To the Parish Priests of the IVE
Number 169 of the Constitutions reads, “The Institute of the Incarnate Word will take on the works of apostolate most conducive to the inculturization of the Gospel”. For this reason, “In response to Bishops’ requests, the Institute can accept requests to help parishes, preferably in missionary areas or those in greater need”[1].
As a result, today the Institute serves some 110 parishes around the world, some of them being sanctuaries[2], others cathedrals[3], others in the middle of big cities such as New York or Hong Kong, others in rural zones like Scotland or Bolivia, others placed in residential zones such as the parish in Australia, others in the middle of the jungle, like the parish which the Institute serves in Wagina (the Solomon Islands). This means that the vast majority of the more than 400 priests of the Institute are dedicated – in one way or another – to parish ministry, either as pastors, vicars, members of the community attached to a parish or collaborating with the preaching of triduums, novenas, patronal feasts, confessions, etc., that take place in a parish.
Desiring therefore to prolong the redemptive work of Christ Himself[4], according to the charism to inculturate the gospel in the diversity of all cultures[5], the Institute gives to the parish apostolate “great importance”[6] and “preference”[7]-since it is one the principal “places” where the Institute can exercise its specific charism[8]-and we consider it as a privileged atmosphere for an encounter with the message of Christ[9].
Hence, we would like to take advantage of this opportunity to highlight the characteristics which, according to the proper charism, must shine forth both in the priest dedicated to parish ministry and in the IVE parish itself, if one wishes to contribute effectively “to enriching the universal Church”[10].
Needless to say, it is highly recommended to read the Directory of Parishes, which, although very brief, is highly enlightening for the practice of parish pastoral work.
Before beginning to treat these two points and as a form of introduction, we would like to define what we understand by parish.
“The word ‘parish’ comes from the Greek para (=close) and oikos (=house), meaning a group of houses, or also a group of neighboring residents. Etymologically it means neighborhood, in which Jesus Christ is the main Neighbor. Others derive the word ‘parish’ as coming from the Greek parojeo (=transport) or the Greek parechō (=supply). Both fit very well with the office of pastor who lives among his parishioners to supply them with sound doctrine, the sacraments, etc. In fact, there are things that are understood in speaking of the parish[11]: 1st. All the faithful under the jurisdiction of the parish priest. 2nd. The church where the priest’s functions are carried out. 3rd. The territorial portion of the diocese[12].
St. John Paul II once stated that “it could be said that the parish is a family of families, since the life of the parish is intimately linked to both the strength and the weakness or needs of the families that compose it”[13]. And all those families that make up a given Catholic parish are brought together precisely because of their faith in Jesus Christ. In the book of the Acts of the Apostles we read the following concerning the life of the first Christians: And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers[14]. Hence, the instruction in the faith of the Apostles, the building of a living community, the celebration of the Eucharist and the other sacraments and the life of prayer, constitute the essential elements of the life of every parish[15].
In this sense, each parish is founded on a theological reality, this theological reality being Jesus in the Eucharist. “Without Eucharistic worship as its beating heart, the parish becomes sterile”[16].
We therefore consider it convenient to make explicitly clear this clarification: “the parish is primarily neither the building, nor the institutions, nor what is canonical, nor the territory, nor the charitable works, nor the formalities. It is primarily the theological reality of being a Eucharistic community. It will also be, but secondarily, the church, the institutions, what is canonical, the territory, the aid to the poor, the indispensable and minimal formalities proper to an organized society”[17].
1. The IVE parish priest
Naturally, when a bishop entrusts a parish to the Institute, he does not entrust it to a religious individually considered but rather to the Institute as such. Therefore, it is a question of the presence of the Institute in a diocese and not of individual religious[18]. Hence, we say that when a parish is entrusted to the Institute, “in a certain sense, it becomes a religious parish [of the IVE], inasmuch as in such a parish the Institute expresses its own charism and apostolate, although in subjection to the bishop”[19]. An IVE pastor should configure the parish according to the charism and spirituality of the Institute[20]. For which it is imperative that the pastor is imbued with the charism of the Institute and show great fidelity toward it, including the healthy traditions which form part of the Institute’s patrimony[21].
The Proper Law abounds in details about community life and the government of the community of religious in a parish for its harmonious running, but we will not deal with this now. We refer to the Directory of Parishes, 8-40. We will leave to the side the consideration of the human aptitudes which greatly facilitate pastoral work, such as organizational skills, friendliness and good humor, facility with languages, gifts as educators and catechists, foresight and initiative.
