Priests urged to show humility

A Roman Catholic bishop has called on priests not to follow the ways of the world but rather the path of humility.

Imus Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle urged priests to emulate St. Therese of Lisieux by living simple lives and by transforming society through humility.

Tagle spoke to a vast of crowd at the Manila Cathedral during the March 10 concelebrated farewell Mass led by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales for the relic of St. Therese.

The reliquary bearing the relics was on display at the cathedral since March 8 before it was brought also on March 10 to the Shrine of St. Therese in Villamor Air Base.

“Brother priests let us discover the littleness of our vocation especially now that our prophetic role is being challenged,” Tagle said in his homily.

The bishop admitted that priesthood is “prone” to “ambition, prestige, social and cultural supremacy.”

These circumstances, he said, could fuel chances of losing the example showed by St. Therese by being clever and passionate, yet practiced humility and all other virtues.

St. There is known for her “Little Way.” In her quest for sanctity, she realized that it was not necessary to accomplish heroic acts in order to attain holiness and express her love for God.

“We can be tempted and lose the little way of St. Therese. The humility of the ‘little flower’ is a model for priests and everyone,” he said.

Tagle likewise asked the lay people to pray to rid the Catholic Church of grave situations involving priests.

“Our priesthood is due to the prayer of people. We will not be priests without the prayer of the people,” he said.