Pope tells seminarians and novices to avoid sadness, flashy life

08 July, 2013 - Pope Francis told future priests, religious and consecrated laypeople on Saturday, to maintain their life fresh and joyful as there cannot be sadness in holiness. He was speaking to participants in a four-day international event for seminarians, novices and those on a vocational journey, during the current Year of Faith. The Pope acknowledged that today’s culture of the provisional, of which we are all victims, makes it very difficult to make a definitive choice, both in conjugal life as well as in consecrated or priestly life. The Pope told seminarians and novices it is not right to be too serious and sad saying with this attitude they cannot radiate the joy of the Lord. Our answer to the call of the Lord is one of love, where sadness has not place. The Pope said that with consecrated people, seminarians and young there is always the joy and freshness of following Jesus, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit and not a joy which is not born of a weekend of dancing, or having the latest smartphone, the fastest motorbike or car. Pope Francis said he feels pained to see a priest or a nun with the latest model of car, when a bicycle is good enough. However he noted one needs the car to go to work or move about, but urged them to pick something more humble. If you like a fancy car, he said, just think about how many children are dying of hunger in the world. The Pope also intended his words to young people at large. He spoke to the novices and seminarians about their formation which is built on the four pillars of spiritual formation; intellectual formation; apostolic life and community living. He had words of praised for later Mother Teresa, who cared for the most impoverished sick of Kolkata, India, and held her up as a courageous example of a missionary church, a beautiful church that goes out, forward.