|
By Fr. Jonathan D. Kalisch, O.P.
Director of Chaplains and Spiritual Development
For many of us, the days after Pentecost are filled with celebrations of the sacraments, the anniversaries of our own priestly ordinations and, for some, the anticipation of a new assignment. The month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, presents a special time for priests to rededicate themselves to what St. Jean Vianney called “the love of the Heart of Jesus” amid the challenges and trials of ministry.
In a recent address to clergy and consecrated people in Naples, Pope Leo XIV recalled how the Lord Jesus “walks alongside us and with us, accompanying us to open us up to a new light: His is the attitude of one who cares.” In the face of inner strains and burdens of ministry, the Holy Father invited priests to reflect on “the importance of inner care, which is care for our hearts, our humanity and our relationships.” He continued, “I think of the effort involved in listening to the stories entrusted to you, in uncovering the most hidden ones that need to come to light, in persevering in the commitment to proclaiming the Gospel so that it may offer horizons of hope and encourage the choice of the good; I think of the weary families and the often disoriented young people whom you set out to accompany, and of all the needs — human, material and spiritual — that the poor entrust to you as they knock on the doors of your parishes and your associations. … The human and pastoral burden is certainly heavy; it risks becoming overwhelming, wearing us down and draining our energy, and at times it can be further compounded by a certain loneliness and a sense of pastoral isolation.”
Pope Leo highlighted the priest’s need for care: “First of all, care for the inner and spiritual life, constantly nourishing our personal relationship with the Lord in prayer and cultivating the ability to listen to what stirs within us, so that we may discern and allow ourselves to be enlightened by the Spirit. This also requires the courage to know when to pause, not to be afraid to consult the Gospel regarding the personal and pastoral situations we face, so as not to reduce ministry to a mere function to be performed.”
The Holy Father further connected care to the need for fraternity and communion, “a fraternity rooted in God, which is expressed in friendship and mutual support, as well as in the sharing of pastoral projects and initiatives. … At the same time, precisely because today we are more exposed to the pitfalls of loneliness, living in a more complex and fragmented cultural environment, fraternity needs to be cultivated and promoted.”
Pope Leo reminds us: “It is not merely a matter of attending a few meetings or events, but of working to overcome the temptation of individualism. Let us reflect on this together, priests and religious! Let us practice the art of closeness!”
As we pray with our brother Knights and their families, and prepare for the consecration of the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us ask Blessed Michael McGivney that we would more closely imitate his own love for the heart of the Lord, and serve with creative courage and care in fraternity and communion with those for whom we are called to lay down our lives. Vivat Jesus!
| 
