Ave Maria:-)
Countless times have I thanked the Lord for the gift of priests.
This morning at mass ... another Augustinian priest...he has grown old
gave again a most enlightening , inspiring homily. I guess that's the domino effect, that when our mind recieves enlightenment , the following action would be to be so inspired...just ready to do as God bids us
How clear, how simple , how powerful and precise his preaching was... was so frustrated that I forgot my celfon at home , could not record his homily, was forced to jot fast as I could his talk.
gave again a most enlightening , inspiring homily. I guess that's the domino effect, that when our mind recieves enlightenment , the following action would be to be so inspired...just ready to do as God bids us How clear, how simple , how powerful and precise his preaching was... was so frustrated that I forgot my celfon at home , could not record his homily, was forced to jot fast as I could his talk.
Blessed be God for priests who prepare...who give it their all..who truly want to teach the faithful...and who in all probability have an interior life, because if not, they would not recieve this glorious anointing.
Last week there were 2 funeral masses in one day... it so happened that at both masses , twas the same young priest present. I was smiling to myself in the evening at the funeral parlor because right after the mass , an impromptu eulogy was held , the poor priest was stuck 
... he had another appt. but could not leave ... he braved the longgggg speeches
. The captive audience (this one included) was dying to make a fast exit, hehe but we couldn't as we were sitted in front. 'Was just reflecting how this experience is like a regular thing for priests ( weddings, baptisms,countless holy masses, anointing of the sick, funeral masses, pastoring the flock --- list goes on and on) there is no day off, once you get ordained as priest -- you are a priest forever! how fast we are to complain about them , to put them down, to castrate them, without taking into account the great sacrifice one makes to have this vocation... to leave safety and fulfilment of one's family, even homeland ..or a prosperous career. One must do that to follow the footsteps of Jesus.
... he had another appt. but could not leave ... he braved the longgggg speeches. The captive audience (this one included) was dying to make a fast exit, hehe but we couldn't as we were sitted in front. 'Was just reflecting how this experience is like a regular thing for priests ( weddings, baptisms,countless holy masses, anointing of the sick, funeral masses, pastoring the flock --- list goes on and on) there is no day off, once you get ordained as priest -- you are a priest forever! how fast we are to complain about them , to put them down, to castrate them, without taking into account the great sacrifice one makes to have this vocation... to leave safety and fulfilment of one's family, even homeland ..or a prosperous career. One must do that to follow the footsteps of Jesus.
Now the young priest has a sunny disposition... his homilies well prepared yet one can sense his humility and openness to any last minute inspiration from the Holy Spirit. He has a musical gift ..uses it quite often, singing very beautifully in his tenor voice - but you will not be put off because it does not sound as tho' he is showing off -- if at all... it enhances his service. I pray that as he continues in his priestly ministry , that no matter what the challenges will be, that he will not lose the joy and hope he exudes... and that he grows in wisdom and love for Christ and the church.
... his homilies well prepared yet one can sense his humility and openness to any last minute inspiration from the Holy Spirit. He has a musical gift ..uses it quite often, singing very beautifully in his tenor voice - but you will not be put off because it does not sound as tho' he is showing off -- if at all... it enhances his service. I pray that as he continues in his priestly ministry , that no matter what the challenges will be, that he will not lose the joy and hope he exudes... and that he grows in wisdom and love for Christ and the church.
Even as the church is beseiged by complaints of some abuses made by priests of a magnitude we think we will never recover from... yet the light of Christ still shines brightly thru his anointed ones... his consecrated ones.
Jesus will not allow his priests to perish...for as long as they seek shelter in Him be faithful to His teachings and that of Mother Church, they will survive all onslaughts...all evil oppressive attacks upon them.
Jesus in his wisdom knew that someone must continue his work of shepherding his people. May we no longer take them for granted ,
nor nail them to the cross to the point where instead of helping them be effective priests, we cause them to fail even more and to finally give up.
nor nail them to the cross to the point where instead of helping them be effective priests, we cause them to fail even more and to finally give up.
Shame on us if this be the case.
We will be the ones held accountable.
We will be the ones held accountable.
In these times how helpful it would be to review the value of the priesthood.
After all it was not established by our Lord just so that men could have a platform for their vanity or be a perfect tool for the power-hungry. Everything that our Saviour did had a sublime reason.
One becomes a priest thru a holy sacrament ( there are seven).
The Sacrament of Holy Orders is the continuation of Christ's priesthood, which He bestowed upon His Apostles; thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to the Sacrament of Holy Orders as "the sacrament of apostolic ministry."
"Ordination" comes from the Latin word ordinatio, which meansto incorporate someone into an order. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, a man is incorporated into the priesthood of Christ, at one of three levels: the episcopate,
the priesthood, or
the diaconate.
Even as far back as the Old Testament we will see how priests figured in important roles for the chosen people..the Israelites.
The Priesthood of Christ:
The priesthood was established by God among the
Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. God chose the
tribe of Levi as priests for the nation. Their primary duties
were the offering of sacrifice and prayer for the people.
Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. God chose the
tribe of Levi as priests for the nation. Their primary duties
were the offering of sacrifice and prayer for the people.
Yet these priests would never be able to perfectly atone for the sins of mankind... even if they offered all unblemished lambs, all oxen, pigeons, creatures or even men and women to obtain the complete forgiveness of mankind's sins, their efforts would be futile.
hence the Coming of Jesus....
Christ, in offering Himself up for the sins of all mankind, fulfilled the duties of the Old Testament priesthood once and for all. But just as the Eucharist makes that sacrifice present to us today, so the New Testament priesthood isa sharing in the eternal priesthood of Christ.
While all believers are, in some sense, priests, some are set aside to serve
the Church as Christ Himself did.
While all believers are, in some sense, priests, some are set aside to serve
the Church as Christ Himself did.
And what are the 3 levels of priesthood ?
did we think that bishops' work was primarily administrative..?or just to be bosses in their jurisdiction? In the following explanation, I now realize why on several occasions the past years.... why many have been so moved, even converted by powerful preaching of bishops -- no wonder
since it is one of the gifts bestowed upon them.
Especially when the church is rocked with sensitive issues such as abortion, relativism, etc... the preaching by bishops is so authoritative, many times divinely inspired.
since it is one of the gifts bestowed upon them.
Especially when the church is rocked with sensitive issues such as abortion, relativism, etc... the preaching by bishops is so authoritative, many times divinely inspired.
There is only one Sacrament of Holy Orders, but there are three levels. The first is that which Christ Himself bestowed upon His Apostles:
the episcopate.
A bishop is a man who is ordained to the episcopate by another
bishop (in practice, by several bishops). He stands in a direct,
unbroken line from the Apostles, a condition known as
"apostolic succession."
bishop (in practice, by several bishops). He stands in a direct,
unbroken line from the Apostles, a condition known as
"apostolic succession."
Ordination as a bishop confers the grace to sanctify
others,as well as the authority to teach the faithful and to
bind their consciences. Because of the grave nature of this
responsibility, all episcopal ordinations must be approved
by the Pope.
others,as well as the authority to teach the faithful and to
bind their consciences. Because of the grave nature of this
responsibility, all episcopal ordinations must be approved
by the Pope.
No wonder that when they speak..they have such power... it is because they are commissioned for it...praise the Lord.
2nd level: priests
The Ordination of Priests:
The second level of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is
thepriesthood. No bishop can minister to all of the faithful in his
diocese, so priests act, in the words of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church, as "co-workers of the bishops." They exercise
their powers lawfully only in communion with their bishop,
and so they promise obedience to their bishop at the time
of their ordination.
thepriesthood. No bishop can minister to all of the faithful in his
diocese, so priests act, in the words of the Catechism of the
Catholic Church, as "co-workers of the bishops." They exercise
their powers lawfully only in communion with their bishop,
and so they promise obedience to their bishop at the time
of their ordination.
The chief duties of the priesthood are :
1)the preaching of the Gospel and
2)the offering of the Eucharist.
The Ordination of Deacons:
The third level of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is the diaconate.
Deacons assist priests and bishops, but beyond the preaching of the Gospel, they are granted no special charism or spiritual gift.
when one becomes a priest ..there is a distinct change in him...
Once a man has been ordained, he is spiritually changed,
which is the origin of the saying, "Once a priest, always a
priest." He can be dispensed of his obligations as a priest
(or even forbidden to act as a priest); but he remains a
priest forever.
which is the origin of the saying, "Once a priest, always a
priest." He can be dispensed of his obligations as a priest
(or even forbidden to act as a priest); but he remains a
priest forever.
Each level of ordination confers special graces, from the
ability to preach, granted to deacons;
ability to preach, granted to deacons;
to the ability to act in the person of Christ to offer the Mass, granted to priests;
to a special grace of strength, granted to bishops, which allows him to
teach and lead his flock, even to the point of dying as Christ did.
teach and lead his flock, even to the point of dying as Christ did.
this will be all for now.. let us pray for all priests, for an increase in priestly vocations ...may God strengthen them... while we as lay people , humbly acknowledge the years of training and spiritual formation that these
priests have undergone - let us not be so foolish as to think we have all the expertise in interpreting and
explaining the Word of God...
I must end with this reminder : God's Word cannot be interpreted without taking into consideration several elements : like the culture, the history, theology .... church teaching and of course guidance from the Holy Spirit -- let us humbly learn from those who have sacrificed their lives to become able shepherds of Christ's flock.Thank You dear Jesus for molding good priests. ..................................have a wonderful Sunday.............te mye
priests have undergone - let us not be so foolish as to think we have all the expertise in interpreting and
explaining the Word of God...
I must end with this reminder : God's Word cannot be interpreted without taking into consideration several elements : like the culture, the history, theology .... church teaching and of course guidance from the Holy Spirit -- let us humbly learn from those who have sacrificed their lives to become able shepherds of Christ's flock.Thank You dear Jesus for molding good priests. ..................................have a wonderful Sunday.............te mye
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