The Cape Verdean Cardinal reminded the Priest-elect and Deacon-elect of some of their missions in Church.
“The Deacon, the living image of Christ the servant, bears witness to the highest level of Christ's charity towards all, so he is totally at the service of Christ in his Church wherever he is needed and collaborates in the fundamental mission of the Church,” he said.
The Priest, the Cardinal continued, “is the one who distributes the Bread of Angels. Without the Priest there is no Eucharist. Christ gives him the Eucharist, the gift of His Body and Blood for Priestly service.”
“Without a Priest, there is no Eucharist,” he emphasized, adding that “Jesus sees to it that there is no shortage of Priests, no shortage of the Eucharist, and no shortage of the Bread of Eternal Life. As believers, without the Eucharist, we cannot survive.”
Cardinal Furtado cautioned the Priest-elect and Deacon-elect against despair.
He said, “Despite the difficulties that may arise, never be discouraged and count on God to carry the mission forward as true prophets sent by God to bring his message, not trusting in ourselves, but trusting in Jesus who is in us.”
“Generously put your lives at the service of God’s people, renouncing parents, wife and children and possessions to a life of poverty, a celibate life, a life of service for the good of God's people, for the Glory of God,” the Catholic Church leader said.
In the practice of Diaconate and Priestly ministry, there will be challenges, he said. “Difficulties are natural in the context of God's mission, and his Holy Spirit is with us in this mission; He is sending us on the mission, and he is accompanying us and strengthening us so that the mission can be accomplished,” the Cardinal since his elevation in February 2015 said.
“In this way God's mission is not conditioned by difficulty because God is with us,” he emphasized.
“Even if you encounter rejection where you are sent, don't be discouraged, because Jesus is setting an example today; He went to his own and his own didn't receive him, and they began to accuse him of so many things; so, don't give up on your mission just because you encounter difficulties,” the Catholic Bishop of Santiago reiterated.