Here we would rather speak about the characteristic virtues which should stand out in the conduct of a priest especially dedicated to parish ministry.
▪ Charity
Like all priests, those who carry out the office of pastor are called to reflect the fatherhood of God in their daily lives. It is not for nothing that the most frequent title attributed to us by the sensus fidelium is precisely that of ‘father’, and pastoral ministry offers a favorable environment for exercising spiritual paternity with great fruit through the concrete exercise of charity. For this reason, it is not surprising that the first virtue which must stand out in an IVE parish priest is charity, since “In order to evangelize the culture, charity is essential”[22].
Hence in imitation of the Incarnate Word who did not come to be served but to serve[23] a pastor is expected to be the first to serve others, sharing with the souls entrusted to him their problems and difficulties.
It is interesting to note that the Proper Law declares specifically how this charity should be manifested according to the type of sheep that one must shepherd. Thus for example, it says that one must lavish “charity on the sick, especially the dying, strengthening them solicitously with the administration of the sacraments and commending their soul to God”[24]; the parish priest of the IVE “will always treat with particular diligence the poor, the afflicted, those who are lonely, immigrants or those who are in special difficulty”[25]; that “he should be extremely charitable and kind”[26] to those who are weak in the faith, and in imitation of Christ: He will not wrangle or cry aloud…he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick, till he brings justice to victory.[27] He should be affable with all those who attend his parish[28], with those who enter the “parish office, with each family who receives his visit”[29], etc.
Given that the greater majority of our parishes are found in difficult places (and many in places where no one wants to go) and where poverty, whether material or spiritual, is the normal framework in which the lives of our parishioners unfold, it seems good to us to remember that “we should be deeply ashamed if we ever, by deviating from the path of concrete charity to the poor, stop caring for them and devote our attention only to those sick people, students, etc., who can repay us materially”[30]. We must beware of the temptation to think that “all the poor who knock at their doors are charlatans”[31].
This virtue which must stand out in the priests dedicated to pastoral ministry makes clear the necessity that “the entire formation of candidates to the priesthood be directed to prepare them in a specific way to communicate the charity of Christ, the Good Shepherd”[32].
▪ Patience
One of the most necessary virtues for pastoral ministry is, certainly, patience. For this reason, the Proper Law cautions: “If we have no patience with the parishioners, then nothing will stop the sheep and they will go after false shepherds, because the shepherds that God had given them have pastured themselves”[33]. And it adds: “We prefer the ministry of Jesus Christ to the ministry of arrogance”[34].
This is the patience which is demanded of an IVE pastor in the dealing with, for example, those who doubt the faith, to “answer with patience and clarity the objections raised”[35] or with those who are weak in the faith, for “on more than one occasion this class of the faithful ends up leaving the Church of Christ not only because of their weakened faith, but above all because of the impatience of the pastor”[36].
St. Manuel González, speaking in circumstances in which the office of parish priest is exercised today, said, “It is true that they couldn’t be worse”[37]. And in one stroke he illustrates some of those situations that not infrequently test the patience of the priest: “The priest who, as the fruit of a life of sacrifices and bitterness, reaps a church that is almost always empty, five percent, if any, of the faithful who fulfill the Easter and Sunday precept; the majority of the sick who die impenitent or, at most, with only the conditional holy oil; the very men favored by him with assignments, favors or alms, turn against him by not even greeting him; the very ones who frequent the church, bored at best, and to top it all off, their works, the most good ones, the ones done with the best intentions, misinterpreted or slandered. The priest, I repeat, who sees all this, really needs all the heroism of a martyr to wake up every day with a smiling face, a hopeful heart and a spirit calm enough to continue persevering without fainting and without falling”[38].
We must not endeavor to deceive ourselves and we must admit that the priest, as a man, is made of the same clay that the sons of Adam are made of. And a long and sad experience shows that it is a rather fragile and brittle clay. We know, because sacred theology teaches that, without a most special privilege of grace, no one can see himself exempted from venial sins, and the Sacred Scriptures say that the just falls seven times a day. However, we can work in order to modify our character and lessen the number of our faults and even take away their regularity. But without ever forgetting that in order to know what a man can do, we must always take into account that he has a character that some will like and others will not, and some faults that will make him unapproachable and sometimes will prevent him from be able to reach others[39].
