Pray for Our Priests

On Sunday, as Mass ended Father asked all the mothers to stand up for a special blessing.   After the blessing the choir sang a song especially for all the moms and when the song ended Father shared a poem that he wrote for his mom (who passed away not even six months ago).  The poem was beautiful- it made many mommies cry.  As he ended the poem he got so chocked up and was unable to speak.  He is a man of a joyful disposition, very loving, always laughing and transmitting that joy to those he encounters.  Thus, seeing him on the verge of tears consumed by his grief, unable to bring to a close the Eucharistic Service, really moved the entire congregation.  I think we waited about five minutes dumbfounded in silence.  No one left the parish we all waited silently in solidarity until our loving priest composed himself enough to silently give us his blessing.

Once when I had just started attending bible studies at the Old Catholic Church a visiting priest came and he shared his story of receiving the call to become a priest.  The priest told us that he had been invited to a Catholic conference by a friend and after much persistence on the side of the friend he agreed to go.  Yet, he was a drug addict and during the conference he so high on drugs that he sat taking naps during the lectures.  The conference was about to end the last speaker had taken the floor and about midway thru the talk the priest wakes up to the image of Jesus holding a man (“Forgiven” by Thomas Blackshear).  Jesus is holding a broken sinner.  The priest is so moved by the image that now fully awake and alert, he sees God holding him and calling him higher.  He stares at the painting and continues to see his own image wrapped in the merciful hands of God.  This painting moves him so deeply, minutes later he begins to hear God calling him to His service.  He is healed from his addictions on the spot and with humility and a grateful spirit he goes into seminary to become a priest. He's the priest that laid hands on me when I was healed.

As I have deepened in my faith I have come to the understanding that priests and leaders of the church are utterly human.  They struggle and hurt just like all of us.  Sometimes because they have taken religious vows we assume that they are closer to God and we forget to pray for them (perhaps thinking they don’t need it).  We forget that they need to be loved by us as brothers in Christ – that they need motivation and encouragement.  I challenge you to do something nice this week for the priests in your parish, we are the instruments of God and it is our duty to express God’s love to others including our clergy.  God needs our hands and lips to hug and encourage others (smile).  I still get intimidated by our church leaders sometimes because of the erroneous image I've had of them, but slowly God is showing me that priests are normal people too. Let us pray.