Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale614

of its citizens and offers them guidance and protection in the face of their

weakness and fragility. Do not be afraid to take up this service to your

brothers and sisters, and to the future of your beloved nation.

Saint Ninian, whose feast we celebrate today, was himself unafraid to be a

lone voice. In the footsteps of the disciples whom our Lord sent forth before

him, Ninian was one of the very first Catholic missionaries to bring his fellow

Britons the good news of Jesus Christ. His mission church in Galloway be-

came a centre for the first evangelization of this country. That work was later

taken up by Saint Mungo, Glasgow's own patron, and by other saints, the

greatest of whom must include Saint Columba and Saint Margaret. Inspired

by them, many men and women have laboured over many centuries to hand

down the faith to you. Strive to be worthy of this great tradition! Let the

exhortation of Saint Paul in the first reading be your constant inspiration:

"Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be

patient in suffering and persevere in prayer".5

I would now like to address a special word to the bishops of Scotland.

Dear brothers, let me encourage you in your pastoral leadership of the Catho-

lics of Scotland. As you know, one of your first pastoral duties is to your

priests 6 and to their sanctification. As they are alter Christus to the Catholic

community, so you are to them. Live to the full the charity that flows from

Christ, in your brotherly ministry towards your priests, collaborating with

them all, and in particular with those who have little contact with their

fellow priests. Pray with them for vocations, that the Lord of the harvest

will send labourers to his harvest.7 Just as the Eucharist makes the Church,

so the priesthood is central to the life of the Church. Engage yourselves

personally in forming your priests as a body of men who inspire others to

dedicate themselves completely to the service of Almighty God. Have a care

also for your deacons, whose ministry of service is associated in a particular

way with that of the order of bishops. Be a father and a guide in holiness for

them, encouraging them to grow in knowledge and wisdom in carrying out

the mission of herald to which they have been called.

Dear priests of Scotland, you are called to holiness and to serve God's

people by modelling your lives on the mystery of the Lord's cross. Preach the

Gospel with a pure heart and a clear conscience. Dedicate yourselves to God

5 Cfr. Rom 12:11-12. 6 Cfr. Presbyterorum Ordinis, 7. 7 Cfr. Lk 10:2.