For this reason, St. John Paul II, addressing a group of priests in the city of Prato, emphasized that, if “patience in apostolic work has always been necessary, but even more so in our times. Patience,” the Holy Father clarified, “does not mean acquiescence to error, passive tolerance, timid and inert coexistence, yielding to equivocation and ambiguity. Patience means the acceptance of the designs of Providence, which respects the times and ways of the maturation of each individual and of peoples. To be patient means to eliminate irritations and exasperations, the anger and also the frustrations, the demoralizations, the fatigue, to commit oneself to the fulfillment of one’s mission with untiring dedication, in humility and silence, always with coherence and promptness”[40].
▪ Zeal
The Proper Law clearly states: “The minister of God… will have an untiring zeal for souls, a spirit of sacrifice”[41].
In a very well-known sermon of St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori, he declares that “it is the obligation of all priests to have zeal for souls”. It is said: “there are many yet there are few priests; many in name, but few by their works”, and St. Alphonsus adds: “The world is full of priests, but there are few who strive to be true priests, that is, to fulfill the office and dignity of the priest, which is to save souls”[42].
Let it be well understood that the great charism of religious and priestly life is generous love for Christ and for the members of his Body. This love is expressed in service and is consumed in sacrifice. Therefore, the willingness to give of one’s self will be proportional to love, and when love is perfect, the sacrifice is complete[43]. Hence, we are willing to risk our lives so that others may have life and hope[44] and to try with “healthy creativity”[45] – and without becoming discouraged – to create opportunities to reach all the souls entrusted to us in our priestly ministry. No more excuses that ‘one is alone’ that ‘I don’t have the means’ or ‘I lack support’…a priest of the Incarnate Word must “move at the impulses of zeal”[46]. What is proper to us is “to be impatient to preach the Word in every way… We must seek out the sheep, use the method of dialogue, witness and solidarity, correct sinners, teach doctrine: faith comes by hearing[47], visit the sick, bring souls to the sacrament of Reconciliation”[48]. In a word, we must work industriously for the cause of Christ.
It is convenient here to recall that the priestly program, especially in our Institute is by nature missionary, which “implies availability”[49]. Far be it from us those “priests who, for the slightest excuse, by not desiring to expose themselves to a little work or out of fear of any illness, neglect the help of souls…. St. Charles Borromeo used to say that the parish priest who wants to adopt all kinds of comforts and use everything he can to promote bodily health will never be able to perform his duties well. And he added that the parish priest should never go to bed until after three attacks of fever”[50].
At the same time, we must remember the wise saying of St. Manuel González that warns us against occasional discouragement and convince ourselves “that we can and must work with all our might to convert souls, because that is our part. But we must not worry if they are not converted, because that is God’s part and theirs”[51].
▪ Faith
The pastor must bear witness to the faith as a priest, that is, be a channel of grace to communicate the divine life through the worthy celebration of the divine mysteries, the administration of the sacraments and, in particular, the sacrament of reconciliation.
It is necessary to be men of faith. Without faith the religious and priestly life has no meaning. It is necessary to be men of integral faith, in such a way that, upon hearing us, everyone can unequivocally recognize the Word of God. Only Christ is the light of men which shines in the darkness[52]. This light God has entrusted to the hand of the Church, which with the help of the Holy Spirit is faithfully conserved and transmitted. Therefore, the clear expression of this faith is the sincere and trusting adherence to every doctrine of the Church’s authentic magisterium, of which our preaching and catechesis must be an echo. Always remember, faith is strengthened by giving it![53]
Finally, the Proper Law, reminding us that pastoral care is a cross, adds to these characteristics that should stand out in the priest dedicated to pastoral ministry the following: “mercy, prudence, presence of mind, peace of mind, ability to overcome the repulsion that certain illnesses can cause, spiritual fortitude in the face of the dangers that may arise in the fulfillment of his ministry and, finally, availability to all”[54].
2. The IVE Parish
As we have previously said, the parishes entrusted to the Institute become, so to speak, religious parishes[55], for while the exercise of the apostolate as such is subject to the authority of the bishop, we must exercise our own way of apostolate, which is in conformity with the nature and character of our Religious Institute[56]. One must be aware that the bishop has called us to his diocese in order to do precisely this: our apostolates, with our own way and style. For this we received, on the day of the canonical erection of our Institute, the canonical mission. That is to say, we were sent by the Church to carry out our apostolates in the name of the Church itself.
