sacramentally.  The signs of the ordination liturgy speak to us of the Church’s maternal desire to pass on and share with others all that the Lord has given us: the laying on of hands, the anointing with sacred chrism, the clothing with sacred vestments, the first consecration which immediately follows… (Chrism Mass 2014).

b) imperishable joy-the gift of the priesthood brings imperishable joy in spite of the challenges of the world. Pope Francis says: “the fullness of the Gift, which no one can take away or increase, is an unfailing source of joy: an imperishable joy which the Lord has promised no one can take from us (Jn 16:22). It can lie dormant, or be clogged by sin or by life’s troubles, yet deep down it remains intact, like the embers of a burnt log beneath the ashes, and it can always be renewed.”

c) missionary joy- Pope Francis stresses the importance of mission as an integral part of priestly life. It is through mission that the priest becomes part of God’s people. Pope Francis says that, “priestly joy is deeply bound up with God’s holy and faithful people, for it is an eminently missionary joy. Our anointing is meant for anointing God’s holy and faithful people: for baptizing and confirming them, healing and sanctifying them, blessing, comforting and evangelizing them” (Chrism Mass 2014).

3. “Tiredness of Priests”- Pope Francis draws his pastoral reflection on the priesthood from concrete human experiences about the vocation priests receive from the Lord. One of these human experiences is the “tiredness of priests.” Let us reflect together how he sees the tiredness of priests in the ministry and how encouraging is his reflection would be. Pope Francis divides his reflection in two parts: the sources of weariness, and the grace that comes from weariness in the ministry.

a) weariness comes from an anointing of the faithful that is demanding and not easy. Pope Francis said that our ministry will indeed tire us. It is so consoling to know that God knows how difficult it is and the Lord is there to help us. He said: “if the Lord is so concerned about helping us, it is because he knows that the task of anointing his faithful people is not easy, it is demanding; it can tire us. We experience this in so many ways: from the ordinary fatigue brought on by our daily apostolate to the weariness of sickness, death and even martyrdom.” (Chrism Mass 2015).

b) tiredness is an occasion to remember the value of prayer- Pope Francis thinks about prayer every time he gets tired himself in the priesthood. It appears that tiredness happens in one’s ministry. He said: “The tiredness of priests! Do you know how often I think about this weariness which all of you experience? I think about it and I pray about it, often, especially when I am tired myself. I pray for you as you labour amid the people of God entrusted to your care, many of you in lonely and dangerous places.”

c) the experience of weariness calls on the care and the heart of the God. Pope Francis reminds us that our weariness reaches the compassion of the Father. God knows, sees, understands and has mercy on the weary and tired priest. He said: “Our weariness, dear priests, is like incense which silently rises up to heaven (cf. Ps 141:2; Rev 8:3-4). Our weariness goes straight to the heart of the Father (Chrism Mass 2015)

d) Our weariness is the concern of Mary, Our Mother. Pope Francis consoles weary priests and they keep in mind that the Blessed Mother cares and intercedes for them. He said: “Know that the Blessed Virgin Mary is well aware of this tiredness and she brings it straight to the Lord. As our Mother, she knows when her children are weary, and this is her greatest concern. “Welcome! Rest, my child. We will speak afterwards…”. “Whenever we draw near to her, she says to us: “Am I not here with you, I who am your Mother?” (Chrism Mass 2015). 

e) weariness leads us to a creative rest. According to Pope Francis, rest is not the program perhaps we please to make. Part of priestly ministry is to know how to rest. He said: “Let us never forget that a key to fruitful priestly ministry lies in how we rest and in how we look at the way the Lord deals with our weariness. How difficult it is to learn how to rest!” Rest is not to be simply physical rest. There is a kind of rest that is pertinent to priestly ministry. It may be a different from the common understanding of what rest is all about. Pope Francis points out these following elements:

1) to rest is not just physical rest. It is all about a continuing relationship with God. He said: “it can also happen that, whenever we feel weighed down by pastoral work, we can be tempted to rest however we please, as if rest were not itself a gift of God. We must not fall into this temptation.”

2) to rest brings renewal from within. Rest as a way to improve priestly spirituality has to be related to the priest’s faith in God. Pope Francis said: “Our weariness is precious in the eyes of Jesus who embraces us and lifts us up. “Come to me, all who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). Whenever a priest feels dead tired, yet is able to bow down in adoration and say: “Enough for today Lord”, and entrust himself to the Father, he knows that he will not fall but be renewed.”

3) Rest is always to be linked with our being anointed. Rest is not selfish and individualistic as the way the world view it. The Pope said: “The one who anoints God’s faithful people with oil is also himself anointed by the Lord: “He gives you a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit” (cf. Is 61:3).

To evaluate the rest we have, Pope Francis makes us ask these questions: Do I know how to rest by accepting the love, gratitude and affection which I receive from God’s faithful people? Or, once my pastoral work is done, do I seek more refined relaxations, not those of the poor but those provided by a consumerist society? Is the Holy Spirit truly “rest in times of weariness” for me, or is he just someone who keeps me busy? Do I know how to seek help from a wise priest? Do I know how to take a break from myself, from the demands I make on myself, from my self-seeking and from my self-absorption? Do I know how to spend time with Jesus, with the Father, with the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, with my patron saints, and to find rest in their demands, which are easy and light, and in their pleasures, for they delight to be in my company, and in their concerns and standards, which have only to do with the greater glory of God? Do I know how to rest from my enemies under the Lord’s protection? Am I preoccupied with how I should speak and act, or do I entrust myself to the Holy Spirit, who will teach me what I need to say in every situation? Do I worry needlessly, or, like Paul, do I find repose by saying: “I know him in whom I have placed my trust”? (2 Tim 1:12) (Chrism Mass 2015).

