Pope Gives Key to Being Highly Effective Priests

22-08-2008

Says It's Essential to Define Priorities, Give Time to Prayer

BRESSANONE, Italy, AUG. 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).-
Benedict XVI says the key for priests facing an ever increasing number
of responsibilities is defining their priorities and sticking to them
-- and making sure prayer is at the top of the list.

The Pope affirmed this Aug. 6 when he met with priests, deacons and seminarians
of the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone and answered in German six
questions they asked him. The Holy Father was on vacation in the
Dolomites, where he stayed at the major seminary of Bressanone.

Father Franz Pixner asked a question about "the increasing burden of pastoral
care" and the problems that sometimes come with it, such as "the
intense pressure of work, the lack of recognition, difficulties
concerning the magisterium, loneliness, the dwindling number of
priests, but also of communities of the faithful." He said that in such
a context, questions arise about things such as the celibacy of priests
and the involvement of women in pastoral care.

"The question is also asked how we priests, confronted by the new challenges, can help
one another in a brotherly community, at the various levels of the
diocese, diaconate and pastoral and parish unit," Father Pixner added.

"In my answer," Benedict XVI said, "I would like to examine two fundamental
aspects: on the one hand, the irreplaceableness of the priest, the
meaning and the manner of the priestly ministry today; and on the other
-- and this is more obvious than it used to be -- the multiplicity of
charisms and the fact that all together they are Church."

The Pope affirmed that there "will always be a need for the priest who is
totally dedicated to the Lord and therefore totally dedicated to
humanity. [...] We are consigned to the Lord, separated from ordinary
life, but on the other hand, we are consigned to him because in this
way we can belong to him totally and totally belong to others."

He added: "Part of this, moreover, is truly making oneself available to
the Lord in the fullness of one's being and consequently, finding
oneself totally available to men and women. I think celibacy is a
fundamental expression of this totality and already, for this reason,
an important reference in this world because it only has meaning if we
truly believe in eternal life and if we believe that God involves us
and that we can be for him."

Time for God

Still, the Holy Father continued, "I know well how difficult it is today -- when a
priest finds himself directing not only one easily managed parish but
several parishes and pastoral units; when he must be available to give
this or that counsel, and so forth -- how difficult it is to live such
a life. I believe that in this situation it is important to have the
courage to limit oneself and to be clear about deciding on priorities."

"A fundamental priority of priestly life is to be with the Lord and thus
to have time for prayer," he affirmed. "I would therefore like to
emphasize: Whatever the demands that arise, it is a real priority to
find every day, I would say, an hour to be in silence for the Lord and
with the Lord, as the Church suggests we do with the breviary, with
daily prayers, so as to continually enrich ourselves inwardly, to
return -- as I said in answering the first question -- to within the
reach of the Holy Spirit's breath.

"And to order priorities on this basis: I must learn to see what is truly essential, where my presence as a priest is indispensable and where I cannot delegate
anyone else. And at the same time, I must humbly accept when there are
many things I should do and where my presence is requested that I
cannot manage because I know my limits. I think people understand this
humility."

Movements

Benedict XVI said that another important aspect is linked to the priest's use of time: "knowing how to delegate, to get people to collaborate."

"I am thinking of movements and of many other forms of collaboration in the parish" he
explained. "[N]ew forms of collaboration should be created and
interchanges encouraged.

"You rightly said that in this it is important to look beyond the parish to the diocesan community, indeed, to the community of the universal Church, which in her turn must direct
her gaze to see what is happening in the parish and what the
consequences are for the individual priest."

Fraternity

The Pope then turned his attention to another of Father Pixner's points: priestly community.

"Priests, even if they live far apart, are a true community of brothers who
should support and help one another. In order not to drift into
isolation, into loneliness with its sorrows, it is important for us to
meet one another regularly," he said.

The Holy Father added that it is the task of dioceses to establish how to best organize priestly meetings.

"Today we have cars which make traveling easier," the Pontiff quipped, "so
that we can experience being together ever anew, learn from one
another, mutually correct and help one another, cheer one another and
comfort one another, so that in this communion of the presbyterate,
together with the bishop we can carry out our service to the local
Church. Precisely, no priest is a priest on his own; we are a
presbyterate, and it is only in this communion with the bishop that
each one can carry out his service."

http://www.zenit.org/article-23431?l=english