Our Institute has a charism to maintain and promote in the Church, which implies that the religious must remain faithful to their own identity and heritage at the service of the whole Church, without identifying themselves and getting lost or absorbed by a particular Church and, on the other hand, they must work within the Church and in fidelity and obedience to the legitimate pastors[57]. How sad it is when one visits an IVE parish and almost does not recognize any difference with the neighboring diocesan parish!
All this means that the parishes constitute for the members of the Institute “a special environment for the exercise of some of our specific apostolates” and, therefore, they should be preferred since they, in fact, form a style of their own. Regarding these apostolates, the Proper Law specifies and emphasizes that ours must be an “enthusiastic pastoral care”[58], not a dormant one; “incisive”[59], not bureaucratic; “of proposition”[60], not of cancellation at the slightest obstacle.
Allow us therefore to refer ourselves to these specific apostolates.
▪ The Eucharistic celebration: The liturgical celebration, particularly the Eucharistic celebration, must be the center of the parish community of faithful[61]. For this it is necessary that the priests dedicated to ministry in parishes take as a personal obligation to teach the faithful to reverently receive the Eucharist, “through a serious liturgical formation, so that they can understand the meaning of the symbols they celebrate, and take an active part in the celebrations”[62].
▪ Toward the end, the Proper Law invites the parish priests to “organize teams dedicated to the preparation of the various celebrations: guides, lectors, those in charge of the collection, organists and those in charge of liturgical music, choirs, sacristy and church supervisors, groups of altar servers”[63] etc. And while Sunday will be the central day in the week for the entire parish[64], there will also be large and solemn celebrations on occasions such as “Holy Week, novenas and patronal feasts, first communions and confirmations, popular missions”[65], Christmas, the Easter Vigil and Pentecost[66]. It will be the parish priest’s job to promote these celebrations with zeal and anticipation if he wants as many people as possible to attend them[67], as well as to prepare them well. St. Alberto Hurtado already said in one of his poems: “improvising by principle” is one of the sins of the man of action[68]. For this reason, Sunday Mass should be well prepared because for many the preservation and nourishment of the faith is linked to participation in this Eucharistic celebration. Moreover, Eucharistic adoration cannot be absent in an IVE parish.
An important detail and which at times remains forgotten, is the exhortation in our Constitutions: “According to the area, the church doors especially should be kept open. However, if there is danger, prudently seek out some type of security measure. Unless there are truly grave and unsolvable circumstances, the people of God ought to have easy access to Jesus present in the tabernacle”[69]. How sad it is to see churches that are only open at Mass time and that one hardly notices that they are open because they have only removed the lock on the door, but the doors remain closed and should be wide open (so that people know they are open) and to make matters worse, inside everything is gloomy and dark, because with the excuse that a lot of light is wasted, only a few lights are turned on during the celebration of Mass!
We also mention that the Instruction Redempitionis Sacramentum specifies that “It is the right of the community of Christ’s faithful that especially in the Sunday celebration there should customarily be true and suitable sacred music, and that there should always be an altar, vestments and sacred linens that are dignified, proper, and clean, in accordance with the norms”[70]. This will give the Church and the worship an attraction that will very soon become an increase in the devotion of the priest himself and his faithful.
St. Manuel González also warns that, “the lack of punctuality in the Holy Mass or worship services is often enough cause to leave a church deserted… The fixed time for parish events not only attracts the faithful, but it is even a good example of order and seriousness for Christian families”[71].
▪ Catechesis for children and adults: This should have priority among the parish apostolates, -of all parishes, not only those attended by us-. But it is up to us to carry out this apostolate in a very conscientious manner also according to our Proper Law, which clearly says[72] that we want to dedicate ourselves “in a special way … to the preaching of the Word of God … in all its forms. In the study and teaching of Sacred Scripture… Catechesis…”[73], participating in the prophetic function of Christ[74]. Therefore, “As a Congregation we must always keep in mind the words of the Holy Father to religious: ‘I wholeheartedly exhort you, whose religious consecration should make you even more readily available for the Church’s service, to prepare as well as possible for the task of catechesis…Let the communities dedicate as much as possible of what ability and means they have to the specific work of catechesis’”[75]!
