"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
-Matthew 28:19-20
God bless our priests. So many times has God reached me through them. Without their constant availability to give me the sacraments, to give me access to God in His full presence through the Eucharist, my life would be radically different. Our lives would be radically different. As St. Pope John Paul II said “There can be no Eucharist without the priesthood, just as there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist” (cf. Gift and Mystery. On the Fiftieth Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination, New York, 1996, pp.77-78). Without the Eucharist we do not have God in His full presence.
As I get older, I see more and more of men I know embarking to become of service to me and the whole Church. They spend years preparing jut to able to give me my God, my Life and my Love, and they do the same for you. Leaving their family, friends, and almost everything they currently know to go to seminary. Now, they don't just drop off the face of the Earth. They can still contact their family and friends, but it's still not the same.
They spend years preparing jut to able to give me my God, my Life and my Love, and they do the same for you.
The courage of these men is something I strive for daily. Their choice to actively discern God's will, even if the priesthood ends up not being for them, astounds me. For how often are we scared to do the same? I know I am.
The men of my generation have a massive burden on their shoulders, with the increased availability of pornography, women lowering their standards and hearing how they should not have a say about their unborn children... I am in awe of the strength and perseverance that our priests and many lay men have. These young priests continue to show me what it means to be a holy man. They continue to show what it looks like to be humble, respectful and sacrificial, even when this world is out to get them, even when the devil is out to get them. They radiate Jesus through their very acts.
They continue to show what it looks like to be humble, respectful and sacrificial, even when this world is out to get them, even when the devil is out to get them.
I think about the priests, the fathers, who have shown me a portion what a father's love must be like. When I was not close to my own dad, they showed me, and continued to show me, my heavenly Father. For all the confessions, Masses, advice and love they gave me, I am eternally grateful.
If you are discerning priesthood know you are in my thoughts and I encourage you to pursue it. If you are in the priesthood, you have my prayers and know that I am so grateful.
I encourage you to think about the priests in your life and pray for them, encourage them and thank them.
"The priest is not the priest for himself - he is for you. After God, the priest is everything." -St. Jean Vianney
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