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When asking what a priest does we can look to the tradition of the church to see that the main “work” of a priest could best be described as a share in the Tria Munera of Christ the Lord: The Sanctify, Teach and Govern. In this post we will look at the ministry of Governance or pastoring, by which a priest leads the people of God to a fuller life in the Kingdom.
The ministry of governance (munus regendi) is proper to Christ the King (Christus Rex). By this office he is King of all of creation and kingdom is lived and spread specifically in the life of the Church. As pastors of parishes and the people in those parishes, each priest shares in the ministry of governance. Pastors need to care for all of those in their parish, even the non-catholics. They need to be there for them in a diversity of circumstances and prudently give advice as only a caring shepherd can. Further, pastors administer the temporal goods of the parish. All the daily work of running a parish and taking care of the material needs (that there is heat, electricity, that the grounds are kept clean) which often cannot be done without a dedicated parish staff, is a share in this same office. If our churches are falling down, or dark, or cold where will we go to hear God’s word or receive the grace of the Sacraments? The administrative work of a pastor is not a distraction from his ministry but rather is specifically an aspect in his sharing in the priestly office of Christ. When we look to our pastors for whatever needs arise, we should look to them as acting even in the most ordinary daily circumstances in the person of Christ. Fr. Michael Casey I was at my desk at ESPN late one night, working on a story. I was listening to my music while I tried to capture the highlights of some random Padres-Pirates game. House music poured through my head phones while I crafted the story. I noticed the top comment on this random YouTube video was totally out of place for a techno song: “only what you do for Christ will last.”
It got me thinking. In a day or two, no one will care about this story. It will be lost to history. That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t work hard on it; it means I should find work that will last. My heart was on fire. I felt a desire to do something with my life that will last. I think of that random YouTube comment often now that I am a priest. I especially think of it every time I hear someone’s confession just before they die. The work of a priest is work that will last into eternity. Only what you do for Christ will last. - Fr. Anthony Federico In an interview, the late Francis Cardinal George, stated that a man who cannot see himself as a husband and father cannot be a priest; the reason, as Cardinal George explained, is that a priest is married to the Church and through his ministry, he brings forth new children to the Church, his bride (Ellen Rossini, June 27, 2004, www.ncregister.com).
Seeing yourself as a husband and father isn’t necessarily a sign that God is not calling me to the vocation of priesthood. A healthy attraction to marriage points to a man who is willing to give his gifts and talents for love of his wife and family. A man with a healthy attraction to marriage is a man willing to sacrifice for the good of his spouse, his children; who not only wills to provide for their physical wellbeing, but most of all, would strive to help his spouse and children received the best gift any human person can receive: God’s gift of salvation. If you find yourself conflicted between marriage and the perceived voice of God calling you to the priesthood, remember that God calls priests who are willing to take His Church as bride. A priest conforms his life to Christ’s, and the Church is Christ’s bride. Consider whether God is calling you to be a ‘father’, meaning a priest, a man, willing to use his gifts and talents to bring forth new children to the Church, his bride. ~ Fr. Jaime G. Maldonado I can remember hearing from other priests and seminarians, “The moment I walked into the doors of the seminary it just felt right, it seemed like home.” Interestingly, when I first passed through the doors of the seminary on a discernment retreat, it actually didn’t feel right at all! In fact, I think I had a pit in my stomach – is God actually calling me to do this?!?! Is God actually calling me to leave my life to enter seminary and study for the priesthood? Is He actually asking me to lay down my life to be a priest?
Yet, something inside of me knew that I needed to give God time. He speaks to both the mind and the heart. As in my case, the heart will follow if it is an authentic call, but I needed to be patient. A man considering the priesthood cannot place all of his stock in one feeling at a particular time. In fact, God generally plays the long game. As Psalm 37 tells us, “Be still before the Lord; wait for him.” Ultimately, He always comes. ~ Fr. John Gancarz When asking what a priest does we can look to the tradition of the church to see that the main “work” of a priest could best be described as a share in the Tria Munera of Christ the Lord: The Sanctify, Teach and Govern. In this post we will look at the ministry of teaching, by which a priest builds up the people of God in the truth of the Gospel.
Priests share in the teaching office of Jesus Christ, the Truth. The Gospels very simply relate that Jesus “...on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes” (Mark 1: 21b-22 ). Jesus was a teacher, who was most often referred to as Rabbi, and instructed the people in the way of the Kingdom. He taught with authority and clarity and many believed his teaching. One of the most widely regarded aspects of priestly life is that of teaching primarily through preaching at Mass. When priests preach at Mass they are not simply sharing their own ideas or telling funny stories, but rather they are sharing in the teaching office of Christ himself. They teach with a certain authority, and should clearly and lovingly communicate the truth of the Gospel and the dogmatic and moral teachings of the Church. The aim of a homily is to further introduce people to Jesus the Truth, so that knowing him they may love and follow him more faithfully. Priests also teach through advice given in the confessional, through spiritual direction, and through times of formal instruction in Catechism lessons or teaching classes at local Catholic schools. While not a liturgically visible as the Homily at Mass these times of teaching are still in union with Christ the teacher. In all these ways our priests share in this aspect of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. ~ Fr. Michael Casey The priest is the most powerful man alive. A frail, dying priest is more powerful than the strongest bodybuilder or the wealthiest celebrity or the most influential politician.
