A Question of Worth
Submitted by joy on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 13:31.
The article on 'A Question of Worth' explains that a priest in mortal sin can still celebrate mass. I just love the way it was presented because it definitely gives the faithful the assurance that the grace received during masses remains; that the holiness of the sacrament is not affected by the celebrant's sinfulness.
Sometimes we can hear others expressing that they don't want to attend the mass of certain priests because they question their spirituality or sometimes they simply don't like them. But if only those individuals have realized that they are in churches not for the priests but for God, they would have a meaningful experience of the sacrament. This basic issue can somehow bring us into a reflection of what really is our purpose of going to mass. This can help us purify our intention of establishing a deeper relationship with God, as long as we allow the grace to do it so.
The most used line 'I'm only human' seems like everybody's excuse. But with the certainty of truth in it, let us try not to condemn anybody because just like everybody else, we all have issues in life that often we fail to deal it righteously; that if we see others as sinful, we ourselves are also sinful, no matter what the degree is.
I can still remember the response of a priest when I ask him the same question years before, he said that the more he recognizes the need to receive God in the Eucharist and the more meaningful it becomes for him as he celebrate the mass for the faithful. It is much difficult in the part of a priest to officiate a mass in the state of temptation or mortal sin due to the guilt feelings that he should bear but it is also with utmost humility that he surrenders to God through the service that he is known to do that needs to be holy --in the Holy Eucharist.
If we, the faithful, find Mass as a venue for repentance, reception of grace and communion with God, it is also the same with the priests. And as to the reception of the Holy Communion, this is an invitation that God would want us to partake. Let us openly and in grateful hearts accept it as it is, with our eyes, heart and soul centered on the Eucharist.
God bless us all!
(",)
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priests are also human
I still know a lot of fellow Catholics who choose which Church to attend to, depending on who is the parish priest. I used to be one of them, stumbling upon knowing that a certain priest is like this or like that. But by the grace of God I have come to understand that a priest is also human, like us, who is frail once in a while.
Prayers Needed
Since priests are human like us, we need to pray for them too. Here's a website which has various prayers for them.
http://prayersforpriests.homestead.com/
This is my favorite prayer for priests:
A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
(By the late John J Cardinal Carberry)
Keep them; I pray Thee, dearest Lord.
Keep them, for they are Thine
The priests whose lives burn out before
Thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them, for they are in the world,
Though from the world apart.
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure --
Shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them and comfort them in hours
Of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice
For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them and remember, Lord,
they have no one but Thee.
Yet, they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host,
That daily they caress;
Their every thought and word and deed,
Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.
0 Mary, Queen of the clergy, pray for us; obtain for us many and holy priests.
Here's another website that gives reasons why to pray for priests:
http://www.pray4apriest.com/
Wounded Healers
From the CBCP News, I have read several controversies that affect the Philippine Church because of its priests.
The Church in Davao, which made me comment on the issue as it is a painful reality that besets the Church. http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/7163
But there are some great things which our priests have done presently, that makes them examples of integrity to their parishioners. http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/7162
And even Fr. Panlilo is on leave as a priest, I can still sense that he is true to his witnessing despite hardships and difficulties. http://www.cbcpnews.com/?q=node/7197
Let us continue to intensely pray for them.
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