To this new and eternal priesthood of Christ, all of you also, my beloved sons, have been associated, - you who have participated in the indelible sign of the priestly character, on the day of your presbyteral ordination. And today you are recalling this gift, renewing your complete availability in the service of Christ and of the brothers, gathered about your bishops during the concelebration of the holy Mass of Chrism, which allows you to express, in such a profound and visible way, the unity which exists among yourselves, the bishop, and Christ.
On this day, I ask you to renew your act of complete and total love for Jesus. Live the moments of his such great suffering. Enter with Him into the Garden of Olives, to live his very agony of Gethsemane.
How Jesus has awaited this day! -'I have ardently longed to eat this, my Passover, with you before I suffer.'
It is the Pasch of love.
It is the Pasch of the institution of the sacrifice of love; it is the Pasch of the sacrament of love; of the new commandment of love; of the service given as a perfect act of love; of the prayer for the unity of you all, as a fulfillment of love.
It is the Pasch of sorrow.
And lo, no sooner has Jesus entered into the Garden of Olives, than a profound anguish takes hold of Him and almost paralyzes Him. He feels Himself to be an innocent victim, an immaculate lamb, an immolated sacrificial victim upon whom has fallen the burden of all the sin of the world. In an instant He has the clear vision of every detail of his painful and opprobrious passion. And then, with a deep voice which comes forth from his whole divine Person, He entrusts Himself to the Father. - 'Father, if it is possible let this cup pass me by.'
He prostrates Himself on the ground; He prays; He moans; He weeps. Deep shudders shake his whole body which begins to sweat profusely and the drops of sweat are changed into drops of blood.
He has need of comfort. He asks it of the three most beloved disciples: Peter, James and John. Three times He goes to them, crushed by such great suffering; three times He finds them asleep.
I am far away with my presence, but with my soul and my heart I am always close to my Son. And thus, the only earthly creature who assists Him even in these moments of sorrowful agony is his Mother. Comforted by his, my spiritual and motherly help, Jesus offers Himself in an act of perfect abandonment: -'Father, let not my will but yours be done.'
And now, the angel is sent Him by the Father with the chalice of gentle comfort, of divine consolation, to give Him the courage to go forward to the encounter with his traitor, who has already come. -'He who betrays me is at hand.'
Beloved sons, in your priestly life, there must be renewed the great mystery of love and of sorrow of your divine Brother, Jesus. You too are called to enter into the Gethsemane of these last times, which are making ready your priestly immolation, for the new era which awaits you.
How many times the weight of sorrows oppresses you; the powers of evil paralyze you; the misunderstandings leave their mark on you; the acts of opposition bring you to a halt; the sins of this humanity crush you; the betrayals weary you. - 'Father, if it is possible let this cup pass us by.'
Beloved sons, do not seek human consolations or superficial comforts. It is my motherly task to give you that chalice of comfort which the Heavenly Father has prepared for you. In this way, you are assisted by me to carry out today only the will of the Father. Entrust yourselves, all, to my Immaculate Heart, that I may be able to lead you along the road of the divine will.
And live with me, in the Gethsemane of these last times, your pasch of love and of sorrow, in expectation of the new era which now awaits you."
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