Pope Francis ordained 19 new priests on Sunday in St. Peter's Basilica, encouraging them to deliver captivating homilies from the heart rather than boring sermons.
"Let this be the nourishment of the People of God," Francis said during the ceremony, reported Breitbart. Ensure "that your sermons are not boring, that your homilies reach people's hearts because they come from your heart, because what you say to them is what you have in your heart."
Francis also warned against preaching God's word without providing good examples, saying that "words without example are empty words" which "do not reach the heart" and "may even cause injury."
A priest should look to the example set by the "Good Shepherd" as inspiration for setting his own example, the pope said.
"Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd," he said, "who came not to be served but to serve; not to stay in his comfort, but to go out to seek and save what was lost."
"You will share in the mission of Christ," Francis added, "who is the only master. Share with all the word of God that you yourselves have received with joy. Read and meditate assiduously on the word of the Lord so you may believe what you read, teach what you have learned in faith, and live out what you have taught."
The ceremony took place on the same day the Roman Catholic Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday and the 52nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations. During Holy Mass, the pope reminded the men to continue the sacrificial work of Christ through awareness and meditation.
"When you celebrate Mass, be aware of what you are doing. Don't be in a hurry. Imitate what you celebrate - it is not an artificial rite, an artificial ritual," he said.
He also told them to never refuse a baptism or "grow weary of being merciful."
"In the confessional, you are there to forgive, not to condemn! Imitate the Father who never gets tired of forgiving," Francis said.