▪ The work of the Spiritual Exercises: “The preaching of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises in our parishes is a characteristic of the Institute. It has been proven how these Exercises enhance parish life by strengthening the spiritual life of the faithful. All priests assigned to pastoral work should feel the Exercises as their own responsibility and collaborate in what corresponds to them. It is convenient that in every parish there be a commission to support the organization and coordination of the Exercises”[76].
The varied reality of our parishes perhaps makes the preaching of the Spiritual Exercises more difficult in some cases, but this does not mean that our priests are exempt from preaching them, or that our parishioners are unable to do so because with the various adaptations that are stipulated[77], they can be made available to everyone so that “all the faithful may enjoy the benefits of a life of prayer”[78].
Therefore, it is desired that in all our parishes the pastors do not only actively promote the Spiritual Exercises, but rather that they put forth the effort to send people from their parish to the Exercises that are organized on a provincial level, and that they themselves preach the Exercises in their parishes or invite other priests to do so on the days which are easiest for the faithful to assist, making them accessible to the greatest amount of people possible. There should be no IVE parish in which catechists, married couples, young people, and members of the Third Order do not make annual Exercises. After the administration of the sacraments, this ought to be a priority apostolate for the pastor. Since, as our Constitutions establish, “The Institute will accomplish evangelization of the culture by sanctifying people individually. This will be done preferably by assisting with the Spiritual Exercises according to the method and spirit of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and encouraging spiritual direction”[79].
▪ Confessions: “The maximum availability of priests for confessions should be something proper to our parishes, and we should also see to it that there is always one or more confessors during Holy Mass”[80]. Another paragraph in the Directory of Parishes insists that the “apostolate towards sinners will be exercised in a particular way in the administration of the sacrament of reconciliation, being always available at any time to hear confessions, striving to possess the proper knowledge and being up to date in questions of morality and, above all, following the example of Christ, showing a heart of true mercy”[81]. It may happen that some of our parishes sometimes have only one priest, which hinders the desired availability, however, the Proper Law makes the following provision to be taken into account: “Other priests from outside the parish should also be invited to hear confessions, and where possible and convenient, a permanent confession center should be set up”[82].
The holy and experienced bishop of Málaga affirmed: “A priest sitting in his confessional before the sun rises, willing to never get tired or bored of solitude, will not take long to see Samaritans coming to ask him for the water that springs up to eternal life”[83]. Because “a priest sitting in his confessional early in the morning, even if he has no penitents to confess for the whole morning, or until very late in the evening, is always a sweet and overwhelming violence on the Heart of Jesus to pour out extraordinary graces”[84]. To keep in mind.
▪ Preaching: “The pastor and the collaborating priests will see to it that ‘the Word of God is proclaimed in its integrity to those who live in the parish’[85] by indoctrinating the lay faithful ‘in the truths of the faith, especially by means of the homily’[86]”[87]. For this reason, although canon law establishes that “the homily is to be given on Sundays and holy days of obligation”[88], our priests should also strive to preach a short sermon every day[89], which must be prepared conscientiously and, in some cases, even rehearsed.
The parish is the center of religious instruction, and hence, the pastor has a serious duty to complete the religious instruction received within the family with catechism, to spread the Word of God by popular missions, through ordinary preaching, by talks given to different groups in the parish, etc., aiming that its members give authentic testimony of Jesus Christ, as living and active members of his Mystical Body, teaching them to order their family and work life according to God, inserting themselves through their participative, missionary, solidary and ecumenical attitudes with the Universal Church[90].
St. Manuel González gives a few reminders regarding daily preaching which can be useful to us: “By parish preaching we mean a simple preaching, without shouting, without pathetic effects and, above all, of ten minutes’ duration. It is true that time and use take away the attraction of novelty from the preaching of the parish priest and bore or turn away the faithful who are fickle. But it is also true that what it loses in attractiveness for them, it gains in authority, prestige and taste for the good parishioners, especially if it is brief and heartfelt preaching. What is brief avoids fatigue, what is heartfelt produces interest and strengthens bonds. The priest who preaches daily does not have to worry about the danger of exhausting the material; since all he will repeat will be the concepts and these should be repeated so that they are not forgotten and put into practice”[91].
