The Church in Malta will today be marking the conclusion of the Year of Priests with Mass by Archbishop Paul Cremona at the Mdina Cathedral, followed by a Eucharistic procession. The Holy See itself is planning a three-day celebration, beginning on June 9.
The first day will be dedicated to the conversion and the mission of priests and the second will see about 7,000 priests from all over the world meeting together in a renewed cenacle, as apostles gathered around the Blessed Virgin Mary awaiting the Holy Spirit.
The closing Mass, on June 11, will be celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI.
The Year of Priests coincided with an extraordinarily difficult time for the Church and the Pope himself due to the controversy sparked off by cases of child abuse by priests.
It was therefore no surprise that, speaking to journalists accompanying him during his May visit to Fatima, the Holy Father was asked whether the third secret of Fatima, apart from referring to the shooting of John Paul II, also mentioned to the Church's suffering for the sexual abuse of minors.
The Pope's response reflected an abundance of healthy realism and spiritual courage rooted in the Gospel.
After pointing out that attacks on the Pope and the Church come not only from without but the sufferings of the Church come precisely from within, from the sin existing within the Church, the Holy Father added: "This is something that we have always known but today we are seeing it in a really terrifying way: that the greatest persecution of the Church comes not from her enemies without but arises from sin within the Church and that the Church thus has a deep need to relearn penance, to accept purification, to learn forgiveness on the one hand but also the need for justice."
Whatever the circumstances that may come along due to human weakness, the greatest concern of every Christian, especially of every consecrated person or minister of the altar, must be fidelity, loyalty to one's own vocation, as a disciple who wishes to follow the Lord: faithfulness over time through a consistent, true and profound love for Christ the Priest.
The Christian community of these islands definitely appreciates those who faithfully give their lives to Christ, in particular for their fidelity to the Gospel and the Church, as well as their witness, often silent and certainly not easy.
The reality of the exemplary lives and spirituality of consecrated persons is a much needed witness in today's society and culture, also because many people live as if there were nothing beyond this life.
Referring to St Ġorġ Preca as a priest of remarkable humility, goodness, meekness and generosity, deeply devoted to prayer and with a passion for communicating the truths of the Gospel, during his brief visit to Malta Pope Benedict appealed to Maltese priests to let Dun Ġorġ "serve as a model and an inspiration for you, as you strive to fulfil the mission you have received to feed the Lord's flock".
This will surely help them to live joyfully their consecration and bear witness to their priestly fidelity grounded in the fidelity of Christ.
SIC: TomCom