Power is the capacity to make change occur. Lots of people have the power to create change in this world, for better or for worse. But none of them have the power of the Roman Catholic priest: the power to command God of the universe…and God obeys! This is true power, the most ultimate change. As Saint Alphonsus Liguori says, “The dignity of the priesthood is also estimated from the power that he has over the real and the mystical body of Jesus Christ. When they pronounce the words of consecration, the Incarnate Word has obliged Himself to obey and to come into their hands under the sacramental species. Imagine. The Lord God, obeying the voice of a man…” ~ Fr. Anthony Federico As a young boy when I first grasped that there was going to be a shortage of priests I remember experiencing a pang of guilt accompanied by an interior question – “Am I the one who has to make the sacrifice to be a priest?!” Even though my faith was important to me and the dearth of vocations disturbed me, I did not want to be a priest. I desired to be married and to have a family. With some rationalization I found myself a convenient excuse: “I am a math and science guy. I want to be an engineer. Those men who like English and writing – those are the ones whose duty it is to be priests!”
As the years went by I embarked on engineering studies. It was in the midst of a thriving campus ministry that I learned that we don’t just have a shortage of men signing up to be priests, we have a shortage of faithful men period. This revolutionized my world-view. It allowed me to instead put the focus on growing in my relationship with Christ rather than on a yes or no to the priesthood. Gradually something unexpected happened. A deep desire overtook the guilt feeling I had about the priesthood. Yes, the sacrifice was there, but this time, I wanted to make that sacrifice for Christ and His Church – this time, I wanted to be a priest. ~ Fr. John Gancarz When asking what a priest does we can look to the tradition of the church to see that the main “work” of a priest could best be described as a share in the Tria Munera of Christ the Lord: The Sanctify, Teach and Govern. In this post we will look first at the ministry of sanctification, which is the first and most common way most people encounter the priesthood.
Priests sanctify in celebrating the sacraments which objectively make people Holy, or set apart for God. In Baptism we are washed clean of original sin and become adopted sons and daughters of God the Father. In this way we are objectively made holy. When we receive Holy Communion we are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ and, if we receive communion worthily our holiness grows just as surely as physical nourishment causes the body to “grow”. Through confirmation we are sealed with and strengthened by the Gift of the Holy Spirit so that our holiness may overflow in works of apostolate. Priests restore lost holiness through the Sacrament of Confession and provide strength and support those experiencing grave illness through the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Finally Priests witness the vows of those entering into matrimony, to live holiness in the married state. Bishops confer the sacrament of Holy Orders which sets a man apart for service in the church and participation in the priestly office of Christ. Additionally priests sanctify by their life of prayer, praying for and with God’s people. Every priest promises to pray without ceasing for the people of God, asking that they be granted great holiness. Particularly when praying the Liturgy of the Hours the priest lends his voice to Christ for the sanctification of the Church and the whole World. ~ Fr. Michael Casey The answer to our quest for happiness lies in recognizing that what our heart longs for is Our Creator. Many men discerning a potential call to the priesthood have opened themselves to the answer: allow God to be the center to their lives. Excellent!
Yet a struggle seems to remain sometimes: “I know God’s Will is to place Him at the center of my life. But how do I know it’s really His Will that I serve Him as a priest?” Seek the answer to this question because God’s Wills to answer. Getting the answer, however, requires taking concrete steps forward including daily prayer, reception of God's Sacraments; and certainly, reaching out to one of the priests in the vocation’s office. God Wills to help you find out if He is indeed calling you to the priesthood, and His help entails allowing His Church to formally accompany you in your journey. ~ Fr. Jaime G. Maldonado No, you can’t get married.
No, you can’t have sex. No, you can’t be a dad and raise a family. No, you can’t make serious money. No, you can’t determine the course of your own life. When I first felt the call as a teenager, I thought of the priesthood through the lens of all these Nos. Most of the priests I knew growing up embodied this life of No – unapproachable, grouchy and insecure in their authority. Who would want that kind of life? Not me, for sure. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties, when I started taking the faith seriously for the first time, that I started to think of the priesthood as, not a list of Nos, but one great YES. Yes, Lord, I offer you my body. Yes, Lord, I offer you my masculinity. Yes, Lord, I offer you my strengths. Yes, Lord, I offer you my weaknesses. Yes, Lord, I offer you my past. Yes, Lord, I offer you my future. YES, Lord, I give you all of me – without conditions or reservations – in the ultimate YES. Yes, Lord, I will serve you as a priest. If you are struggling with your calling to the priesthood, reframe what the priesthood is. It’s not a series of Nos, it’s the life of YES. ~ Fr. Anthony J. Federico |
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April 2023
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