Daily Thoughts for the Year for Priests (January 15)

15 January
Communion between Pastors and people

Communion must be cultivated and extended day by day and at every level in the structures of each Church’s life. There, relations between Bishops, priests and deacons, between Pastors and the entire People of God, between clergy and Religious, between associations and ecclesial movements must all be clearly characterized by communion. To this end, the structures of participation envisaged by Canon Law, such as the Council of Priests and the Pastoral Council…
The theology and spirituality of communion encourage a fruitful dialogue between Pastors and faithful…Significant is Saint Benedict’s reminder to the Abbot of a monastery, inviting him to consult even the youngest members of the community: “By the Lord’s inspiration, it is often a younger person who knows what is best”. And Saint Paulinus of Nola urges: “Let us listen to what all the faithful say, because in every one of them the Spirit of God breathes”.

Pope John Paul II

Novo millennio ineunte 45

(published by the Priestly Branch of the Focolare Movement)

1月15日
牧人和信友间的相互聆听

每一地方教会都应在日常生活的各个层面上，培养和拓展共融的幅度。在主教与司铎、执事之间、在牧人与全体天主子民间、神职界与献身人士间、在教会内各协会与各运动组织间，都应闪耀出共融的光芒。为达到这目标，应时常重视教会法所指定的相关机构，如：司铎咨议会，牧灵委员会等。
事实上,共融神学以及共融的灵修精神，促请牧者和信众之间做有实效的相互聆听……
圣本笃的话，意味深长，值得反思。圣本笃在提醒隐修院院长要咨询年轻人的意见时说：“上主经常启迪最年轻的人，提供更好的建议”。此外，诺拉的圣保里诺也劝免说：“我们要聆听每一位信友，因为天主圣神启迪每一位信徒”。

教宗若望保禄二世

《新千年的开始》牧函 45