The year of families, which began on the feast of St. Joseph, offers us a special opportunity. "The final confrontation between Satan and God will take place in the area of families," reminded Piarist Father József Bocsa.
The priest teacher clearly points out the important role of prayer and atonement against the liberal currents that relativize everything. The Catholic father had his first decisive experiences of God in the same community as Sándor Németh, the senior pastor of the Congregation of the Faith. However, József Bocsa sees it as:
apart from the Catholic Church founded by Jesus Christ, the other denominations gave up many things from the teachings of Jesus.
According to him, the Eucharist and the respect for Mary, the mother of Jesus, can keep the church in the spiritual struggle that can also be seen in action in Piarist schools.
They say that there is a moment in everyone's life when they decide to side with God. When did this happen to you?
I come from a village, peasant family. My family was deeply religious. Two of my paternal cousins were also priests. I went to church from a very young age, I also ministered. One time, when I went to confession, the chaplain asked me if I wanted to be a priest. I said yes with a child's head. Later, I became a little uncertain, but in high school I already went with the goal of becoming a priest, and I consciously chose the Latin language and studied it with particular care. In high school, I wavered a little in my decision. Finally, I decided: if I'm not going to be a priest, then I'm going to be a teacher. I found out from an advertisement in the weekly newspaper Új Ember: there is such a thing as a priest. I graduated in 1968 and immediately entered the Piarist order. During my university studies, I also talked a lot about issues of faith with my group mates. One of them did not have much religious knowledge. I felt I could give him a lot in this area. Then he got into a community, and it was as if the situation had turned around, as if he had something that I didn't have. He asked me the question, "Am I converted yet?" I looked at him confused. I told him that I was a priest, how could he ask such a question.
Was your question correct?
It's totally legitimate. I also visited my groupmate's community. The leader of this charismatic community was a Protestant pastor, Sándor Bereczky. My conversion showed itself to me in the fact that I began to read the Holy Scriptures more personally, its words spoke to me. I also started my confession practice there, with the Protestant minister. The moment when the convert surrenders his life to God became important to me. For me, conversion then meant that everything began to shine before me in a new light. On one occasion there, in that community, the vision of the prophet Ezekiel was read to him about a spring rising up under the threshold of the temple, which swelled into a river, full of fruit trees on both banks that bear fruit all year round. I felt that it applied to me. And indeed, at the age of 71, looking back on my life, it was really typical all along that I just had to reach out and pluck the fruits that were more tasty and nutritious than tasty. I also lived well and was able to pass these on to others.
The entire interview can be read on the vasarnap.hu portal.
Cover photo: András Gável
