"Learning Fatherhood" are reflections on Spiritual Fatherhood. They are not mature reflections on the theme and may be considered more "experiences" and meditations through which we come to Spiritual Fatherhood in the Priesthood. As a seminarian I know that this will be the identity and challenge I am called to take on especially in these last years of priestly formation.
Each Pope has a personal ‘style’ through which He proclaims the Gospel. John Paul was, according to Navy Seal Marcus Lutrell, a.k.a. “Lone Survivor”, what could have been “the best Navy Seal” in history. Each person has an interesting viewpoint from which he sees each Pope. A Papal Photographer, once speaking to me about Pope Benedict, called him, “The Theologian Pope” (Papa Teologo). About Francis a friend from New York calls him, "Pope Squishy", since she's dying to give him a hug. Now, If Francis were to ask me:
“Who do you say that I am?”
I would respond:
“A Spiritual Father.”
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Corpus Christi Procession in Rome - May 5, 2013.
Pope Francis decides to walk with the rest of the procession
instead of boarding the Eucharistic Pope Mobile
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When Civiltà Cattolica interviewed (click here for PDF) Francis in August I wondered how he would respond to the question: “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” He answered with a plain but forthright answer: “a sinner…”. You immediately see a man that does not give into a P.C. environment and thus will be willing to proclaim the Gospel wherever and whenever possible. The Jesuit Francis is a proud and faithful religious. He doesn’t shirk from the fact that he has a vocation within a religious order which to many eyes has become a center of confusion and disorder since Vatican II. To this exaggeration by many Catholics and Non he brings a clear response about the Jesuits - not so much to reform - but to make us think, “wait a minute there...are you sure you are judging [the Jesuits] rightly?” He is someone who is sure of himself - convinced, not because he is proud - but because his trust and discernment are humble and in the Lord. In Pope Francis' Heart is a capacity to “go into the harvest fields” sent by the “Lord of the harvest” (Cf. Mt 9:38) and bring in the marginalized, impoverished, and hurting. The Church, he says, is “a field hospital”. There are those who are hurt beyond a cold and cough, we’re here to do emergency surgery and try to save the unimaginably wrecked. This is a man with a magnanimous heart - no one is 'too little' to be loved by him. Just a month before his Interview the world watched his Fiat Punto on the streets of Rio de Janeiro get swamped by waves of pilgrims (I almost wanted to send my condolences to the security personnel). For Pope Francis World Youth Day was a “mystery”. He says:
“I am able to see single persons - one at a time -
to personally encounter the person before me.
I’m not used to the masses...”
There are, I believe three main “Trinitarian” characteristics to his teaching and living of Spiritual Fatherhood, these are according to me:
1) A Father with a Heart of Mercy
At the heart of this Jesuit is a Heart of Mercy.In his first Angelus message he said time and time again (accidently endorsing Cardinal Kasper’s book on Mercy): “We get tired of asking for forgiveness, but God never tires of forgiving” (Angelus, 17 March 2013). The Gospel of the 30th week of Ordinary time (C) reminds us of the “two men that went up to the Temple to pray”, the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (Cf. Lk 18:9-14). In today’s media saturated context perhaps all we hear is: “The Pope doesn’t care about abortion - he only cares about preaching about Christ...”. This is false. For this Father what matters is that both the unborn as well as the woman who has committed abortion are respected and loved and thus FORGIVEN through God's Mercy. For Francis, no one - NO ONE - is outside the possibility of God’s forgiveness. We just have to reach for it.
In this way he imitates the “Prodigal Father” in search of the “Prodigal Son” or the “Lost Sheep” - a list of souls in which he includes himself. He does not pretend to be above - just a prophet in search of bringing “sight to the blind” (Cf. Mt 11:5).
2) A Father of Youth - Shepherd of Souls
In this “faithless generation”(Cf. Mk 9:19) - thus “blind”- we need a shepherd. This is what Francis sees as his mission. In taking up the “Keys” of Peter he has decidedly become “Father of Nations” (Cf. Gn 17:5). This is what we most clearly see as “Spiritual Fatherhood”- Fathering Souls, or “Giving Birth to Souls” as a Father. This mission is pluriform and diverse in nature, and the stakes are high.
Above all The Jesuit requires that we - speaking of Religious - must “give fruit”. In the Interview he mentions that “the Vow of Chastity should be a life-giving vow (of fecundity)”, therefore a religious cannot become a “Confirmed Bachelor”(scapolone) or a “Spinster”(zitella). A missionary Church (and for Francis life is equal to mission) we cannot sit back and be sterile. This is what it means to Build the Kingdom of Christ!
Finally, I would like to make reference to specifically priestly aspect of Spiritual Fatherhood: The Eucharist. There is no doubt that all people are called to find their spiritual energies in Jesus Christ 'sacramented' but the specific nature of the Priest’s celebration is diverse than that of the faithful. A contemporary psychologist has said that in celebrating the Mass a Priest “Fathers” the Eucharist as does a biological Father his child. The Mass transcends the birth of a child but the effect that it can have is profound. To kneel before the “effect” (obviously Jesus is Creator), therefore become “cause” of the Creator is profound. Too profound!
Benediction during Corpus Christi
3) A Father of Discernment - Life in the Spirit
There is one last aspect of Pope Francis’ Spiritual Fatherhood which is particularly ‘Jesuit’, that of discernment. “Discernment” is a forgotten word because in general, ideas are already “decided”. The standards which the World and its Followers present are somewhat ‘set in stone’.The World declares “Do whatever you want” while we ask “What should I want?”. This is not a question the World can answer, because curiously to believe and love is to transcend this World.
At one level for Francis it is “to do the some things of each day with a big and open heart to God and others”. On the other hand it can be to govern a Church, but to “see God in all things”.
Guiding souls is tricky business. It is not, not, not easy! (Here I have imitated the Pope’s intense repetitive style). Who can discern hearts? Who can bring them to God? This is the work of the Holy Spirit. Faith guides us to hope not just be “optimist” and bring about a holy change - with patience - in time. God knows best and in prayerful discernment - not in hurried and primary decisions - we can help souls to “grow” and “bear fruit, fruit that will last” (Jn 15:16). This is an imperative in every person’s heart, one that cannot happen without love.
Homily during Corpus Christi
Conclusion
Every Christian is called to a Spiritual Fatherhood and Spiritual Motherhood within the Church. EVERY CHRISTIAN. This is not just a calling from without but from within. As in birth a child may cry, thus a Christian never stops crying until he gives birth to a soul. Spiritual Fatherhood and Motherhood are true dimensions within the Universal Call to Holiness. ‘Parenting’ necessitates a desire to thrive. Failures are inevitable but thus we prove that we are always spiritual infants, in need of the Eternal Father’s Mercy.
As a future priest a long to be an ever better Spiritual Father. I know my place now is in the seminary - quiet, prayerful, and studious. God knows where and when these three dimensions of spiritual fatherhood will most apply. I trust in his grace since “his grace is enough for me” (Cf. 2 Cor 12:9) .
Brother John
