PRIESTS, MEN OF THE WORD AND THE EUCHARIST

VATICAN CITY, MAY 11, 2003 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. today, the fourth Sunday of Easter, the Pope celebrated Mass in the Vatican Basilica and conferred priestly ordination on 31 deacons from the diocese of Rome.

Commenting on today's Gospel in which "Jesus defines himself as the Good Shepherd who offers his life for his flock," John Paul II said: "A sublime example of loving abandonment, Jesus invites His disciples, in particular priests, to follow in His footsteps. He calls each priest to be a good shepherd of the flock which Providence entrusts to him."

"Priests," he affirmed, "are men of the Word who have the duty to spread the Gospel message to the men and women of their time. They must do so with a great sense of responsibility, committing themselves to always be in full agreement with the Magisterium of the Church. They are also men of the Eucharist through which they penetrate the heart of the paschal mystery. Especially in the Mass they realize the urgency of forming themselves with ever-more intimacy to Jesus the Good Shepherd, supreme and eternal Priest."

"Nourish yourself therefore," he went on, "with the Word of God; engage yourselves every day with Christ, truly present in the sacrament of the altar. Let yourselves be touched by the infinite love of His Heart, spend more time in Eucharistic adoration in the most important moments of your life, when making difficult personal and pastoral decisions, at the beginning and at the end of your days. I can assure you that 'I have had this experience and from it I have gained strength, consolation and support!'"

John Paul II reminded the newly-ordained priests that from now on they will be "ministers of divine mercy. Administer the sacrament of reconciliation. ... You will be witnesses of so many miracles and marvels carried out through the mercy of God in the confessional!"
"But in order to worthily carry out your mission that today has been entrusted to you, you will have to be in constant union with God in prayer, and you yourselves must have an experience of His merciful love through the regular practice of Confession, allowing yourselves to be guided by expert spiritual counsellors, especially in those moments when you encounter difficulties."

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