At the same time, it is expected that our parishes will “encourage ‘initiatives that promote the spirit of the Gospel and all that has to do with social justice’”[92], with the poor, seeking to alleviate their situation, promoting a pastoral care of charity[93]; and with the rich by fostering detachment, a sense of justice, and mercy towards the weakest[94]. On our part, “justice will be exercised in visiting homes, in caring for the sick, in kindness to those who come to the parish, in patience with those who do not understand the things of God. These will be our weapons”[95].
At the same time, it is recommended that, in all of our parishes, especially those where the faith is more rooted, to include “missionary animation as a primordial element of ordinary pastoral work, both in associations and in groups, especially youth groups”[96]; Since “the parish must generate faithful capable of making the seed of the Gospel germinate in the environment where they live”[97]. For this reason, the pastor and the rest of the priests of the community should strive “with all possible means, also with the collaboration of the faithful, so that the Gospel message may also reach those who have ceased to practice or do not profess the true faith”[98]. In this regard, the Directory of Parishes reminds us several times of the relevance, excellence and effectiveness of the popular missions.
Many other proper apostolates could be mentioned here and because of lack of space we do not treat of them. Priority should be given to be the care of the sick, which is one of the pillars of all pastoral ministry, but as we are speaking about our parishes, this presentation would remain incomplete if we didn’t mention these last two, although briefly:
▪ The Oratory: “Every superior should see to it that a festive Oratory is organized in his parish, school, house and other works of his jurisdiction, considering that this work is one of the most important of all those entrusted to him”[99]. Hence the festive oratory should not be missing in any IVE parish, however small and poor it may be. May it be our longing that “many, many, many children and young people frequent the Oratory and love it; and that a work like this may multiply and prosper where it already exists or arise where it does not yet exist, next to each parish”[100].
The oratory is also an emerging fountain of vocations because in being a school of service, where one learns to work disinterestedly for the community, for the small and the poor, it is transformed into a privileged path for the birth and growth of authentic vocations to the priesthood and consecrated and missionary life, as well as solid lay vocations, spousal or not, based in self-gift for the service of the rest[101]. “Remember that vocations will be the sign of a parish’s maturity[102], and that vocation work must become a pastoral priority[103], knowing how to foster them with generosity and letting go of them when they decide to follow Jesus Christ more closely”[104].
▪ The Third Order: Because “the parish is a privileged place for the insertion and apostolate of the Third Order”[105], in all of the IVE parishes, “the fostering of the establishment and growth of the Third Order Secular of the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word, seeking – to the extent possible – its incorporation or participation in the life of the parish and of the local religious community will be treated”[106].
In addition, it is more than desirable that in all our parishes the work that the Institute carries out in the world is known, that they know of our devotion to the Virgin of Lujan, of our fourth Marian vow, of our love and veneration for St. John Paul II, that they are persuaded by our conduct of the non-negotiables and little by little and according to the composition of the parish, our “healthy traditions” become customary among them. How good it is that whenever possible the faithful of our parishes participate in the celebrations organized by the Religious Family or that the parish itself is the host of one of these celebrations! What a great boost for the faith of young people and children when they participate in camps, youth days and courses for university students organized by the Religious Family! The same can be said of when they assist at ordinations and reception to the habit. What a blessing it is for our parishioners to participate in popular missions, to volunteer in the works of the Institute, to be benefactors of our missionaries or of our missionaries in houses of formation!
Finally, by the grace of God, in our Institute we have ample opportunities to promote and inculcate the charism among the faithful of our parishes and to contribute greatly to enriching the local Church. Not a little depends on the parish priest’s love for the Institute and his willingness and magnanimity to do good to others[107].
***
We want to end with the ardent cry that St. Manuel Gonzalez gave to his priests:
“Beloved priests, those of you who sit in the first chairs of the Cathedral, as well as those who shepherd the secluded village, receive and keep in your hearts this single word that I give you as a motto for this hour so full of anxious confusion as well as of pessimism that intimidates and depresses; in this hour, I do not know whether of funeral sunsets or of mysterious dawns: Fulfill your ministry. In the name of Jesus Christ who chose you and appointed you, of Mother Church who needs you, of society which will ultimately miss you, of the paralyzed souls that cry out for the man who will make them walk, of the little ones who ask for bread, of your own interests, spiritual and even earthly…. Do your duty, all your duty, the duty of justice and charity! And then… Wait in peace”[108]!
