Priesthood is more than celebrating Mass and telling people about God. It is about knowing the central call of your life and giving your all for this call. Priests are called to be forthright messengers of hope, strong community leaders and spiritual guides for both the lost and the faithful.
On Friday, June 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI declared the coming year a Jubilee Year for Priests. The Holy Father marked the occasion by sending a letter to the priests of the world. He begins by noting that the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been "traditionally devoted to prayer for the sanctification of the clergy," in part because of its connection to the Feast of Corpus Christi (the Feast of the Sacred Heart is celebrated on the octave, or eighth day, of Corpus Christi). It is through priests, of course, that the Body and Blood of Christ are made present to us in the Mass.
This year is also the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney, and Pope Benedict devotes much of the letter to holding up his life as an example for all priests. St. John Mary was passionate in his desire to lead souls to Christ, and he did so through cultivating their love for the Blessed Sacrament and for the Sacrament of Confession. The Holy Father notes that Priests ought never to be resigned to empty confessionals or the apparent indifference of the faithful to this Sacrament. In France, at the time of the Cure of Ars, confession was no more easy or frequent than in our own day, since the upheaval caused by the French revolution had long inhibited the practice of religion. Yet he sought in every way, by his preaching and his powers of persuasion, to help his parishioners to rediscover the meaning and beauty of the Sacrament of Penance, presenting it as an inherent demand of the Eucharistic presence.
St. John Mary understood that the salvation of his parishioners was intimately connected to his own, and he even, as Pope Benedict notes, often performed penance on their behalf. Therefore, it is entirely appropriate that this holy priest is the patron saint of priests, and that he be offered as an example in a year "meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a more forceful and incisive witness to the Gospel in today's world."
While the Holy Father's letter is meant for his fellow priests, the faithful should read it as well, and we should keep all priests, especially those who serve our parish, in our prayers in a special way throughout the coming year. What better way to begin the Jubilee Year for Priests than to pray for an increase in vocations? As Pope Benedict XVI noted in his letter to priests inaugurating this year of celebration, St. John Mary Vianney once told his parishioners: Without the Sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put Him there in that tabernacle? The priest. Who welcomed your soul at the beginning of your life? The priest. Who feeds your soul and gives it strength for its journey? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, bathing it one last time in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest, always the priest. And if this soul should happen to die [as a result of sin], who will raise it up, who will restore its calm and peace? Again, the priest. ... After God, the priest is everything! ... Only in heaven will he fully realise what he is.
Vocations worldwide have been on the increase in recent decades, but vocations in the United States and much of Europe have not risen as much as elsewhere. The faithful are the source of vocations, not only because new vocations come from the laity, but because our prayers and support help awaken young men to their calling. There are more Catholics than at any time in history, but vocations to the priesthood and religious orders are lagging far behind. In this prayer, we ask God to rise up workers for His Church and for the salvation of souls. This is a very good prayer to incorporate into your daily prayers.
In the Old Testament, the people of God had a high priest who usually went before God, with an offering, to intercede for the people. Before the high priest interceded for the people, he interceded for himself first. The Old Testament high priests had weaknesses and they also had sins. They were not holy or pure. And that’s why they had to intercede for themselves first so that they can be cleansed. After they have been cleansed, then they can intercede for the people. This tells you that those high priests were not perfect. They were just like the people, sharing the same nature of sin.
But in the New Testament which we live in, we have Jesus as our high priest (Hebrews 4:14). Unlike the Old Testament high priests, Jesus is holy and perfect in all ways. He is like the competent lawyer who can secure victory for you in a court case where you are actually the criminal. Unlike the Old Testament high priest who had to intercede and communicate with God from earth, Jesus, our High Priest, is seated at the right hand of God (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Hebrews 1:3). He intercedes for us from the right hand of God. Unlike the Old Testament high priests who intercede for the people, Jesus intercedes for us each and every day. The climax of the Priesthood of Jesus is the offering he presents to God when he intercedes for us. The Old Testament high priests presented the blood of a lamb, as an offering to God, when interceding for the people. But Jesus presents his own blood as an offering to God. This blood supersedes the blood of a lamb. The blood of Jesus washes away our sins (Revelation 1:5), heals us, cleanses up, and breaks curses, and so on.
