SPIRITUALITY OF THE DIOCESAN PRIEST: CLINKS TO MAKE THE CRISIS A KAIROS IN LATIN AMERICA

Abstract

The topic addressed is the spirituality of the diocesan priest, impacted by the sociocultural reality that generates crises and opportunities for a more and more profound experience of his own vocation and mission. The pillars on which the concrete proposal rests are: 1) The perception that dissociation is the cause of the loss of unity in the lives of priests; 2) The identifi cation of the existential theological category of following Jesus in the dynamics of pastoral charity as a giver of meaning and unity to the life of priests; 3) The eff ort to overcome the conceptions of the spiritual life that do not allow to harmonize the external activity with the interiority, proper to the diocesan priest. The “common thread” proposed for the spirituality of the diocesan priest, which can give unity to the various elements of his spiritual life, is pastoral charity that “eucha-ristizes, mercies and anoints” in his receptive dynamism and donations.