“Continue at your posts, even if loneliness and the silence of abandonment surround you; may your mouths never cease to open to speak of the Gospel, even if no one hears you, and may your hands never cease to stretch out to offer with the one hand the Eucharist that nourishes souls, and with the other the piece of bread of your poverty that sustains the body, even if you do not encounter mouths or hands that will receive it. May your feet never cease to move in order to go, as the Master commanded, to go always, even if thorns sow your path and even if friendly eyes do not cross their gaze with yours… Continue at your posts, no matter what happens; for in the meantime you give glory to the Heavenly Father who sends you; you slow down and delay, without any doubt, the triumph of evil, and you give an example, the example that the world needs so much at this time, that battles are won, not by deserting your duty, but by doing it”[109].
[1] Constitutions, 173.
[2] For example in Ánjara (Jordan), in California, in Phoneix and Emmitsburg (USA), in Roccavivara (Italy), in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz (Germany), in El Pueyo and in Valvanera (Spain).
[3] In Saintes (France), Tunisia, Aleppo (Syria), and Baghdad (Iraq).
[4] Constitutions, 182.
[5] Cf. Constitutions, 5; 254; 257.
[6] Directory of Parishes, 2.
[7] Constitutions, 173.
[8] Cf. Directory of Parishes, 33.
[9] Cf. Directory of the Evangelization of the Culture, 243.
[10] Directory of Parishes, 2.
[11] Cf. CIC, can. 216.
[12] Carlos Buela, IVE, My Parish – Christ the Neighbor, presentation, p. XVII.
[13] Address to the Hispanic Catholic community in San Antonio, Texas (09/13/1987).
[14] Acts of the Apostles, 2:42.
[15] St. John Paul II, Address to the Hispanic Catholic community in San Antonio, Texas (09/13/1987).
[16] Carlos Buela, IVE, My Parish – Christ the Neighbor, presentation, p. XIV; op. cit. CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY, Instruction “The Priest, Pastor and Guide of the Parish Community”, 3.
[17] Carlos Buela, IVE, My Parish – Christ the Neighbor, presentation, p. XIV.
[18] Directory of Parishes, Appendix, p. 57.
[19] Ibidem.
[20] Directory of Parishes, Appendix, p. 58.
[21] Cf. can. 578 of the CIC.
[22] Constitutions, 174.
[23] Mk 10:45.
[24] Directory of Parishes,119; op. cit. CIC, can. 529 § 1. If he is unable to do so personally or with the help of his priest collaborators, then he is to provide by having extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist instituted from among his best lay people, so that the sick of the parish may receive weekly – and even more often if they so request – the sacrament of the Eucharist.
[25] Directory of Parishes, 111.
[26] Directory of Parishes, 131.
[27] Mt 12:19-20.
[28] Cf. Directory of Parishes, 84.
[29] Cf. Directory of Parishes, 4.
[30] Directory of Consecrated Life, 98.
[31] Directory of Spirituality, 108.
[32] Cf. Constitutions, 228.
[33] Directory of Parishes, 84.
[34] Ibidem.
[35] Directory of Parishes, 125.
[36] Directory of Parishes, 131.
[37] Obras completas, Lo que puede un cura hoy, p. 644.
[38] Ibidem.
[39] Cf. St. Manuel González, Collected Works, What a Priest Can Do Today, ch. 2, p. 649.
[40] To priests and consecrated persons in Prato, Italy (19/03/1986).
[41] Directory of Parishes, 121.
[42] Cited by Carlos Buela, IVE, Priests Forever, Part I, ch. 5, p. 366.
[43] Cf. St. John Paul II, To the clergy and religious men and women in Seoul (05/05/1984).
[44] Directory of Consecrated Life, 270.
[45] Constitutions 160.
[46] Cf. Directory of the Missions Ad Gentes, 165.
[47] Rom 10:17.
[48] Cf. Directory of Spirituality, 115.
[49] Carlos Buela, IVE, Priests Forever, Part II, ch. 3, p. 572.
[50] Cf. Carlos Buela, IVE, Priests Forever, Part I, ch. 5, p. 369.
[51] Obras completas, What a Priest can do Today, p. 646.
[52] Cf. Jn 1:4-5.
[53] Cf. Directory of the Missions Ad Gentes, 13.
[54] Directory of Parishes, 121.
[55] Cf. Directory of Parishes, Appendix, p. 57.
