A Priest Forever

I picked up “A Priest Forever: The Life of Father Eugene Hamilton” by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.  This book is an inspirationational tale Father Eugene Hamilton who (not really a spoiler alert) was ordained a Priest for 3 hours before he died of a terminal illness.  This book highlights that the life of a priest is not about actions taken, but rather, about WHO the priest is.  Father Hamilton would never pray Mass, hear confession, baptise, witness a marriage (I think, I haven’t gotten that far), but it was not about the sacraments, it was about the sacrifice.

His ordination required special permission from His Holiness, John Paul the Great, and for good reason.  This young man, who died at 24 years old, had a special understanding of the priesthood and the role of a Catholic in the public forum.  During his application process for the seminary he wrote of his time as the student body president, saying:

There is an obligation to be a witness to the Catholic faith as well as remain true to the mission of the institution.  Such a is becomming even more pronounced on campuses [and senate, and congress, and the executive branch, and the courts, and state legislatures] across the country.  Catholic higher education [and the other institutions] is at a crossroads, where the Seekers of Truth must once again meet Him Who is the Truth.

What an amazing insight for anyone to have.

If you are interested in this book, check it out here

Ars

Amazing.

St. Jean Marie Vianney

I had a friend ask me why it was so exciting to me that the Curé d’Ars was declared the patron saint of all priests, as opposed to only parish priests, when I am not a priest.  I think that beyond the initial excitement of the Pope making a formal declaration of this magnitude (it affects currently 450,000 priests directly, with untold numbers in the future), that it involves some of my deepest yearnings.

In my heart I feel that this kingdom to which we, as baptised Christians, belong is something beyond only the world around us.  I see in the imagery of my soul the might of servitude, the power of reliance on the One, and  the beauty of the cross.  So when these priests are given so holy a patron to stand along side Our Mother before the Savior of the World, and to plead unceasingly for these humble men in the vineyard, it makes my heart swell that all of the priests now have an example of the power of Love in its true form.  A Love for the responsibilities that have to be very difficult almost every day in the face of the world, the devil, and the flesh.

So continue to ask always for intercessions for your priest and all priests.

Curé d’Ars, ora pro nobis!

Ora pro Pontifice