Dispositions
in relation to the form of dress of the priest have been
imparted from on high. my priests, even when living in the world, have
been segregated from the world.
I want my
priests to be distinguished from laymen not only by their more
perfect spiritual life, but also exteriorly they should be distinguished
by suitable and appropriate clothing.
What inadmissible
condescension on behalf of those who have the power to
legislate, and together with this power have the duty to make the laws
respected; and why do not they do it? I know why: the inconveniences
and troubles would not be few, but I never promised
anyone an easy life, free from pains and contradictions!
Perhaps
they fear adverse reactions, but it is not so; this laxity provokes
even greater laxity.
Employees
in public offices, and factories, and in police and military
forces, wear their own special uniforms, that distinguish them. Many
of my priests are ashamed, and thus they contravenethese dispositions,
emulating and even competing in elegance and
show with
worldly people.
How cannot
my Heart lament this lovingly?
He who is
not faithful in little things is not faithful in greater ones.
What can be
said, in addition, to the way in which many of my priests
administer the sacraments? They go to the confessional in shirt
sleeves, and at times without this, and often without a stole. If they have
to make a visit to a family of «importance», then they wear a coat
and fine clothing, but the house of God is much less
than any
family of «importance».
A cassock
or soutane is prescribed for the exercise of their ministry:
visiting the sick, teaching in schools, visits to hospitals, celebration
of Mass, and administration of the sacraments.
Nowadays
who wears a cassock for all this?
This, my
son, is lack of discipline, that terminates in anarchy.
What can be
said of my priests who do not have time to pray, occupied
and wrapped as they are in so many useless activities, even some
apparently holy ones? Useless activities because they lack
spirit, they lack my presence, and where I am not, there is no spiritual
fruitfulness.
How many priests have time to go to the movies to
see immoral and pornographic films, with the stupid pretext
that it is necessary to know in order to judge. This pretext
is Satanic.
So the holy priests that would never permit such immorality,
would not be capable of guiding and counselling souls....
To such extremes we have arrived.