On preparation for service to the Church

Recently Pope Francis spoke at the end of the 82nd General Assembly of the Union of Superiors General of religious men. With permission, he allowed notes to be taken and published by La Civiltà Cattolica, an Italian Jesuit magazine. The interview was published in the first issue of 2014 and is available in three languages. He makes several outstanding statements in it that are worth noting for those who are responsible for our seminaries. Please note that Pope Francis is the first Pope chosen from among the religious since 1831. Since then Popes have been chosen from the secular clergy. He makes the following statements:

[Pope Benedict XVI] said that the Church grows through witness, not by proselytism. The witness that can really attract is that associated with attitudes which are uncommon: generosity, detachment, sacrifice, self-forgetfulness in order to care for others. This is the witness, the “martyrdom” of religious life. It “sounds an alarm” for people. Religious say to people with their life: “What’s happening?” These people are telling me something! These people go beyond a mundane horizon.” …

… He who does not sin is not human. We all make mistakes and we need to recognize our weakness. A religious who recognizes himself as weak and a sinner does not negate the witness that he is called to give, rather he reinforces it, and this is good for everyone. What I expect of you therefore is to give witness. I want this special witness from religious.

Thus the role of the religious is to, “promote growth in the Church by way of attraction.” But, it was what he said on priestly [and monastic] preparation that really touched me:

… For example: problems are not solved simply by forbidding doing this or that. Dialog as well as confrontation are needed. To avoid problems, in some house of formation, young people grit their teeth, try not to make mistakes, follow the rules smiling a lot, just waiting for the day when they are told: ‘Good. You have finished formation.’ This is hypocrisy that is the result of clericalism, which is one of the worst evils.

… I summarize some advice that I once received as a young man: ‘If you want to advance, think clearly and speak obscurely.’ That was a clear invitation to hypocrisy. We need to avoid that at all costs.

… Formation is a work of art, not a police action. We must form their hearts. Otherwise we are creating little monsters. And then these little monsters mold the People of God. This really gives me goose bumps.

… Just think of religious who have hearts that are as sour as vinegar: they are not made for the people. In the end we must not form administrators, managers, but fathers, brothers, traveling companions.

To which I find myself simply saying, “YES YES YES.” The quotes speak for themselves and are as applicable to the Orthodox as they are to the Catholics. May our leaders also heed the words of Pope Francis on this issue.