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Wednesday, 25 January 1967
«Haec dies, quam fecit Dominus»
This is the day which the Lord has made.
What day is this?
Let us say, first of all, what kind of day it is for Us, the
Successor of Saint Peter and «Episcopus Ecclesiae Catholicae»
(Bishop of the Universal Church): it is a day of grace and of
joy, one of the most blessed days of Our life, a day which We shall
constantly remember, with gratitude to the Lord and with affection for
you.
Always, for a Bishop, the day of Ordination is a happy moment
because of the exercise of the fulness of his Priesthood; because of
the addition of new ministers to the hierarchical order, as his dearest
sons, his closestet brothers, his most faithful collaborators; and
because of the edification of Holy Mother Church, who is thus
endowed with new ministers, new shepherds.
But today’s Ordination is distinguished by special circumstances:
these new Priests have been chosen among a people who, in the course
of history, have been, to us Romans, a cause of special drama:
«Penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos» (Virgil: Eclogue I,
67): divided from us by half a world; but then, under the auspices
of Saint Gregory and Saint Augustine, most dear and close to us;
later, with immense pain, torn asunder from us; finally, in recent
times marked by new friendship ,and new hope, that people strongly and
sweetly draws to itself our very heart.
And now, behold! You come, bringing this new friendship and
pledging this new hope, to reconfirm our Christian and Catholic
communion with your people - and shall our heart not overflow with joy
and emotion? You come, enriched with an experience of life which
makes your offering all the more significant and precious - and shall
we not attentively seek in your vocations the signs of that Holy
Spirit Who renews the face of the earth?
For you, also, venerable and beloved sons, this is a great day, as
you are well aware. We do not need to repeat, here and now, those
things upon which you have meditated during the years of preparation for
this decisive hour. You are becoming Priests of Christ; upon your
souls there is stamped the mysterious character which assimilates you to
Our Lord. He communicates to you some of His extraordinary and
awesome powers, such as those of offering validly the Eucharistic
Sacrifice, of acting as ministers and teachers of the faithful
people; He binds you as obedient and active cooperators to the
Hierarchy of the Church; He pledges you to an imitation of Christ
which may demand all of your life, and consume everything in it; but,
at the same time, He also gives you His grace, His strength, His
joy and His peace.
Doubtless, you will never forget this day; and We form the prayerful
wish that the memory of this day may ever be for you an interior source
of spiritual light and riches. May the recollection of this ceremony,
on the anniversary of the first announcement of the Vatican Council,
and in this venerable Sistine Chapel which was host to Our historic
meeting with the highest Representative of the Anglican Communion,
inspire you to closer relations and warmer friendship with your fellow
countrymen of differing beliefs, but united in Christian good will.
And to your parents, your families and friends, what does this day
signify? Some of them are here present, and We greet them with great
respect and cordial welcome. To all of them, near and far, this
Ordination represents a sharing. They share, first, in your
sacrifice of your lives to the service of God; and they willingly give
up your presence, your assistance, your undivided affection, so that
you may dedicate yourselves completely to the Priesthood and its
duties. But, second, they also share in your merit for this
sacrifice, and participate in the graces which you call down upon all
the Christian people, but most richly upon your loved ones, by your
mediation between God and man. Finally, they share today in your
meditation upon the divine plan, by which God has called you to His
full service; and in the deep feelings which fill your hearts at the
reflection that His choice, among all the human race, has actually
fallen upon you.
We thank your parents and families for giving you, so unselfishly and
generously, to the Holy Church, and We invoke upon them the richest
reward of heavenly favours that your priestly intercession can obtain,
for their consolation and salvation.
On this feast, at this Ordination performed by the Successor of the
Prince of the Apostles, We turn confidently to Saints Peter and
Paul, that they may intercede for these new Priests and secure every
blessing upon their service to the people of God. We pray also to the
Saints of England, Scotland and Wales, particularly to Saint
Bede the Venerable, heavenly patron of your College. Above all,
We claim the loving assistance of the Mother of God for these new
shepherds from that land so long and affectionately known as «Mary’s
Dowry».
Surrounded and upheld by this heavenly intercession, We call down
upon you, beloved sons, upon your families and loved ones here and at
home, the love, protection and guidance of the Eternal Priest; and
to all We impart from Our heart, Our paternal Apostolic Blessing.
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