The P. Angel Llorente, LC, has just celebrated 50 years of priestly ordination. He was born in Sanchidrián, province of Ávila, on September 8, 1942. At the age of twelve, he entered the Apostolic School of Ontaneda, when the rector was P. José María Escribano, LC, the first priest ordained in the Legion of Christ. He then did his novitiate in Salamanca, and in Rome, his studies in philosophy and theology. On November 26, 1969, he was ordained a priest. Since then, P. Ángel Llorente, LC, has been assigned in Mexico, Madrid, Valencia, Chile, Brazil… and currently at the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria. Through his well-known simplicity and dedication to others, he has responded to some questions for Lo+RC, among which he shares, for example, that over the years, “and having a certain hope, one becomes more confident, simpler, and, of course, more merciful, even with a desire to see God.”
Have you ever thought that this day would come, when you would celebrate 50 years as a priest?
P. Ángel Llorente, LC: Thinking about it, yes, but without any significance. What I have always thought is to die being a priest and a Legionary of Christ. This is not up for negotiation.
What would you keep from these 50 years?
Of course, I keep Jesus Christ. The experience with Him by my side has been very beautiful, very consoling, very edifying, and very encouraging.
If you were to be born again, would you want to be a priest?
Yes, yes. Sometimes I am asked that, and sometimes I question myself. I am not tempted by any other way of existing to serve God and people.
When one has been an “Alter Christus” for 50 years: how is your relationship with God?
My relationship with God is very spontaneous; it’s like breathing. Sometimes it’s hard to breathe due to a cold or flu, but I keep breathing because it’s a vital matter. I believe it must be very difficult, complicated, poor, without valid references… to live without God.
Does one become more merciful? What evolves in a priest after these years?
St. Paul says that “hope does not disappoint,” and having a certain hope, one becomes more confident, simpler, and, of course, more merciful, even with a desire to see God.
What would you say to a young person who is discerning their vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life?
Think carefully. Discern well. What does it mean to discern well? To consider all possible elements: the gift of existence, the wonder that is God’s eternal plan; the opportunity to identify with His plan of redemption; renunciations and gains… For Him, with Him, and in Him.
Father, between your destinations in Madrid and Valencia, why has God taken you to other places?
My first priestly assignment was the Apostolic School of Tlalpan, in Mexico; from there, I went on a vocational tour in Spain, from where priests who are now leaders in the Congregation came out. I served three years in Rome as a chaplain at La Salle. I moved to the foundation in Valencia in 1977, and from 1988 to 1993, I worked in Madrid, promoting the ECYD. In 1993, I was assigned to Chile, and in 2000, to Brazil. I returned to Chile in 2010 until 2014, when I arrived in Spain at the Universidad Francisco de Vitoria.
Of all these years, there are two moments that are always anecdotal in his priesthood, and not everyone knows…
Indeed, one of them is that I was a parish priest in Rome throughout the pontificate of a Pope, John Paul I, with whom I participated in almost all his public audiences attended by the parish priests of Rome. But also, the long confession, of three hours, of someone who had participated in murders and child abuse… But without much anecdotal detail, all my priesthood has been very lively individual encounters. My encounter with Jesus and the evidence that Providence governed my time has also been very lively.
P. Ángel Llorente, one last question: can you recommend a book or a song that has been meaningful in these years?
The Letters of Saint Paul; in them, you read things like: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” “There is nothing condemnable in those who are in Christ Jesus.”
