“What is a priest without the Eucharist? Don’t let the source of grace dry up in you because of a lack of Eucharistic celebration and adoration lived in-depth”
Photo: Diocese of Getafe
Newsroom (14/10/2024 15:18, Gaudium Press) A priest and six new deacons have been ordained for the Diocese of Getafe in Spain. On the afternoon of October 12, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Cerro de los Ángeles hosted the celebration presided over by the Bishop of Getafe, Monsignor Ginés García Beltrán, and concelebrated by the auxiliary bishop, Monsignor José María Avendaño, as well as numerous priests. The ordination was also attended by the Our Lady of the Apostles Major Seminary and the Rozas de Puerto Real Minor Seminary, as well as more than 1,200 people who wanted to accompany the ordinands.
“This is a day of great joy and blessing for our diocesan community, a day in which we experience God’s presence and love in our lives profoundly,” said Bishop Ginés García Beltrán.
Reflecting on the meaning of vocation, the bishop pointed out that “this call is not always easy to understand, nor to respond to, because there are so many ties, even legitimate ones, to which we are bound”. However, “today we are witnesses to how some of our brothers, these young people, have responded with generosity and courage to Jesus‘ invitation: ’from now on you will be fishers of men’. They decided to follow Christ specially, dedicating their lives to the service of the Church for the glory of God”.
Addressing the seven, he assured them that “you are not, we are not, here by chance. It is the provident hand of God that has brought you here, and from now on you will specially follow him. For this we give thanks to God”.
“A vocation is a gift that can only grow in the freedom of man’s heart, in which the freedom of God who calls and that of man who responds meet and merge,” added the prelate, commenting on the readings from the Liturgy of the Word.
The bishop pointed out to the new priests and deacons that “it’s not your abilities or your merits that will bear fruit in the work you do, but a generous surrender into the Lord’s hands so that he can give us the fruit of an abundant catch”.
“Evangelization, for which the Church exists, is the mission of casting our nets every day into the sea of this world – this world and not the one I imagine or long for – it is bringing Christ to the heart of man and society, it is impregnating all things with God’s grace with simplicity but with conviction, and doing so with the certainty that Christ is by far the best.”
Referring to the mission of the ordinands, Bishop Ginés García Beltrán stressed that “personal or environmental difficulties cannot paralyze us”, because “he who carries the fire of God’s love in his heart cannot live in complaint or excuse, he must look only at the essential, at what he has been called to accomplish and which gives meaning to life”.
The bishop made it clear that “wealth, health or beauty are of no use if we don’t have the gift of God, his presence”. Furthermore, “pastoral successes and the applause of men would be of no use if I didn’t give them to God”. In fact, “all the glory of this world is fleeting, only God is eternal. Today’s man hunger and thirsts for God, and will not settle for less. So be men of God.
Finally, he stressed that the Eucharist is “the best and most important thing you should do every day”. “In the Eucharist, like at no other time, you are and act as a priest, you become another Christ, you immolate yourself on behalf of humanity.”
“What is a priest without the Eucharist? Don’t let the source of grace dry up in you because of a lack of Eucharistic celebration and adoration lived in depth.”
“Eucharistic life does not end at the end of our celebrations, but is prolonged in charity towards our brothers and sisters most in need, towards the poor, which is an essential part of ordained ministry,” he added.
He concluded his homily by asking everyone present to pray for the new consecrated persons “so that they may be faithful to their call, and be a light and witness amid the world”. And also that God may continue to bless the diocese and the Church with new vocations to the priestly ministry and consecrated life.
Compiled by Dominic Joseph
