HTS PT1 Pastoral Charity

Diverse Catholic Spirituality

• Franciscan
• Dominican
• Jesuit
• Carmelite

Spirituality of Diocesan Priest

• Pastoral Charity is the end-all of a diocesan priest
  • Identity
  • Spirituality
  • Ministry
• "Smell of your sheep"
  • be among the people
  • metaphorically hold them close
  • all that a priest does should be ordered toward the flock
    • In laying down life for sheep, that becomes the priest's spirituality
    • "Each becomes the means of salvation of the other" (CCC on marriage)

Sign of a good priest should be exhaustion at the end of the day; almost too tired to pray night prayer:

With a willing heart let them spend and even exhaust themselves(31) in whatever task they are given, even though it be menial and unrecognized.

Holiness of minister isn't necessary for God to administer grace through the sacraments, but holiness definitely helps:

There can be no doubt that the exercise of the priestly ministry, especially in the celebration of the sacraments, receives its saving effects from the action of Christ himself who becomes present in the sacraments. But so as to emphasize the gratuitous nature of salvation which makes a person both "saved" and a "savior" - always and only in Christ - God's plan has ordained that the efficacy of the exercise of the ministry is also conditioned by a greater or lesser human receptivity and participation.(63) In particular, the greater or lesser degree of the holiness of the minister has a real effect on the proclamation of the word, the celebration of the sacraments and the leadership of the community in charity. This was clearly stated by the Council: "The very holiness of priests is of the greatest benefit for the fruitful fulfillment of their ministry. While it is possible for God's grace to carry out the work of salvation through unworthy ministers, yet God ordinarily prefers to show his wonders through those men who are more submissive to the impulse and guidance of the Holy Spirit and who, because of their intimate union with Christ and their holiness of life, are able to say with St. Paul: 'It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me' (Gal. 2:20)."(64)

Ordination is only for mission. Nothing else. Not to make a personal "holy card" or anything like that.Fr. James Swift

Pastoral charity

• allows priest to make total gift of self
• must be grounded in good psychological conditions, hence human pillar of formation

Jesus gives command of pastoral charity three times in the Gospel: "Feed my lambs"

• He asks before each command: "Do you love me?"