The Good Shepherd

 From Vultus Christi:

The good Shepherd gives his life spontaneously for his own flock. Jesus already did it a first time  on the Cross—comments Saint Gregory in a homily—but He continues to give it to us every day in the Mysteries of the Sacred Altar. He gave His own life, immolating Himself then on the altar of the Cross; now He gives to us eternal life in the Sacrifice which commemorates His death.

The example of Christ summons whosoever acts in His stead in the Church to imitate Him by the daily sacrifice of commanding. Saint Benedict in fact calls it onus, that is, burden, service, and he desires that the goal of the prelate’s office should be the advantage of the flock, and not indeed the miserable prestige of the prelate: Sciatque sibi oportere prodesse magis quam praeesse. (Rule Ch. 64: ‘And let him know that he ought to be of profit more than to be at the head.’)

So that the sheep may not grow weary, the abbot must walk and run himself. So that the long journey towards the sheepfold may not tire the weakest, the abbot must carry them on his shoulders. So that they may finally recover their health, the abbot must wear out his own: Noverit se infirmarum curam suscepisse animarum, non super sanas tyrannidem. (Rule, Ch. 27: ‘Let him know that he has accepted the care of infirm souls, and not indeed the tyranny over the healthy.’) (Read more.)