Another peculiar thing about Jesus, as our great High Priest is that he is so merciful and gracious. Jesus was tempted in every way that man is tempted today (Hebrews 4:15). So he understands the temptations we go through every day. Whether you’ve killed, stolen, committed adultery or lied, Jesus is merciful and ready to be your high priest and plead your case before God so you can be forgiven and start a new life in Christ.
What is expected of us Priests
Priests are human persons like any one else and therefore they can make mistakes like any other human beings. Yet as chosen persons and persons with a special calling from God, have to be different from others. A Priest is a man of God. He is a person set aside and therefore as the dignity of remaining divine. Hence the characteristics of love, kindness, generosity, care, consideration, and above all human touch must be in him. He is at the same time human and hence should have the gentleness warmth, hospitality, charity and supportiveness.
A Priest is strictly speaking is attached to God and hence detached from all earthly things. But this does not take away his role as a friend, companion, and family person. He cannot desert his sexuality in the sense that it is used in his universality of love, reaching out to all.
A priest is not a judge but a consoler and he is there to see the good in the person and understand and support them. He is there at any part of the day or night when his help is needed. He is in fact an extended hand of God in the world.
A priest is a person who is every thing to every person. Hence there is no partiality and personal choice. But this does not exclude him from his personal relationships. In reality he has to be a person of deep friendships and unless he loves a human person it is impossible for him to love God.
A Priest is one who called upon to make a sacrifice of his life, person, time, talents, abilities and even his occupation. He has to be at the service of the needy.
A priest has to be courageous and be ready to face people and challenge them when they do something incorrect.
A priest as a man of God should be at the Altar and before the tabernacle making God himself his primary Goal.
Our Understanding of Priesthood
In today’s world the role of a priest is indeed difficult to understand. About 30 years ago, a priest was a highly respected person and held in great esteem by all persons Christians and non Christians. He was a scholar, person who could solve problems, an educator, preacher and man available for needs and situations. With the changes in the social and economic structure the roles have changed. The priest is mainly a religious head and he is expected to confine to the areas of worship, study of doctrine and preaching. He is invited for prayers and conduct ceremonies and the role of a priest ends there. There are specialists in other areas and he will be considered superfluous and illiterate in certain areas other than religious.
A priest must be one who is spiritual and all must be able to see the presence of God in him. He has to be man of faith and prayer and lead people close to God. He has to be a man one among men and yet different. It is not the cassock alone that makes us different but it is our person and our behaviour.
I have been a priest for 32 years now and most of time I have spent in the Institutions as educator. My pastoral experience is limited. I may have given nearly 60 retreats or more during these years and it has been a blessing that I was able to help many people. Retreat is an important ministry and the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises have helped me to guide many persons particularly religious. I consider this as an important ministry in the life of a priest.
Basically I am an Economics teacher and took pride in teaching the subject and also teaching religions. As a teacher or professor you just do not teach the subject but you teach the person. Ultimately the teaching has to influence life. Hence I keep in mind what my Professor had said, when you want to learn something, teach the subject but without learning do not go to the class room to teach. At the same time the Institution was an opportunity to understand the people and guide them. Several students come with their problems. We may not have the solutions but we have to have time to listen to them and support them. That time meals and siesta are not important. We may even save lives by listening to people.
Another important area that I have encountered as a priest is to offer mass. This ministry is very helpful for my personal and religious life. When you have to say mass you have to prepare and reflect on the scriptures. Scripture gives the spiritual input and it becomes a prayer. A preparation of a 3 to 4 minute homily needs at least 40 minutes of reflection and that itself becomes a prayer. In the priestly ministry this gives a great support to our life.
As a priest and administrator we are called upon to face difficult tasks of consolers. This role is assumed particularly when there are accidents and deaths. Often we have to preside over the death ceremony and have to visit persons in the hospitals. Here our role as pastor is of utmost importance.
Finally as a priest I have made myself available to all. There is always good chance of being misunderstood and often criticised both by religious and outsiders. That is because of the fixed idea of a priest and religious. In this context we have to live according to our conscience.
