‘Prayer life is our love life,’ Filipino cardinal tells priests

A Filipino cardinal reminded the priests of his diocese that their sole “love life” should only be a life of prayer and contemplation.

“A priest without prayer life does not have a love life, and a person who does not have love does not have life,” said Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.

In his homily during the Archdiocese of Manila’s Clergy Day on August 4, he stressed that a priest’s contemplative life means closeness and solidarity with the faithful.

“We are the watchmen for our people,” he said. “We actively search for the presence of God within and around us.  And we constantly detect the guiles and the wiles of the enemy, which prevent us and our people from knowing, loving, and serving the Lord.”

Cardinal Advincula urged priests to never stop hearing confessions, which he described as an “encounter with the hearts of the people.”

“When we become too occupied with administrative work, we lose the time to listen to the hearts of the people whom we serve,” said the prelate. “We become like drowsy sentinels who just mechanically rush the celebration of this beautiful sacrament.  Let us avoid this temptation.”

Moreover, Cardinal Advincula invited the priests to embody the mercy and compassion of Jesus to build a deeper relationship with their flock “under the banner of the cross.”

“The love and service of a priest are not only expressed through intelligent words, offering relief goods, or showcasing talents. We also love and serve despite our weaknesses, because we do it from the cross,” he said.

The Manila Clergy Day was held at San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex on the feast of Saint John Marie Vianney, patron saint of diocesan priests.

The gathering began with a Pilgrim Walk from Bahay Pari to the San Carlos Seminary Chapel, the Jubilee Church for clergy, consecrated persons, missionaries, and seminarians.