Confused about life? Listen to the Good Shepherd, advises Pope Francis

Pope Francis advised to listen and speak with Christ the Good Shepherd in prayer, so that we can be guided on the right ways of life.

"Listening to and recognizing the voice of [Jesus] implies intimacy with him, which is consolidated in prayer, in the heart-to-heart encounter with the divine Master and Shepherd of our souls," he said on 12 May.

"This intimacy with Jesus, this open being, speaking with Jesus, reinforces in us the desire to follow him," continued the pope, "to leave the labyrinth of wrong paths, abandon selfish behaviors, leave for the new path of fraternity and the gift of ourselves, in imitation of Him “.

Speaking before Regina Coeli in "Good Shepherd Sunday", Pope Francis reminded people that Jesus is the only Shepherd who speaks to us, knows us, gives us eternal life and protects us.

"We are his flock and we must strive only to listen to his voice, while with love he scrutinizes the sincerity of our hearts," he said.

"And from this continuous intimacy with our Shepherd comes the joy of following him, allowing us to lead to the fullness of eternal life."

Jesus the good shepherd welcomes and loves, not only his own strengths, but his faults, he said.

"The Good Shepherd - Jesus - is attentive to each of us, seeks us and loves us, addresses his word to us, knows our heart, our desires and our hopes, as well as our failures and disappointments".

He asked for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in particular for priests and consecrated persons, who, he said, are called "to accept Christ's invitation to be his most direct collaborators in the proclamation of the Gospel".

After Regina Coeli, Francisco noted the celebration of Mother's Day in many countries. He sent his warm greetings to all the mothers and thanked them for "their precious work in raising their children and protecting the value of the family".

The pope also remembered all mothers who "look at us from heaven and continue to watch over us with prayer".

Recalling the feast of May 13 of Our Lady of Fatima, "our heavenly mother", she said, "we entrust ourselves to her to continue our journey with joy and generosity".

He also prayed for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Earlier in the day, Pope Francis ordained 19 new priests in St. Peter's Basilica. The men studied for the priesthood in Rome and are mostly Italian, with others from Croatia, Haiti, Japan and Peru.

Eight are from the Priestly Society of the Children of the Cross, one from the Family of Disciples. Eight from the Redentorum Mater Seminary of the Neocatechumenal Way were ordained for the Archdiocese of Rome.

Pope Francis made the homily prescribed in the Ordination of Priests Ritual, to which he added some of his thoughts.

He recommended that new priests read and meditate regularly on the scriptures and advised that they always prepare to hold a homily with time in prayer and with "the Bible in hand."

"So let your teaching be nourishment for the People of God: when it comes from the heart and comes from prayer, it will be so fruitful," he said.

He also told the new priests to be careful in their celebration of Mass, asking them not to "spoil everything with small interests".

"Aware of having been chosen among men and constituted in their favor to await the things of God, to exercise with joy and charity, with sincerity, the priestly work of Christ, intent only to please God and not yourselves," he said the Pope. "Priestly joy is found only on this path, seeking to please God who has chosen us."

The priest, he added, should be "close to God in prayer, close to the bishop who is your father, close to the presbytery, to other priests, as brothers ... and close to the People of God".