Pope Francis in Santa Marta: a priest is not an employee or a functionary but a father

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31/01/2019
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In his daily homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis reflected on the life of St. John Bosco on his feast day. He encouraged priests to follow his example. 

POPE FRANCIS
“What is the sign that a priest is doing well, seeing reality with human eyes and with the eyes of God? Joy. Joy. When a priest is not joyful inside. He should stop immediately and ask himself 'why?' John Bosco’s joy is known. He is the teacher of joy. This is because he made others joyful and rejoiced himself. He also suffered with them. Let us ask the Lord, through the intercession of John Bosco, for the grace of our priests to be joyful.”

The pope further stressed that a priest is not an employee or a functionary, but a father who suffers for his children. He added that a priest should see both a human and divine aspect when assisting others, as St. John Bosco did. 

SUMMARY OF PAPAL HOMILY (Source: Vatican News)

He saw with the eyes of a man, a man who is a brother but also a father, and he said, “No, things can’t go on like this! These young boys might end up on the gallows, [ministered to] by Don Cafasso… no, things can’t go on like this.” And he was moved as a man, and as a man he began to think of ways to raise the youngsters, to make the young boys grow. Human paths. And then, he had the courage to see with the eyes of God, and to go to God and say, “Make me see this… this is an injustice… how do I deal with this… You have created these people for a fullness, and they are in the midst of a real tragedy…” And so, seeing reality with the love of a father – a father and teacher, today’s liturgy says – and seeing God with the eyes of a beggar who asks for light, he began to go forward.

Looking in this way made him see the path, so that he wasn’t going simply with the Catechism and the Crucifix: “Do this…” with the boys saying, “Good night, see you later.” No, no. He drew close to them, with their liveliness. He played games with them, he put them in groups, like brothers. And in this way he went forth, he walked with them. The priest who looks on the people in a human way, who is always at hand.

And what is the sign that a priest is doing well, seeing reality with human eyes and with the eyes of God? Joy. When a priest does not find joy within, he should stop immediately and ask himself why. And Don Bosco’s joy is known, eh? Because he made others joyful, and rejoiced himself. And he suffered. Today, let us ask the Lord, through the intercession of Don Bosco, for the grace for our priests to be joyful: joyful so that they have the true sense of looking at things regarding pastoral ministry, the people of God with human eyes and with the eyes of God.

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