Cardinal Dias calls for ‘3-D priests’

May 19, 2010

Addressing national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies on May 17, Cardinal Ivan Dias said that “the world needs priests and missionaries in 3D, people who maintain doctrine, discipline, devotion.” The prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples invoked Cardinal John Henry Newman as a model as he explained:

Every priest, on his path of growth and in his ministry, should safeguard these three dimensions: Doctrine, Discipline, Devotion. Safeguarding Doctrine means being faithful to the Word of God, the Magisterium of the Church, observing the words of the Holy Father. The second, Discipline, is very important nowadays and should be taken more deeply into account. This implies the discipline of mind and body, a sign and fruit of a human and spiritual maturity. This includes formation in chastity and proper relations with the opposite sex; management of discord and conflict in relationships and in the community; management of free time and use of new technologies. As for Devotion, I would emphasize that the priest, in each of his small daily actions, should bear in mind that he is a man of God. He should give primacy to the spirit, keeping in mind that he is in the world, but not of the world.

 

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Further information:

• Cardinal Ivan Dias: “We need priests and missionaries in 3D” (Fides)