More than 150,000 Poles have gathered in Warsaw last weekend to witness the beatification of Father Jerzy Popieluszko, the Roman Catholic priest and chaplain to the Polish Solidarity Movement who was murdered in 1984 by Poland’s communist secret police.
Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration that blessed Popieluszko for his martyrdom in giving his life to defend good and stated that the priest’s “zealous service and his martyrdom are a special sign of the victory of good over evil.” The example of the saintly priest who was martyred for faithfully serving his flock is a great image of priesthood and a fitting tribute to priests as we mark the closing of the Year for Priests next week.
On June 19, thousands of priests from across the globe are to gather in Rome for the Vatican’s official conclusion of the Year for Priests which was begun last June “to encourage priests in striving for spiritual perfection on which, above all, the effectiveness of their ministry depends.” The celebration of the Year for Priests during a time when the Holy Father, Bishops and even the priesthood itself have come under intense media scrutiny and been subject to harsh criticism for the continuing scandal and crime of priestly sexual abuse offers a great opportunity for a deeper reflection on the priesthood for the Church and even for the secular world. As Pope Benedict in a powerful reminder to priests suggested reflecting upon the scandal during this Year for Priests: “As we proclaim the Cross of Christ, let us always strive to imitate the selfless love of the one who offered himself for us on the altar of the Cross, the one who is both priest and victim, the one in whose person we speak and act when we exercise the ministry that we have received.”
The grave crime and sinful scandal of priestly sexual abuse is a heavy cross to bear for the Church as she continues to seek the forgiveness from victims and their families and to truly accept the necessary purification and penance needed to renew the Church and the priesthood. However, nowhere is the cross heavier than for those innocent children so cruelly victimized by priests and only at times to be treated callously by some bishops and official representatives of the Church. The continuing revelations of priestly sexual abuse across the globe remains also a weighty cross for every good priest to carry as they daily attempt to faithfully follow Christ and joyfully serve his flock. For even during this year dedicated to the priesthood it seems that the priestly sex abuse crisis has unfairly damaged every priest, as they are all sadly painted with the same wide brush.
In light of the priestly abuse crisis in the Church many quickly dismiss this Year for Priests and continue to criticize and even attack the priesthood. However, as the Year for Priests concludes next week let us recall St. John Vianney, the great patron of parish priests, who served as the patron saint of the Year for Priests but also let us also recall the example of the saintly Father Jerzy Popieluszko and countless other priests who daily understand what they do, imitate what they celebrate and conform their lives to the great mystery of the Lord’s Cross. Perhaps the best advice offered for this Year for Priests comes not from a pope or bishop, not from a priest or pastor but from the 90-year-old mother of Father Popieluszko who when asked the secret to raising a son like the saintly priest, replied: “Love people and love God with all your heart.”
