Rome, Italy, Feb 4, 2008 / 12:18 pm
On Friday afternoon the Holy Father visited the major Pontifical Seminary of Rome, which he called “his seminary,” for the feast of its patroness, Our Lady of Trust. After presiding at Vespers, the Pope spoke to the seminarians and their parents, telling them that the priesthood is “the most interesting of adventures and the most necessary for the world.”
"Because the gift of being adoptive children of God has illuminated your lives", the Pope told the seminarians, "you have felt the desire to share this with others. That is why you are here, to develop your filial vocation and prepare yourselves for your future mission as apostles of Christ. ... Savoring the joy of life with God the Father means that you feel the ever more urgent need to become messengers of the Gospel of His Son, Jesus."
Pope Benedict also noted the Marian dimension of the priestly call, "All this cannot but induce great trust, because the gift received is amazing, it fills us with wonder and sates us with intimate joy. And thus you are able to understand the role Mary has in your lives. ... Just as 'the Son was born of woman', of Mary Mother of God, the fact that you are children of God means you have her as mother".
The Pope then addressed the parents of the priests-in-formation, saying "you are probably the most surprised of all about what has happened and is happening to your children. You had perhaps imagined for them a mission different from the one for which they are now preparing. ... Let us look to Mary. The Gospel helps us to understand that she too asked herself many question about her Son Jesus, and reflected on Him for a long time.