Pope Leo XIV has urged seminarians not to think of themselves as “alone” or “by yourselves” as they progress in their formations.
In his meeting with the potential future priests, Pope Leo also said that celibacy is a charism “to be acknowledged, conserved and educated”.
The pontiff spoke on Wednesday, 26 June, to a group seminarians from dioceses in the Italian region Triveneto. In his discourse, the Pope referenced Saint Augustine and his reflections in his great work<em> Confessions</em>.
“On the one hand he was eager to decide for Christ; on the other, he was held back by scruples and temptations. Profoundly troubled, one day he retreated to reflect in the garden at home; and the personification of the virtue of Continence appeared to him, saying: ‘Why do you stand in your own strength, and so standest not? Cast yourself upon Him; fear not, He will not withdraw that you should fall; cast yourself upon Him without fear, He will receive you, and heal you’,” Leo said.
“As a father, I repeat these same words to you, which were so good for Augustine’s restless heart: They do not apply only with regard to celibacy, which is a charism to be acknowledged, conserved and educated, but can guide your entire journey of discernment and formation in ordained ministry.
“In particular, these words invite you to have boundless trust in the Lord, the Lord who called you, renouncing the pretence of being sufficient for yourselves or of being able to do it alone. And this applies not only to the seminary years, but to your whole life: at all times, all the more so in those of desolation or even sin, repeat to yourselves the words of the psalmist: ‘I trust in God’s mercy forever and ever.’"
The pontiff added: “The Word of God and the Sacraments are perennial sources from which you will always be able to draw new lymph for the spiritual life, and also for pastoral commitment."
Leo also urged the seminarians to remember that they are not alone and are always part of a support network and community.
“I invite you always to cultivate communion, first of all with your seminary companions. Have complete trust in your formators, without reserve or duplicity,” the Pope said, before addressing those formators.
“And you, formators, be good companions to the seminarians entrusted to you: offer them the humble witness of your life and your faith; accompany them with sincere affection. Know that you are all supported by the Church, first and foremost in the person of the bishop,.”
The Pope ended his speech by quoting the English writer, Father Robert Hugh Benson, who died in 1914.
Benson is most famous for the novel <em>Lord of the World</em>, which was often spoken about by Pope Francis. Considered by some to be the “<mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><a href="https://clunymedia.com/products/lord-of-the-world">dystopian novel par excellence</a>”</mark>, it offers a terrifying future of a culture of death and a new world order of exclusive secular humanism in which "man is the solitary measure of all things".
Rather than quote from the book, though, Leo quoted the priest himself about his conversion to Catholicism, taken from Benson's book <em>The Friendship of Christ</em>: “If there is anything clear in the Gospels it is this – that Jesus Christ first and foremost desires our friendship … Now the consciousness of this friendship of Jesus Christ is the very secret of the Saints.”
Leo concurred, saying: “Indeed, encountering Jesus saves our life and gives us the strength and the joy to communicate the Gospel to everyone."
In addition to his meeting with the group of seminarians, on Wednesday the Pope <mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color"><a href="https://thecatholicherald.com/pope-leo-blesses-thousands-of-seminarians-gathered-in-rome/">blessed more than 2,500 seminarians</a> </mark>who converged in Rome this week.
Drawn from 57 countries, ranging from Albania to Argentina, India to Italy, the United States to Ukraine, the seminarians came to the Eternal City to pray at the tomb of St. Peter and to take part in the Jubilee of Seminarians. The Vatican estimated that the number of seminarians taking part could have been as high as 4,000.
“Thank you for courageously accepting the Lord’s invitation to follow him, to be disciples, to enter the seminary,” the Pope told the predominately young men gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica. “You have to be courageous and not be afraid. As Christ loved with the heart of man, you are called to love with the heart of Christ.”
The Pope also met with bishops for the Jubilee of Bishops during which he again <a href="https://thecatholicherald.com/bishops-must-be-celibate-and-work-with-priests-to-address-societys-failures-says-pope/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">addressed the issue of celibacy</mark></a>. The pontiff confirmed the importance of celibacy in bishops “for the sake of the Kingdom of God”.
He explained: “Here, it is not just a question of living as a celibate, but of practicing chastity of heart and conduct, and in this way living a life of Christian discipleship and presenting to all the authentic image of the Church, holy and chaste in her members as in her Head.
“He must be firm and decisive in dealing with situations that can cause scandal and with every case of abuse, especially involving minors, and fully respect the legislation currently in force,” Leo continued.
<em>Photo: Pope Leo receives seminarians of the Dioceses of Triveneto. (Credit: Vatican Media.)</em>
