Cardinal Sandoval says priesthood is privilege and work of love

Mexico City, Mexico, Jun 1, 2009 / 12:29 pm

The Archbishop of Guadalajara, Cardinal Juan Sandoval, said last week the priesthood is a privilege and a “work of love” that demands of the priest a daily examination of conscience about his own walk.

During a celebration of the silver and golden jubilees for various priests in his archdiocese, Cardinal Sandoval recalled that the priesthood “was born in the Upper Room, when Christ gathered with his elect. There the Lord celebrated the Sacrament of his Sacrifice, on the eve of his death. There he said to them: ‘Do this in memory of me’.”

The cardinal called on priests to express their gratitude to God for having been chosen and to reflect on the journey they have taken in the ministry. The priesthood, he explained, “is a work of love, as the love of Jesus for his disciples was made manifest in the words: 'As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in me.' We have been chosen by love to become partakers of the Mysteries of Salvation. Jesus said to his apostles: ‘You have not chosen me, I have chosen you.’”

“The priesthood is a privilege. We must be thankful for the love of God. He who hides from the love of God is the one who separates himself, not God. For this reason we must be thankful for the love that heals our falls and the wounds of sin,” the cardinal said.

Through prayer Christ remains with the priest, he added, and priests must not forget that the Holy Spirit consecrated them and made them his ministers.