[56] Directory of Parishes, Appendix, footnote 2: All Religious should always look upon the bishops, as upon successors of the Apostles, with devoted respect and reverence. Whenever they are legitimately called upon to undertake works of the apostolate, they are obliged to discharge their duties as active and obedient helpers of the bishops. Indeed, Religious should consider it an honor to respond promptly and faithfully to the requests and desires of the bishops and in such a way they may assume an even more ample role in the ministry of human salvation. This they should do with due respect for the character of their institute and in keeping with their constitutions which, if needs be, should be accommodated to this goal in accord with the principles of this conciliar decree. Especially in view of the urgent need of souls and the scarcity of diocesan clergy, Religious communities which the not dedicated exclusively to the contemplative life can be called upon by the bishops to assist in various pastoral ministries. They should, however, keep in mind the particular character of each community. Superiors should encourage this work to the utmost, by accepting parishes, even on a temporary basis. (Second Vatican Council, Decree Christus Dominus, 35; emphasis added).
[57] Directory of Parishes, Appendix, pp. 56-57; op. cit. Velasio De Paolis, Consecrated Life in the Church, Bologna 1992, p. 334.
[58] Constitutions, 181.
[59] Constitutions, 158.
[60] Ibidem.
[61] Cf. Directory of Parishes, 59.
[62] Directory of Parishes, 58.
[63] Directory of Parishes, 54.
[64] Directory of Parishes, 56.
[65] Directory of Parishes, 89.
[66] Cf. Directory of Parishes, 55.
[67] Remember that it should be our intent to seek to reach as many of the faithful as possible. Cf. Directory of Parishes, footnote 91.
[68] Saint Alberto Hurtado, The Search for God. Conferencias, articles and speeches, Eds. Catholic University of Chile, Santiago de Chile 2005, pp. 48-49.
[69] Constitutions, 158.
[70] Redempitionis Sacramentum, 57.
[71] St. Manuel González, Complete Works, What a priest can do today, ch. 5, p. 665.
[72] Directory of Catechesis, 2-3. See the entire Directory.
[73] Cf. Directory of Spirituality, 227: “The Church is Jesus Christ continued, diffused and communicated. The Church is the prolongation of the redemptive Incarnation, prolonging the three-fold function: prophetic, priestly and royal”.
[74] Constitutions, 16.
[75] Cf. St. John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae, 65.
[76] Directory of Parishes, 86.
[77] In the popular missions; open or public Exercises, in churches or parishes; preached Exercises in retreat, or intensive; repetitions that could be staggered to become proper first-week Exercises or even more; days of retreat, etc.
[78] Directory of Spiritual Exercises, 4.
[79] Cf. Constitutions, 171.
[80] Directory of Parishes, 87.
[81] Directory of Parishes, 135.
[82] Directory of Parishes, 87.
[83] St. Manuel González, Complete Works, What a priest can do today, ch. 5, p. 667.
[84] St. Manuel González, Complete Works, Although all… not me, p. 13.
[85] CIC, can. 528 § 1.
[86] Ibidem.
[87] Directory of Parishes, 88.
[88] CIC, can. 528
[89] Directory of Parishes, footnote 55.
[90] Cf. Carlos Buela, IVE, My Parish – Christ the Neighbor, presentation, p. XVIII.
[91] Cf. St. Manuel González, Collected Works, What a Priest Can Do Today, ch. 5, pp. 667-668.
[92] Directory of Parishes, 99.
[93] Cf. Directory of Parishes, 110.
[94] Directory of Parishes, 109.
[95] Directory of Parishes, 84.
[96] Directory of the Missions Ad Gentes, 158.
[97] Directory of Parishes, 89.
[98] Directory of Parishes, 88.
[99] Directory of the Oratory, 6.
[100] Directory of the Oratory, 8.
[101] Directory of the Oratory, 7
[102] Cf. Directory of Vocations, 82.
[103] Cf. Directory of Vocations, 77.
[104] Directory of Parishes, 104.
[105] Directory of Parishes, 2.
[106] Directory of Parishes, 77.
[107] Cf. Directory of Parishes, Appendix, p. 59.
[108] Cf. St. Manuel González, Complete Works, The Arts of Being an Apostle as God Commands, chapter 5, p. 1534.
[109] Cf. Ibidem, pp. 1532-1533.
