[Question:]{.underline} Why it is that priests are not assigned to their own countries, or to their own part of the world even, or to their own language?
[Answer:]{.underline} Although there are a multitude of different factors that superiors have to take into account in assigning priests, and although these include the natural capacities of the priest, his understanding of culture, language, historical background of the people to be administered to, there is another much more profound reason according to which priestly assignments must be seen as the work of divine Providence.
This reason is precisely the maintaining of the profoundly supernatural quality of our work to restore all things in Christ. This is why it is that the assignment of priests is not uniquely, or even primarily, on account of language or natural gifts and talents. There can be no place for personal empires and endeavors in a Society like ours. Each of us must, like St. John the Baptist, “decrease” that Christ might “increase” (Jn 3:30). The priest’s willingness to accept this is the sure sign that his work is Christ’s work, the work of grace.
Likewise the willingness of the faithful to accept the transfer of priests is essential to the success of our work. Frequently, there will be no apparent reason. In fact, often times, it will simply not make sense at all according to any human calculations, on account of the difficulties of dealing with priests who may not be familiar with the language, culture, history, customs of the souls entrusted to them, or on account of the great sacrifices of self-denial required by both priests and faithful.
However, the great treasure is that it is precisely through such reassignments that the work remains profoundly and fundamentally the same, and that is maintained the supernatural unity of our Society, living its motto Cor unum et anima una, having “but one heart and one soul” (Act 4:32). Indeed for the soul who understands the Faith and spiritual things there is one common language that transcends all else, and it is that of the Faith. It is a great consolation to know that regardless of what part of the world we come from, which language we speak, what be our social, educational, economic or cultural background, we share, promote, preach, teach, live the same supernatural inheritance. It is this religious spirit that is essential to the supernatural work of our Society.
Answered by Father Peter Scott, SSPX.