Pope Francis poses for a photo during a meeting with a delegation from the Venerable English College at the Vatican April 21. The Venerable English College is a seminary in Rome that prepares priests for service in England and Wales. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Overcome fear, form good friendships, pope encourages seminarians

975 0

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The current “culture of the temporary” makes it more difficult than ever for young people to make lifelong commitments to God, Pope Francis told a group of British seminarians.

“It is good to see young people preparing to make a firm and lifelong commitment to the Lord. But this is harder for you than it was for me, because of today’s ‘culture of the temporary,'” Pope Francis told staff and students from the Venerable English College, the Rome seminary of the bishops’ conference of England and Wales.

Pope Francis welcomed the group to the Vatican April 21 as part of the celebrations of the of 200th anniversary of the restoration of the college and the 900th anniversary of the birth of St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury, whose life story Pope Francis cited during the meeting.

Love of God and neighbor are “the two foundation stones of our lives,” Pope Francis said before warning the seminarians of the “considerable obstacle that all of us face: fear!”

But, Pope Francis said, “by following the example of your heavenly patron, St. Thomas of Canterbury, who did not allow his past sinfulness or human limitations to stop him from serving God to the very end, not only will you be able to overcome your own fear, you will also help others overcome theirs.”

The pope also encouraged the students to nourish friendships among themselves and with people outside the seminary as they prepare for ordination. “By nurturing friendships, good and wholesome relationships that will sustain you in your future ministry, I trust you will come to cherish your real friends, who are not simply those who agree with us, but are gifts from the Lord to help us on the journey to what is true, noble and good.”

Related Post

Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, is pictured in a Dec. 1 photo. Msgr. Rossi said it was inspiring to see the work on the new Trinity Dome Mosaic progress, just as it is inspiring to witness the faith of the people who come to pray at the national shrine every day. The dome was dedicated Dec. 8. (CNS photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard)

Shrine rector sees Trinity Dome Mosaic as work of art, work of faith

Posted by - December 17, 2017 0
WASHINGTON (CNS) — In the years since its 1959 dedication, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception…
A revolver is seen near the body of a man killed by police after drugs were found in his pockets in Manila, Philippines, Aug. 17, 2017. Catholic bishops in the Philippines broke what they described as their "collective silence" over "many disturbing issues" that have confronted the country in recent months. (CNS photo/Erik De Castro, Reuters)

In statement, Philippine bishops break silence on ‘disturbing issues’

Posted by - February 3, 2019 0
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) — Catholic bishops in the Philippines broke what they described as their “collective silence” over “many disturbing…