Scottish Catholic Observer

Instead of being irritated by the usual excited New Year countdown beloved by TV presenters, this leading to a surfeit of fiddle and accordion music, vast crowds milling around in the city centres with no apparent purpose, and money which could be put to better use, I’m sure, exploding all over Scotland’s skies in the form of fireworks, I didn’t notice any of it. I was reading one of the books received as a Christmas present and couldn’t put it down. I suppose it could be called a small book or a large pamphlet but it demanded a second reading and will probably have a third. It is, of course, The Joy of the Gospel written by Pope Francis, An Apostolic Exhortation of the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World.

This rallying call to a New Evangelisation, a clear guide to the way ahead, is written in plain language the way ahead for all of us signposted so that there can be no misunderstandings. There is no denying that we as Christians, and indeed as Catholics, have been forced into a defensive position in recent times… a sort of siege mentality, if the truth be told. Pope Francis, a man who clearly understands the world in which we live, who has moved both believers and non-believers by his actions, by the example he has set in the last nine months, has translated his actions into the writings of Evangelii Gaudium. In it can be found Francis, both scholar and priest, a man of wide experience of the world in which we live, and of the anomalies of that world. It is as if the Papacy has stepped down from a distant balcony and into the crowd waiting below.

Through all of these writings is reference to the importance of the relationship between priests and people. He is frank about pitfalls in this, and writes that, despite the present shortage of priests: “There is a need for a better process of selecting candidates for the priesthood.” The vocational aspect of candidates who present themselves for training is emphasised as being essential. Personal motivations, such as ‘pursuit of power, human glory or economic wellbeing’ are unacceptable. There are constant reminders, too, that our priests must remain close to the people, must avoid employing business methods, managerial techniques, general administration of parishes. This, Pope Francis writes, gives rise to a situation where ‘…the principal beneficiary is not God’s people but the Church as an institution.’

He writes, too, of ‘ostentatious preoccupation for the Liturgy,’ among other things, as being a form of what he calls ‘Spiritual wordliness’…and in that particular section, I noticed that the Pharisees were given passing mention. They’re never very far away, even in this day and age. And ‘spiritual wordliness’ has been around for a long time. It used to be called Spiritual Materialism.

The importance of the homily is covered at length, it being referred to by the Pope as ‘…the touchstone for judging a pastor’s closeness and ability to communicate to his people.’ Here, preparation for preaching is emphasised, clearly defined as ‘a prolonged period of study, prayer, reflection and pastoral creativity.’ Lack of time for this is not an excuse for neglecting to undertake this preparation. Time must be set aside for it, irrespective of other duties. For a long time, there has been constant complaint by the Faithful about ‘not getting anything out of the homily given at Sunday Mass’ and, on one occasion, an observation by one of the Faithful that he was ‘tired of homilies with no verbs in them.’

Where homilies relate directly to the people, to helping them find their way through hostile world, there are no complaints. From arguing among ourselves about what might be called ‘externals’ to a feeling of abandonment in a materialistic world, encompasses difficulties in moving forward in the Faith. And while the Pope’s writings pay rightful tribute to those who ‘tend their flocks’ in hostile and dangerous environments, he also shines a very clear light on those who fall short of the selflessness required by true spiritual leaders. It is a reminder to them—and to all of us—about the way things should be.

In a few short months, the Holy Father has caught the attention and indeed the approval of an often cynical media, of believers and non-believers alike. “We must be fearlessly open to the workings of the Holy Spirit,” he tell us, and in Evangelii Gaudium he tells us how this can be achieved. In recent years, I have seen an example of this, a whole community energised in the Faith by the missionary zeal of an order which works in developed countries and also in those which are unstable. It was a parish mission, where priests from this particular order were joined by some of their young seminarians. An integral part of the way forward? The answer is obvious, parish missions of this sort would prepare us, energise us for the task ahead.

And if the relationship between priests and people needs to be strengthened in some places, we could play our part by offering constructive ideas. Respect shown to a priest is surely respect for the office which he bears. He is, as my mother used to tell me in childhood, ‘one of God’s anointed.’ (At the time, she was trying to dissuade me from pulling the parish priest’s jacket to get his attention).

If I could set out a ‘wish list’ in relation to our priests, I would ask that those who choose to be addressed by their Christian names without the prefix of ‘Father’ should be dissuaded from doing so, that casual clothes should not be worn instead of clerical garb as our priests go about their day-to-day duties, that sycophants who seek the attention of our priests should stop telling them what they (the sycophants) think they want to hear. Honesty is far more constructive. And a cursory handshake at the end of Sunday Mass (left) is no substitute for contact with our priests. The sight of a queue forming outside the sacristy at the end of Mass may be daunting, but it is personal contact, and as such, is valuable.

Of course there are places where there is a closeness, an understanding between priests and people. But where there               is not, simply to criticise is non-             productive.  We all have a positive part to play… The last word must go to a young friend of mine who was in recent times studying that picture of a small boy reaching up to give Pope Francis a knee-hug. “That’s our new Pope,” my small friend told me. “He knows a lot of things. Not everything, like God… but nearly everything…”

Fair comment, I would say, and in this New Year, he has given us a sense of a whole new beginning.