Vatican City: This morning, Pope Francis warned Catholicpriests around the world that “the reason why some priests grow dissatisfied, loseheart and become in some sense collectors of antiques or novelties” comes fromseldom going out of oneself, which leads to “missing out on the best of ourpeople”. Instead, he strongly urged priests to be “shepherds who have the smellof their sheep'.”
The solemn Holy Thursday Chrism Mass celebrated in theVatican Basilica opens the Paschal Triduum of Holy Week. During the course ofthe Mass, celebrated in all the churches and cathedrals throughout the world, priestsrenew the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience that they made at theirordination. Also, the oil used to anoint catechumens and the oil used to anointthe sick as well as the chrism oil—olive oil scented with balsam—used to anointthose being baptised, confirmed, or receiving Holy Orders is blessed.
The Chrism Mass presided over by the Holy Father wasconcelebrated by the over 2,000 cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priestspresent and was attended by over 10,000 faithful. Francis pointed out to themthat the “clear proof” to recognizing a good priest is “by the way his peopleare anointed”. He added that “it is not in soul-searching or constantintrospection that we encounter the Lord: self-help courses can be useful inlife, but to live our priestly life by going from one course to another, fromone method to another, leads us to become pelagians and to minimize the powerof grace, which comes alive and flourishes to the extent that we, in faith, goout and give ourselves and the Gospel to others”.
He developed this theme throughout his homily, which hebegan by recalling that this Mass was a reminder to all priests—including himself—ofthe day of their ordination. In this context the Pope explained what it meansto be anointed ones, to “be for” others, and he focused on the meaning of theliturgical vestments. “When we put on our simple chasuble, it might well makeus feel, upon our shoulders and in our hearts, the burdens and the faces of ourfaithful people, our saints and martyrs, of which we have so many in our times.”
At the same time, he noted how “the beauty of all theseliturgical things ... is not so much about trappings and fine fabrics” as it isdestined to the action expected of priests. “The ointment, dear brothers, isnot intended just to make us fragrant, much less to be kept in a jar, for thenit would become rancid … and the heart bitter.”
The Holy Father also gave concrete details to inspirepriests in their pastoral mission, commenting that: “our people like to hearthe Gospel preached with 'unction', they like it when the Gospel we preachtouches their daily lives, when it runs down like the oil of Aaron to the edgesof reality, when it brings light to moments of extreme darkness, to the 'outskirts'where people of faith are most exposed to the onslaught of those who want totear down their faith. People thank us because they feel that we have prayedover the realities of their everyday lives, their troubles, their joys, theirburdens and their hopes. And when they feel that the fragrance of the AnointedOne, of Christ, has come to them through us, they feel encouraged to entrust tous everything they want to bring before the Lord: '“Pray for me, Father, becauseI have this problem', 'Bless me, Father', 'Pray for me'.”
“What I want to emphasize,” the Pope said, “is that we needconstantly to stir up God’s grace and perceive in every request, even thoserequests that are inconvenient and at times purely material or downrightbanal—but only apparently so—the desire of our people to be anointed withfragrant oil, since they know that we have it. To perceive and to sense, evenas the Lord sensed the hope-filled anguish of the woman suffering fromhaemorrhages when she touched the hem of his garment.”
Before finishing his homily, the Holy Father also addressedthe lay faithful, urging them to “be close to your priests with affection andwith your prayers, that they may always be shepherds according to God’s heart.”
Souce: vis