Saturday 25 January 2014

I don't want my priest smelling like a sheep!


The Holy Father has addressed the clergy, calling on them to have something of the smell of sheep about them - Ewe de Cologne, if you like (ouch!).

Pope Francis wants the priesthood to be less concerned with self absorption and more hands on with the flock.

Here are his words on the subject:

“This is precisely the reason why some priests grow dissatisfied, lose heart and become in a sense collectors of antiquities or novelties — instead of being shepherds living with ‘the smell of the sheep,’” he said.
“This is what I am asking you,” he said with emphasis, looking up from his prepared text, “be shepherds with the smell of sheep,” so that people can sense the priest is not just concerned with his own congregation, but is also a fisher of men.

I understand his meaning and without question he is right.
But our priests, surely, should not be tainted with the smell of the flock?

They should be of the flock but not in it, if you get my meaning.

He then proceeds to talk about priests being "fishers of men".

That statement, too is, needless to say, completely appropriate being, Our Lord's own words.

So what's it to be?

The smell of sheep or the smell of fish?

The answer is, both. We need, first of all, fishermen to catch the souls and then good shepherds to care and nurture them.

But the fishermen need to be discerning; those that wish to wriggle their way into the Church without any intention of abiding by the teachings of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Father are best, how shall I phrase this charitably?

Chucked back, that's it....sling 'em back in the pond from whence they came!



Prompted by Petrus at Men are Like Wine


19 comments:

  1. I wonder ... when priests get to meet Our Lord some day; will He ask them how much they know about Vatican I and II, about the various ways of celebrating Mass, and whether Latin is better than English ... or will He ask them how many of their congregation they managed to lead safely to Heaven?

    And what will He ask the rest of us? Have we done our bit to spread His Good News? Or are we just experts in Catholicism and Catechism?

    God bless.

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    Replies
    1. Wish I'd thought of that Victor! Couldn't agree more.
      God Bless.
      Sue

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    2. Victor, yes, we do need more experts in the Faith, both in terms of knowledge and application. The Catechism is the foundation stone of that knowledge and the Latin Mass the means of embedding it. God bless.

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    3. "His Good News" is the doctrine of the Faith, as found in the Cathechism.

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    4. I'm not arguing against expertise and knowledge of the Catechism or the validity of the Latin Mass. I am making the point that "by their good works you will know them". The Apostles and early Christians knew very little of Catholicism, Catechism or celebrating the Mass in a particular language. It was their Faith and actions which spread the Good News and gained more believers in Christ.

      I ask the question again: what percentage of their congregation will our priests tell God that they led safely to Heaven?

      And what about us? Will He ask us to recite the Catechism and pray in Latin? Or will He ask what we have done to "the least of these ... you have done to Me"?

      God bless.

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    5. You seem to be a confused Novus Ordo heretic.

      Going to Vetus Ordo, which are properly celebrated, would give you the dose of orthodoxy you desperately require.

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    6. @BushLover, That is hardly charitable... and thus your words seem to undermine your own cause....

      @Victor: I hesitate to set up the dichotomy which you are employing. Priests have to ask God to show them how best to lead their flock towards Heaven. As the Mass is (to quote the sub-title of Scott Hahn's book, The Lamb's Supper, "The Mass is Heaven on Earth" then the priest ought to be both an expert on the Mass (he's the one offering the sacrifice in a unique way, *and* leading the laity to do the same) and an expert on the God Whom he is charged to bring to the people. Of course, it also helps if he is an expert on the people he needs to bring to God.

      But there is no greater action a priest can do than celebrate the sacraments - The Mass, Baptism, and Penance first and foremost among the rest. These acts of charity are worth more than all the rest.

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    7. Maybe all those things related to the integrity of the Faith are involved in how many the pastor was able to lead to heaven. Maybe religious relativism, moral relativism, secularization of the sacred really are important after all?

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  2. He might ask us, did we honour him in the Tabernacle and on the altar. How will those who connived to strip the altars and move the Tabernacle answer?

    He might ask did we transmit the Faith, whole, entire, and undistorted by the concerns and pressures of tyrants and pagans, whether Tiberius or Tatchell, Herod or Marx, Arius or Kung? How Liberation Theologians answer? How will those who have permitted gay marriage and adoption by apathy and cowardice, and the desensitization of young minds to their horrors in "Catholic" schools and Universities?

    If you don't value expertise, give me a call the next time you need open heart surgery. I'll give it a go.

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    Replies
    1. ...or did we love our neighbour.
      Personally, I don't look for technical expertise in my parish priest.
      Sue

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  3. Better to smell of the perfume of Christ.

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  4. When they meet Christ, His own words about leading "little ones" astray and millstones might be employed. From those who have been given much, more will be expected - I do not envy our priests who have so much responsibility!

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  5. There is no "love" without truth. It is through liturgy and doctrine that people are oriented to God.

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  6. I like the sheepish sheep right at the back.

    is the priest an alter Christus or and alter sheepus? I guess priests must smell of sheep most of the time, but at Mass, that's when, as ACCH says, better the odour of sanctity, or an attempt.

    p.s. Jadis. I think I'll pass on the by-pass. Recently US govt. had to remove a few nuclear scientists who, it was discovered, were receiving some crucial answers in their tests via text.

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  7. "Chucked back, that's it....sling 'em back in the pond from whence they came!"

    That role is reserved for the Judge, Jesus Christ. It is not the purview of either priest or layperson.

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    Replies
    1. Todd, my point is that we need to employ discernment and not accept those that seek to destroy the Church from within. Those Catholics who take part in the abortion industry, for example, are excommunicated, that's well within our purview.

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  8. For 30 years I never heard the word, "Contraception" from the pulpit! REALLY, not once!!!

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  9. With the state of the laity, un-catechized, deliberately disobeying the Church's teachings, perhaps the Bishops' should not smell of the sheep?

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