WITHOUT PRAYER, THE PASTOR IS EXPOSED TO BEING ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

A 'BYTE' FROM SUPERPOPE'S ADDRESS TODAY TO THE BISHOPS OF ITALY Without constant prayer, the Pastor is exposed to the danger of being ashamed of the Gospel, and ends up defusing the scandal of the Cross in worldly 'wisdom'”. “The temptations, which aim to obscure the primacy of God and His Christ, are legion in the life of the Pastor: lukewarmness, which leads to mediocrity … dodges renunciation and sacrifice;the temptation to haste in pastoral ministry, sloth that leads to intolerance, almost as if everything were a burden. … A temptation to grow accustomed to sadness, cancelling out every expectation and creativity, leaving us unsatisfied and therefore incapable of entering into the lives of our people and understanding them in the light of Easter morning”. In relation to these temptations, ecclesial experience is the most effective antidote.  It emanates from the sole Eucharist, whose cohesive strength generates fraternity, the ability to accept, forgive and walk together”.