The Chrism Mass renews priestly promises, which is why the pope addressed priests directly in his homily, warning against three “idolatries” that undermine their union with the flock and with the Lord: worldliness, pragmatism, and functionalism.
Bianca Fraccalvieri Vatican News
Pope Francis began the rites of the Easter Triduum with the celebration of Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica with the blessing of holy oils and the renewal of priestly promises.
Indeed, in his homily, commenting on the readings, the Pope said: “To be a priest is a grace”, “a very great grace”, however, not intended for the priest himself, but for the faithful. And from the Lord he will receive his reward, that is, his love and the unconditional forgiveness of sins.
“There is no greater reward than friendship with Jesus. There is no greater peace than your forgiveness. There is no higher price than His precious blood: let us not allow it to be humiliated by unworthy conduct.”
In other words, it is an invitation to priests to be faithful and keep their eyes on Jesus. At the end of the day, the pope advised, it is good to look to the Lord and let him look at our own hearts, not to count our sins but in an attitude of contemplation and gratitude. And not only, but also identify rejecting temptations: “Let the Lord see our hidden idols, make us strong against them and take away their power.”
The risks of worldliness, pragmatism and functionalism
Francis identified three areas of idolatry where the wicked weaken the priestly vocation.
“In conclusion, I would like to ask Saint Joseph, a chaste father with no hidden idols, to rid us of all possessiveness, for this possessiveness is the fertile ground…
The first of these is spiritual worldliness, which is a proposition for life, a culture of the ephemeral, of appearances, of makeup. Its criterion is triumphalism without a cross. It is the worldliness of walking in quest of one’s own glory that robs the humble and humbled presence of Jesus. A secular priest, said the pope, “is but a clericalized pagan.”
Another area of idolatry is the primacy of the pragmatism of numbers. Whoever owns this idol is known for their love of statistics. But people cannot be reduced to numbers, the pope warned. Replacing the Holy Spirit is the aim of the number idol, which makes everything “appear” but in an abstract and relatable way.
The third space of idolatry is functionalism: “The functionalist mentality does not tolerate mysteries, it relies on effectiveness. Little by little this idol replaces the presence of the Father in us”. The functionalist does not know how to rejoice in the graces of the spirit and rejoices in the effectiveness of programs.
Jesus is the way
In these last two areas of idolatry, hope in God is replaced by empirical evidence, an attitude that dissolves the unity of the flock, undermines the fidelity of the priestly covenant, and chills personal relationship with the Lord.
Against all these idolatries, Jesus is the antidote:
“Dear brothers, Jesus is the only way not to deceive us when we know what we are feeling and where our heart is leading us; is the only way to good insight.”
Francis concluded by asking the intercession of Saint Joseph to rid him of all possessiveness, for this is the fertile soil on which these idols grow. May St Joseph grant discernment to subordinate what is learned of the law to charity.