Reflecting on the story of St Jerome, who is said to have removed a thorn from the paw of a lion about to attack him, Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley told an international priests' retreat in Ars, France that the story calls priests to love even their enemies. The cardinal pointed to St Jerome's description of the first Christians, about whom it was said, "They live near us, in our midst, but they do not abort and they respect marriage. This is strange!"
Cardinal O'Malley suggested this letter "could have been written last week", ZENIT reports.
Christians are called to be different, the cardinal illustrated, pointing to the "golden legend" of St. Jerome. This story depicts the saint surrounded by a group of monks. When they are attacked by a lion, they all flee, but Jerome stays: He sees that the lion is lame and he removes a thorn from his paw.
Cardinal O'Malley extracted this lesson: "We must behave like this. Christ is our physician, our Savior. We must be convinced and convince others and have the grace that our enemies become our brothers."
Nevertheless, the cardinal acknowledged, priests also sometimes betray their mission. He spoke of the Apostles abandoning Jesus in his passion.
"Peter, on the afternoon of his ordination, cut off Malchus' ear, saw the soldiers, and fled," he said.
"He tried to do what all of us have tried at some time, to follow Jesus, but at a prudent distance.
"However, someone recognized him, not a soldier armed with a sword, but a servant - who treated him with contempt - and he denied his Master."
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