In his book, the Cardinal discusses the moral and spiritual decadence of the clergy, while warning about the dangers, such as worldliness, existing in today’s Church.

Newsroom (27/10/2021 11:15, ) Gaudium Press Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, has just published a book entitled ‘At the Service of Truth. Priesthood and Ascetical Life‘.

In the work, the Cardinal discusses the moral and spiritual decadence of the clergy, warning about the dangers present in the Church today: dangers including careerism and worldliness, which are also present in social networks.

Care for the liturgy and zeal for souls

In his book, the African Cardinal stresses that the good priest does not allow himself to be manipulated in television interviews; rather, he follows the liturgy carefully without inventing anything, because he knows that his mission is to reproduce the liturgy that is actualized in Heaven. In addition, he helps the poor, always trusting in Divine Providence.

To be able to maintain this zeal for his ministry, the priest needs to have a strong prayer life, and remain demanding in his own spiritual life. His zeal for souls should be intense, concerned at all times for the eternal salvation of the sheep entrusted to his care.

Spiritual Exercises for priests

The publication also presents the texts of the spiritual exercises that Cardinal Sarah ministered to a group of priests of the Association Amicizia Sacerdotale Summorum Pontificum in February of 2020.

In them, he analyzed the current situation of the clergy and seminary formation while warning about possible temptations confronting priests in the contemporary world. The cardinal stressed the importance of liturgy and the apostolate in priestly life.

For the Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, spiritual exercises represent an important moment in the life of a priest. “Let us approach these spiritual exercises with the desire to meditate and contemplate the things we already know, so that we can really know them and therefore live them,” he stated. (EPC)

Compiled by Sandra Chisholm