Cardinal Osoro, at the Ordination of Father Rafael Pou, LC
“Giving God’s love will be your profession. You will have no other. Deliver God’s love. Others will be able, through your life, to see the face of Jesus Christ himself.” This is the vocation to which Father Rafael Pou, LC, has been called, as explained by Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid, Don Carlos Osoro Sierra, during his priestly ordination Mass on Sunday, October 11. The ceremony, held at the parish of Santa María de Caná in Pozuelo de Alarcón, was concelebrated by numerous priests of the Legionaries of Christ from different parts of Spain, some from Chile and Mexico, as well as diocesan priests who wished to join the celebration. In the front rows, the parents, siblings, and other family members of Father Rafael Pou, and friends from Barcelona, members of the entire Regnum Christi family, and colleagues and friends from Universidad Francisco de Vitoria and the youth section of Ronda-UFV, where he is currently assigned, were present.
Be faithful, joyful, another Christ on earth
The ceremony was broadcast online. Father Javier Cereceda, LC, territorial director of the Legionaries of Christ in Spain, welcomed viewers through the digital platforms: “It is a privileged moment for a Christian to witness something so incredible as Jesus Christ coming down to configure another man to Himself,” he explained. “Thank you for joining us; it is a celebration for all Legionaries of Christ, for the entire family of Regnum Christi, for the entire family of Father Rafael who is here accompanying them, and I invite you to participate in the celebration through prayer, to pray for this priest so that God our Lord grants him the grace to be faithful, joyful, and another Christ on earth. Thank you for being with us and for being there,” said Father Cereceda. Minutes later, the celebration began.
Be for Christ
The Cardinal of Madrid began his homily by addressing Father Rafael Pou, explaining that today “the Lord gives you His own ministry and His own mystery. Your presence as a priest in the Church will bring Christ closer to those you dedicate your ministry to, according to the obedience you are called to in your congregation.” He also wanted to remind everyone that “the Lord today transforms your life so that you are in Him, through Him, and for Him.”
“First of all, you must show the face of Christ.” This is the reason why Father Rafael is being ordained a priest. Citing the first reading of the Mass (Isaiah 25:6-10), the priest’s task, like that of the prophet Isaiah, is to tell the world: “Here is our God.” And Cardinal Osoro explained: “They must see the presence of someone who acts in the name of Christ, but does so with his own person. Show the face of Christ.”
Deliver the love of God
“Giving God’s love will be your profession. You will have no other. Deliver God’s love. Others will be able, through your life, to see the face of Jesus Christ himself,” warned the Archbishop of Madrid.
At this moment, Cardinal Osoro made a reference to the current situation, pointing out that “amidst this pandemic that is afflicting Humanity, you receive the priestly ministry. But you must show with your life that He is here among us, that He wants us to rebuild human life in all its dimensions, not just socially and economically.” That is why he asked him to do “everything possible to lay foundations, to make others understand that together, men, hand in hand, as Pope Francis urges in this latest encyclical He has given us, looking out for others, and others for us, we can emerge from any situation.” And he concluded: “Preach this, show the face of the Lord: that men know we are in this world not to destroy it but to give ourselves to each other, to always defend life and not death.”
I can do all things in Him who strengthens me
Referring to the second reading (Phil 4:12-14, 19-20), the Cardinal reminded Father Rafael Pou that it is God who sustains us: “In the midst of all difficulties you may have in life, ‘I can do all things in Him,’ says the apostle Paul, in Him who strengthens me.” He encouraged him to stay attentive because “when we sometimes rely on our certainties, our personal qualities, we are actually putting obstacles in the way of the Lord.”
God sustains the priest “so that he can tell all men ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’” So that he can feed them with the food that makes us great, that enlarges our hearts, that makes us feel brothers of all, so that you can approach men who have not yet known the Lord and make them members of the Church in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
“Dear Rafael — continued Don Carlos — sustained by the Lord, make it possible that fraternity never breaks apart. Imitate the Lord, who from the very beginning rescued fraternity. The Lord called you to rescue it. The Lord who conquered your heart.” That is why he asked him: “Conquer the hearts of men in the style of Jesus Christ.”
Call to the feast
And concluding with the Gospel reading of the Mass (Mt 22:1-14), the Archbishop of Madrid explained that the Lord compares the Kingdom of God to a banquet: “Jesus gives us this parable as a metaphor to invite every human being to fill their deepest longings.” In this context, he clarified, “God calls everyone, and calls to the greatest happiness possible within any limitations. God invites us to be happy.” And once again, he reminded Father Rafael of his mission: “Announce this to men.” Moreover: “Devote your life exclusively to making this invitation, in the manner of Jesus: today the Lord tells you that your profession is to call all men to the feast.”
“You will be ordained a priest, and for everyone, it is an invitation to the feast,” so he encouraged him not to make mistakes: “Not to confuse it with our tastes, because if it’s about our tastes, perhaps we will only invite a certain group; or with our projects, because sometimes we have our own projects that are different from God’s.”
God counts on you
Finally, Don Carlos emphasized the vocation to which the new priest has been called: “God has chosen you to be Him among men. Live with His strength; that is what will comfort you. God will provide all your needs. Jesus Christ will act in your name so that you feed others and give meaning to the lives of those you meet.”
“Announcing Jesus — the bishop concluded — means announcing that God loves you, God wants you, God embraces you, God wants to count on you. God lives among men. You do not speak in the name of a dead man from centuries ago. You show the face of Christ.”
Santa María de Caná, community of communities
The parish of Santa María de Caná, in Pozuelo (Madrid), has hosted several Regnum Christi family celebrations this year: in addition to Father Rafael Pou’s ordination, the broadcast of Julian Frommling’s final vows and the diaconal ordination of Father Ignacio Rubio Hípola. Its pastor, Don Jesús Higueras, wanted to share a few words before the final blessing. “I do not want to miss this moment to thank first God our Lord for this new priestly vocation, thank Don Carlos who with so much affection always cares for us all, and also thank the Legionaries of Christ who have chosen this parish community for Rafael’s ordination,” he said. “The truth is, it is a sign of communion that we have been living for many years between the diocesan reality, the charisms, the ecclesial realities… always in communion with the shepherd, and the parish — which is a community of communities, truly the meeting place for everyone.”