4. Priests who do not know how to Rest- a priest who knows about the weariness because of his service to the people of God will also know how to rest. A restful priest is not one who loses his relationship with the people he called to serve. Pope Francis said: “Only love gives true rest. What is not loved becomes tiresome, and in time, brings about a harmful weariness.” When priests who have been tired because he is the friend of the bridegroom or “it is the exhaustion of the priest who wears the smell of the sheep… but also smiles the smile of a father rejoicing in his children or grandchildren.” He continued to say: “For us priests, what happens in the lives of our people is not like a news bulletin: we know our people, we sense what is going on in their hearts. Our own heart, sharing in their suffering, feels “com-passion”, is exhausted, broken into a thousand pieces, moved and even “consumed” by the people.” He also offers some reflection:

a) There is what we call weariness of the people or weariness of the crowd. The work of a priest is not mechanical. A priest may also get tired of serving the people because he is sent to people: to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom to prisoners and healing to the blind, to offer liberation to the downtrodden and to announce the year of the Lord’s favor.” The grace that has to be given to the people comes from within. It comes from God through the actions and ministry of the priest. Pope Francis reminds us: “And how beautiful it is! People love their priests; they want and need their shepherds! The faithful never leave us without something to do, unless we hide in our offices or go out in our cars wearing sun glasses.” He continued to say: “The tasks of which Jesus speaks call for the ability to show compassion; our hearts are to be “moved” and fully engaged in carrying them out.” The weariness of the priest is a good weariness, a fruitful and joyful exhaustion. Pope Francis says that a priest is an instrument of God’s love for his people. Because of the priest, the people now follow Christ. The priest continues to think about the people even though he would feel exhausted. The priest gets inspiration from Jesus who never gets tired of being with the people.  “The people who followed Jesus, the families which brought their children to him to be blessed, those who had been cured, those who came with their friends, the young people who were so excited about the Master… they did not even leave him time to eat.”

b) There is what we call weariness of enemies- A priest is called to defend and protect the flock from the evil one. 1) the devil and his minions do not rest or sleep. “The devil and his minions never sleep and, since their ears cannot bear to hear the word of God, they work tirelessly to silence that word and to distort it. Confronting them is more wearying.” 2) the devil is more astute than we are. “The evil one is far more astute than we are, and he is able to demolish in a moment what it took us years of patience to build up.” A priest should learn how to depend on God and implore his help. He cannot be the superman and do things which God can only do.

c) There is what we call weariness of ourselves. According to Pope Francis, the weariness of ourselves is the most dangerous of all tiredness. 1) it is a dissatisfaction of oneself. “self-referential”: it is dissatisfaction with oneself, but not the dissatisfaction of someone who directly confronts himself and serenely acknowledges his sinfulness and his need for God’s mercy, his help; such people ask for help and then move forward.” 2) it is a form of yearning yet one has already given up. Pope Francis calls it “flirting with spiritual worldliness.” It is “a weariness associated with “wanting yet not wanting”, having given up everything but continuing to yearn for the fleshpots of Egypt, toying with the illusion of being something different.” 3) it is a temptation and an inclination which is inside us and it is difficult to eradicate. Pope Francis says: “When we are alone, we realize how many areas of our life are steeped in this worldliness, so much so that we may feel that it can never be completely washed away. This can be a dangerous kind of weariness. The Book of Revelation shows us the reason for this weariness: “You have borne up for my sake and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Rev 2:3-4). Only love gives true rest. What is not loved becomes tiresome, and in time, brings about a harmful weariness.”

5. Priests who do not become ministers of mercy and consolation- Priests are supposed to be instruments of God’s mercy. We dispense God’s mercy because there are countless masses of people who are poor, uneducated, prisoners, who find themselves in such situations because others oppress them. However, Pope Francis emphasized more on the mercy the priests had to experience in order they better understand the people who need God’s mercy as well as to understand their ministry as a channel of God’s mercy to the people. First, we have remember that each of us knows the extent to which we too are often blind, lacking the radiant light of faith, not because we do not have the Gospel close at hand, but because of an excess of complicated theology; Second, We feel that our soul thirsts for spirituality, not for a lack of Living Water which we only sip from, but because of an excessive “bubbly” spirituality, a “light” spirituality; c) We feel ourselves also trapped, not so much by insurmountable stone walls or steel enclosures that affect many peoples, but rather by a digital, virtual worldliness that is opened and closed by a simple click; d) We are oppressed, not by threats and pressures, like so many poor people, but by the allure of a thousand commercial advertisements which we cannot shrug off to walk ahead, freely, along paths that lead us to love of our brothers and sisters, to the Lord’s flock, to the sheep who wait for the voice of their shepherds (Chrism Mass 2016).