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Pope Francis’ greeting to the Argentine Priests’ Seminary in Rome
Thursday, 16 January 2025
“Vocation is God’s plan for our lives, what God sees in us, what moves his gaze of love
. . . it is the love he has for us and here lies our true essence “
Dear priests, formators, ladies and gentlemen:
Today it is I who should accompany you in the celebration of Holy Mass and the Eucharist. I don’t need to tell you that I am looking forward to the barbecue.
But being a pastor, as you well know, puts us sometimes ahead and sometimes behind, according to the plans of the One who is Lord of our lives.
In any case, in order not to miss out on the flavors of our land, I would like to tell you about something I read recently about Father Brochero – a Catholic priest who suffered leprosy throughout his life) and which I think is very appropriate for you, who are still preparing for the arduous battle of the Gospel.
What I am going to tell you about him relates to his priestly soul and the first, essential point is the statement made by his friends that “Father Brochero could not be anything other than a priest”.
We have to take on this priestly identity, to realize that our vocation is not an addition, a means to other ends, even pious ones, such as salvation. Absolutely not.
Vocation is God’s plan for our lives, what God sees in us, what moves his gaze of love;
I would dare to say that in a certain way it is the love that He has for us and herein lies our true essence.
And here the holy priest explains what it means to embrace “the ecclesiastical career” – you know it is an expression that I do not like, but as Father Brochero understands it, in his desire to die running like a “chesche” horse, it is more similar to that of St. Paul (cf. 2 Tim 4:7).
He tells us, “It is to work for the good of one’s neighbor until the last [moment] of one’s life”, the total gift of oneself, the giving of oneself to God in one’s brother, spending and wearing oneself out for the sake of the Gospel.
The saint continues: “At the same time it is to fight the enemies of the soul, like pumas who fight lying down when they cannot defend themselves standing up”.
That is to say, to nourish the interior life, to keep the fire burning, with great humility, “lying down”, because “standing” in our pride we are more vulnerable.
Another important point is the priestly fraternity.
First of all, with the Bishop, of whom he considered himself a simple soldier, in order to emulate the feats of the heroes, fighting alongside him, side by side, to the last cartridge.
And with his brother priests, he wanted to share everything he has, he invited them to correct him with confidence and he did so for them with frankness, asking them to lead a life of deep piety, with frequent confession “either with one or the other”, so as to share their whole life, materially, spiritually and apostolically.
And finally, of course, the Eucharist.
He would spend most of the night out in the open, in the middle of the cornfields, waiting for them to wake up in the yard – not wanting to disturb them in the early hours of the morning – so that he could go in to celebrate.
This sacrificial respect for the mystery, far from being an imposition, was more powerful than a thousand words of sweet eloquence.
May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin watch over you.
And, before the Lord at the altar, don’t forget to pray for me.
Footnote:
Father Brochero died on 26 January 1914 and his last words were: “Now I have everything ready for the journey”. A Catholic newspaper later wrote about him: “It is known that Father Brochero contracted the disease that brought him to his grave, because he visited at length and embraced an deserted leper of the region”. (He was beatified on 15 September 2013)
