News
World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Rome
' Without fraternity there is no Church. Without fraternity, there is no religious life. But it is not a question of endorsing a soothing discourse on forgiveness or mutual understanding; or of promoting tolerance, even if this is necessary. The need for brotherhood is much stronger than that, it is at the heart of the Christian faith because we are "sons in the Son" and that makes us brothers, as Origen said. Forgiveness, mutual respect, the search for otherness, and mercy are our life program. As our congregation becomes more international, it seeks to live this reality in a spirit of growth. The road ahead is long and we know that the obstacles to fraternity are numerous.'' Father Benoît GRIÈRE a.a.
"A good priest, therefore, is above all a man endowed with his own humanity, who knows his own history, with its riches and its wounds, who has learned to make peace with it, attaining that inner serenity proper to the disciple of the Lord. Human formation is therefore a necessity for priests, so that they may learn not to be dominated by their limitations, but rather to put their talents to good use. A priest who is at peace will be able to spread serenity around him, even in difficult times, and will know how to transmit the beauty of being in relationship with the Lord. On the other hand, it is not normal for a priest to be sad, nervous, or hard-tempered; this is not good and does not do either the priest or his people any good." (Pope FRANCIS, Address to the participants in the Congress on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Presbyterorum ordinis and Optatam totius, November 20, 2015)
Photo: Copyright CIRIC. Christ the Good Shepherd, detail of frescoes by Barna DA SIENA circa 1367-1368, ciborium of the Cathedral of Saint John Lateran, Rome, Italy.