LINGAYEN-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas told priests in his archdiocese Thursday during the Chrism Mass at the St. John Cathedral in Dagupan City that “priesthood is a spiritual gift from God” as he talked about “joy in loneliness” on their feast day.

Attended by all priests in the archdiocese, Villegas, also president of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, led them in the renewal of their priestly vows.

“Who among us has never experienced loneliness? Who among us has never experienced deep painful isolation? Who among us has never battled with repeated rejections and tasteless ministry? Who among us has never been hurt by the feeling of being disconnected, suspected and ignored? We all know the feeling of swimming against the current — to be tired, to be bruised and to be alone,” Villegas told the priests.

He then dished out advice on how to deal with the psychological challenge.

“Every priest must allow himself to be touched by the fire of God. Every priest must have had a mystical experience of God in his younger years in the seminary; that mystical experience must be kept at heart at all costs, all the time.”

“There is no happy celibate without a healthy prayer life,” he added.

“An isolated priest is headed for a fall. We only become lonely if we allow ministry to take over us and neglect our need for friendship,” he said.

He added that celibacy can only thrive with integrity.

“If you become dishonest and untruthful, you also become unhappy and bitter. Celibacy must be proven by a life of humility and kindness. A happy celibate cannot frown too long. The joy of his heart will always take over a momentary irritation. The broken hearts club cannot be happy celibates. Celibacy is for the brave and the compassionate, for the humble who serve the Lord with joy. Celibacy tells people: God is with us. He is with us in his priests,” he told them.—Tita Roces

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