This raises the question of whether a priest is set apart or living in the midst of the faithful. Before the Second Vatican Council which ran from 1962 to 1965, the priest was set apart from the faithful. There was a sort of thinking that formed a pyramid with the clergy (those in Holy Orders) at the top and the rest of humanity (this included non-baptized as well, but that's another letter) at the bottom. The tension that this presents has been present for centuries. St. Augustine in the 4th century writes this,
"The day I became a bishop, a burden was laid on my shoulders…. Indeed, it terrifies me to think that I could take more pleasure in the honor attached to my office, which is where its danger lies, than in your salvation, which ought to be its fruit. This is why being set above you fills me with alarm, whereas being with you gives me comfort. Danger lies in the first; salvation in the second" (Sermon 340).
I think I will copy this saying of St. Augustine and place it in my prayer book so I can look at it often. The temptation to think, "Well, I am the pastor and what I say goes." sometimes creeps into my thoughts not only to my own detriment, but to the detriment of those I have been sent to serve. With the grace of God I hope to never fall into such a trap.
Do you know a young man who would be a good priest? Have you even thought of this question? If you have, have you approached him and told him that you think he might think of priesthood as his vocation. To help you to know the qualities of a candidate for priesthood I would like to turn to scripture. In his letter to Titus (1:8-9) St. Paul highlights some of the qualities necessary for priesthood, they are: " …hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and refute opponents."
We are in great need of good and faithful priests who rise up from our diocese to serve the faithful and all people in our diocese. When Bishop Murphy arrived in our diocese as our new bishop he said, "There is no vocation crisis." You could imagine that this sent the priest listening to him through the roof, but it was with prayer and reflection that I understood what he meant. I believe he meant that, God is constantly calling young men to serve his people as priests, but only few are hearing God's call and even fewer are answering that call." If we look at scripture and the lives of the saints we see that God speaks to us personally in our heart or to us through others. Many a vocation story will contain both of these modes of revelation from God. Maybe there is a young man you know who has not spoken his call to priesthood to anyone. You just might be the person who verifies that call by saying, "I think you would be a good priest for God and his people."
I can attest to this in my own vocation story. I kept my call to myself from the age of seven. It was life situations that made me voice my call to priesthood at age 26. What surprised me most was that when I began to tell others of my thoughts of being a priest almost every person said, "I could see you as a priest." Well, if someone had told me this sooner, it would have made things easier for me. But then who ever said life was going to be easy. Today I am thankful to all who have helped me answer God's call to service as a priest, and all who continually make present God's love for me.
If you would like to see more vocation stories and better understand the life of a priest go to the new diocesan website for vocations. The web address is http://www.longislandpriest.com/ There you will see videos from a few of the newly ordained priests of our diocese and those from other dioceses as well.
If we don't foster vocations to Holy Orders in the same way we foster vocations to Marriage the Church will suffer the loss of souls for God. To foster vocations to priesthood is not only the work of the clergy, but all of the faithful. It is demanded of us all by our baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist we share in Mass.
I ask you again, "Do you know a young man who fits the description found in St. Paul's letter?" If so, "Have you told him that you think he should consider a vocation to serve the Church as a priest?" Who knows, you may be the person who verifies a young man's call by God, and should he accept that call, we all, clergy and laity alike, will be greatly blessed.
God love you,
Fr. Anthony
