FEED MY SHEEP

. . . A priest of Christ should be ready to undergo ' the consequences of true discipleship in his life through suffering , martyrdom and death . St . Paul puts it this way : " Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus , so that life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies " ( 2 Cor 4 , 10 ) . ' This Pauline passage is a challenge , to those who advocate a mission without affliction .

A priest has to endure the hostility of the world ' s oppressive powers , ' a suffering which St . Paul characterizes as " participation in Christ ' s suffering ( 2Cor 1 , 5 ; Phil 3 , 10 ) ' or as " suffering with Christ " ( Rom 8 , 17 ) . ' A priest does not suffer in vain . He suffers in order that the life of Jesus may be manifested in his body . . .