Words of the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams
During the CHRISM MASS for the 50th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination on March 23 of
His Eminence Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales
Manila Cathedral, Intramuros
20 March 2008

Our being here this morning is a sign of the unity of the Catholic priesthood, but also of our unity of affection and gratitude towards the Archbishop of Manila Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, as he recalls his fiftieth anniversary of priesthood.

Cardinal Rosales, as a bishop, has exercised the fullness of the priesthood for more than thirty-three of those fifty years, sharing the joys and hopes, sufferings and tribulations of God’s people.

But today we remember his ordination as a priest. Also for a Cardinal, and for a Bishop, the day of his ordination as a priest remains most dear, most significant and most important in his life. One saint said that the priesthood is so great a gift that eternity is not enough to thank God for it.

All of us Catholics know the need we have for the priest, of the values of the Gospel that announces, of the witness of the faith the he gives, of the love of which he is a living example. The priest is, above all, a man of God. The priest is he who speaks of God to us and he who, in prayer, speaks to God for us.

In thanking God for the good that Cardinal Rosales has done these past fifty years, all of us present here this morning want especially to express our gratitude for the pastoral ministry that he has carried out as Successor of the Apostles and representative of Christ for God’s people here in this Archdiocese.

Your Archbishop has given himself entirely to you, with enthusiasm and generosity. His priestly heart has been open always to everyone.

We can say that the heart of Cardinal Rosales has loved God and you the faithful entrusted to him. His thoughts have been of God and you. His time has been for God and for you.

We want to thank him today.

Thank you, Eminence, for the Word of God that you have announced these past fifty years.

Thank you for the Sacraments you have administered, and for the good that you have planted.

Thank you for being a beacon of hope.

We ask God to continue to guide the way of Cardinal Rosales and to be his light, his support and his comfort.

Dear Eminence, during this half century as a priest, you have been a witness of the Lord and a servant of his Gospel of love. We are grateful. Thank you, thank you. May God repay you as only He can.