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| La Santa Cena by Juan de Juanes |
A friend recently asked me what sorts of qualities I would
consider to be valuable in a priest, or what sort of things would lend a man
towards becoming a priest, so I thought I might right a post on this topic. Lord, You are a priest forever, according to
the order of Melchizedech, grant us wisdom and an increase in vocations to the
priesthood. At the outset I said to my friend he ought to be a man, a
father, and a follower of Christ. I am inclined to add to my brief comments and
of course state that he must be a pastor to the many sheep of the Church,
acknowledging that he is also a sheep before God. There is much more to be said
of the Catholic priesthood and I only have lightly tread into the deep theology
of the Church’s wisdom on the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
It is a fearsome thing to become a priest or feel the desire
to become a priest, but for all those who feel God’s call forward to serve them
let them not say, “I do not know how to speak. I am too young!” (Jeremiah 1:6),
but rather understand with the entire heart to Jesus’ words, “take heart! I
have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