My advice to young priests is to go ahead with courage. Do your work well and study well and be spontaneous in your work. Whichever work you take up, do it well. Never refuse a chance to say mass and never refuse any opportunity to help others. Above all be human and let others discover that humanness in you. The response in the world is different and difficult. But do not hesitate to be yourself in your life as a priest. He Human, and again be human.
Pope Benedict XVI on Priesthood
The priesthood and consecrated life are an "intertwining of love" between divine initiative and free human response, and even if in some parts of the world there is a "worrisome shortage" of people who accept the "call" of God, believers should not lose confidence that He who guides the Church will provide for its needs. This means keeping alive "in families and in parishes, in movements and in apostolic associations, in religious communities and in all the sectors of diocesan life this appeal to the divine initiative with unceasing prayer." Since the vocation to the priesthood and consecrated life constitutes "a special gift of God," it is "he, the Lord, who freely chooses persons of every culture and of every age and invites them to follow him according to the mysterious plans of his merciful love."
The "free human response" requires, on the part of those called, "careful listening and prudent discernment, a generous and willing adherence to the divine plan." It is, the pope says, "acceptance of and identification with the plan that God has for everyone; a response which welcomes the Lord’s loving initiative and becomes, for the one who is called, a binding moral imperative, an offering of thanksgiving to God and a total cooperation with the plan which God carries out in history." Put in this perspective, "the one who is 'called' voluntarily leaves everything and submits himself to the teaching of the divine Master; hence a fruitful dialogue between God and man begins, a mysterious encounter between the love of the Lord who calls and the freedom of man who responds in love, hearing the words of Jesus echoing in his soul, 'You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide' (John 15:16).
The Year of Priests - Be a Faithful Witness
Pope Benedict XVI has declared a “Year for Priests” beginning on June 19, 2009. The year will conclude in Rome with an international gathering of priests with the Holy Father on June 19, 2010.
Jesus, our great High Priest, Hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priest, Father [N].Give him a deep faith, a bright and firm hope and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of his priestly life. In his loneliness, comfort him, in his sorrows, strengthen him, in his frustrations, point out to him that it is through suffering that the soul is purified, and show him that he is needed by the Church, he is needed by souls, and he is needed for the work of redemption. O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, takes to your heart your son who is close to you because of his priestly ordination, and because of the power which he has received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs him so much. Be his comfort, be his joy, be his strength, and especially help him to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy. Amen.
Some Quotations:
The pastor should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way of life to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. For he who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exhibit the highest things.
-St. Leo the Great, Pope
Earthly honours count for nothing, and money and wealth count even less and are extremely dangerous, but holiness and the effort to make others holy is the height of human happiness; this is the greatest importance for our life and the life to come.
-Blessed John XXIII, Pope
The missionary dimension of the priesthood is born from the priest's sacramental configuration to Christ. This consists in participation in a "new life", spiritually speaking, in that "new way of life" which the Lord Jesus inaugurated and which the Apostles made their own. Through the imposition of the Bishop's hands and the consecratory prayer of the Church, the candidates become new men, they become "presbyters". Of course, the great ecclesial tradition has rightly separated sacramental efficacy from the concrete existential situation of the individual priest and so the legitimate expectations of the faithful are appropriately safeguarded. However, this correct doctrinal explanation takes nothing from the necessary, indeed indispensable, aspiration to moral perfection that must dwell in every authentically priestly heart. The priest's mission, as the theme of the Plenary Assembly emphasizes, is carried out "in the Church". This ecclesial communal, hierarchical and doctrinal dimension is absolutely indispensable to every authentic mission and, alone guar an-tees its spiritual effectiveness.
-Pope Benedict XVI
Prayer for Priests
Ever-loving God and Father of us all, you give to your Church the Priesthood of your Son, Jesus. And with the grace of the Holy Spirit, you provide holy priests for a holy people. We pray for all our priests, for those who celebrate the Sacraments and teach us the Word of God, for those who are young and for those who are old, for those who serve in difficult and trying circumstances, for those who are faithful and those who are faltering, and for those who have died. We entrust all our priests to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary that they will persevere with fidelity to you and to your Church. With Saint John Vianney, patron of priests, we pray that our priests will never fail to lead us to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer for Priests to the Mother of God
Mother of our Redeemer, in this era dedicated to you, with great joy we call you blessed. You believed in the Word of God the Father and declared yourself His handmaid, and so, through you, the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. We salute you as Mother, our Mother, and the Mother of the Church. With what great love you must have watched over the infant Church and what motherly solicitude encouraged the apostles as they committed themselves to carry on the work of Your Divine Son on earth. Make the Church ever to be the sign and instrument of intimate union with God.
