Lima, Peru, Aug 7, 2012 / 15:06 pm
Cardinal Juan Cipriani of Lima exhorted a group of five newly ordained priests not allow their ministries to become mundane, and to remember that friendship with Christ means sacrifice for others.
"Don't let the treasure of the sacrament of holy orders be harmed by routine. Let your faith allow you to see the light," Cardinal Cipriani said at the Mass of ordination for the new priests on Aug. 4.
"Remember always the day Christ laid hands upon you and made you participants in this mystery."
During his remarks, he invited the newly ordained to become friends with Christ. "Let this friendship mean surrender and sacrifice. Be men of prayer also," he told them.
Cardinal Cipriani also told them to turn to "Holy Mary to ask her to help you to be faithful to the commitment you are making today, so that you can respond with holy conduct."
"Celebrate the Mass with care, do not let you minds wander with thoughts about this life. Our hearts should always be open, because the Lord makes himself present at Holy Mass," he continued.
Cardinal Cipriani invited the faithful to pray "for priests, that we may be holy and that Christ may make himself present in each one of us."
"A holy priest is the greatest treasure the good Lord can grant a parish," he said.