To you, our Mother, we entrust in a special way our Bishop and the priests of our diocese. To them has been given a special sharing in the priesthood of Your Divine Son. He has chosen them to be ministers of His Word and Sacrament. Ask Him to fill them with zeal, to keep them faithful and joyful in His service, conscious of the fact that they care and so bring glory to the Father and honour to the Church. Holy Mother, increase the ranks of our priests by inspiring our young people to be more generous in their response to serve Jesus in the priesthood and in religious life. Sustain all of us, O Virgin Mary, on our journey of faith and obtain for us the grace of eternal salvation. Amen.
What really makes a Priest?
Eucharist makes the priest, who then shares himself for the life of his community in charity, holiness and forgiveness. The year of the priest, is defined now fundamentally in reference to the 150th death anniversary of Saint John Maria Vianney. To the Church of today and to the priests of today, the Pope is exhorting us to look at Vianney as a reference point for the ministerial priesthood. In Vianney the definition of the Ministerial priesthood is nothing but living and acting in persona Christi and sharing the Eucharistic Lord in charity, forgiveness and truth primarily in the community of faith and then to the world outside.
Ministerial priesthood has no raison d’être apart from the existential relationship of the priest with Christ who anoints him to be his face for his people. Vianney’s life is a vibrant example of this relationship the beauty of which is that what some persons experience in the greatest mystical stage, he had it in the daily praxis of life. This made him to live not for him but for Christ and his people. His conviction there was that “a priest is not for himself.” From this relationship then comes the experience of Love. The eternal Love that God is, on the one hand, and on the other that eternal Love concretized in Christ for me and for the entire creation. Only in the love experience of the Triune God manifested in Christ and its appropriation in one’s personal life that a priest will learn to transcend his weariness, weakness and self-seeking. He transforms himself into a life sharer only in the concrete experience of the love of Christ. “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Christ,” he experienced, lived and then preached. Prayer becomes the primary expression of that love in Vianney as Jesus himself gave us the example of prayer as ‘being in union with His Father and to be led by the Spirit.”
As a priest, it means also all the recognition that the Church as the first love of Christ. The community that obtains the dignity of being and becoming the Body of Christ on account of the plan of God and the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. This community’s life and continuity depends on its union with Christ. Its nourishment is then Christ which is the Eucharist itself. In this sense, Vianney built the Church of Christ in its local presence and reality with the Eucharist and other sacraments, especially the sacrament of reconciliation-popularly called the sacrament of confession- “ I give sinners a small penance and the rest I do in their place”, Vianney says.
The ministerial priesthood cannot be meaningfully exercised without appropriating the Eucharist into the centrality of the priest who is himself to become eucharistically centred. Eucharist is an encounter with the living God who is present and who wants me to live in the present. As priests, Eucharist then defines our claim to being priests of Christ. It makes us believe in the transformative and saving love of Christ who becomes visible in the Church in the person of Priest in his enacting of the Sacrament of Eucharist. Eucharist makes the priest Christ’s own.
Eucharist makes the priest, who then shares himself for the life of his community in charity, holiness and forgiveness. The community in turn grows into the Body of Christ nourished by the Eucharistic experience. In St. Vianney, we discover that Eucharist is thus not a mere ritual but the living encounter of the Lord with his people in the sacrificial love.
Two lessons that we, the post Vatican II generation, can draw from the life and message of Vianney: to say there is no ministerial priesthood without Christ and his Church and no priestly life without a life conjoined to Christ. Once there is this deep centrality of Christ in the life of the priest, everything then follows: truth, charity, forgiveness and holiness. This is the reason the Holy Spirit has helped the intellectual Pope to teach us through the humble example of Vianney who taught his parishioners primarily by the witness of his life.”
- Fr Eugene Lobo.
