Abuses and compliments

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Claire_from_DE

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After reading several threads that deal with abuses at Mass I was wondering if anybody ever writes notes of appreciation to those priests who do it right. Or maybe a short letter to the editor of the diocesan paper? A letter to the bishop might be the most effective approach and would appreciated by the bishop and by the priest.

I once sent a note to the bishop because I knew some people had written to him about a priest new to the parish whose personality clashed with many parishioners (later they came to like him a lot). But he did many things well and I mentioned some of them. I later received a short letter from the bishop and a Christmas card!
 
Thank you for doing what you did. Priests really need good things said about them to their bishop. When someone contacts the bishop over a relatively minor annoyance concerning a priest, it can cause serious problems for the priest. Telling the bishop that you don’t like Fr. X’s homilies or that he snapped at you after Mass is like calling 911 because McDonald’s got your order wrong.
 
Cavaille-Coll said:
Thank you for doing what you did. Priests really need good things said about them to their bishop. When someone contacts the bishop over a relatively minor annoyance concerning a priest, it can cause serious problems for the priest. Telling the bishop that you don’t like Fr. X’s homilies or that he snapped at you after Mass is like calling 911 because McDonald’s got your order wrong.
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This is a great analogy.

And people can get in serious trouble by calling 911 for a frivolous reason. I think that’s worth remembering when it comes to contacting a bishop. If we call or write for every little thing, he will learn to ignore us as cranks.

And I agree with the OP–we need to be quick to speak up and give praise.
 
The Beautiful Hands of a Priest

We need them in life’s early morning,
We need them again at its close;
We feel their warm clasp of true friendship,
We seek them when tasting life’s woes.

At the altar each day we behold them,
And the hands of a king on his throne
Are not equal to them in their greatness;
Their dignity stands all alone;

And when we are tempted and wander,
To pathways of shame and of sin,
It’s the hand of a priest that will absolve us,
Not once, but again and again.

And when we are taking life’s partner,
Other hands may prepare us a feast,
But the hand that will bless and unite us
Is the beautiful hand of a priest.

God bless them and keep them all holy,
For the Host which their fingers caress;
When can a poor sinner do better
Than to ask Him to guide thee and bless?

When the hour of death comes upon us,
May our courage and strength be increased,
By seeing raised over us in blessing
The beautiful hands of a priest.
 
So correct, so beautiful.

??? Author ???

This should go into every Sunday bulletin.
 
Prayer For Priests
by John Joseph Cardinal Carberry

O Jesus, our great High Priest/ hear my humble prayers on
behalf of your priests.
Give them a deep faith/ a bright and firm hope/ and a
burning love/ which will ever increase/ in the course of
their priestly life.
In their loneliness/ comfort them/
In their sorrows/ strengthen them/
In their frustrations/ point out to them that it is through
suffering/ that the soul is purified/ and show them
that they are needed by the Church/ they are needed
by souls/ they are needed for the work of redemption.
O Loving Mother Mary/ Mother of Priests/ take to your
heart your sons who are close to you/ because of their
priestly ordination/ and because of the power which
they have received/ to carry on the work of Christ/
in a world which needs them so much.
Be their comfort/ be their joy/ be their strength/ and
especially help them/ to live and to defend the ideals
of consecrated celibacy. Amen
 
Claire_from_DE said:
After reading several threads that deal with abuses at Mass I was wondering if anybody ever writes notes of appreciation to those priests who do it right. Or maybe a short letter to the editor of the diocesan paper? A letter to the bishop might be the most effective approach and would appreciated by the bishop and by the priest.

I once sent a note to the bishop because I knew some people had written to him about a priest new to the parish whose personality clashed with many parishioners (later they came to like him a lot). But he did many things well and I mentioned some of them. I later received a short letter from the bishop and a Christmas card!
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Good idea. But note though that priests do abuses not because they want to destroy the Liturgy (although even without the intention, the result is the same, I know). Many priests do so because they want to get the congregation more into the Liturgy. So they might also be receiving pats on the back for doing what they did from these people. But I think what you suggest will go a long way in reminding the priest that there are those who care for a Liturgy done right. I’m sure they would appreciate it too.
 
Our priest just recently celebrated his anniversary. I wrote him a letter and enclosed it in a card. In the letter I thanked him for all he does for everyone. I told him what a difference he has made in my life as a wife and mother. I pointed out specific instances where he helped me get through something difficult. I told him that the joy and grace with which he lives out his vocation inspires and strengthens us in ours. I thanked him for all his guidance and prayers, etc. I always make sure to tell him he gave a good homily and how what he said has helped me. We always remember him at Christmas, on his birthday, etc. He wrote me back and thanked me for the kind and thoughtful note I sent him. He was very humbled to know how much we appreciate him. I think we all need to remember to pray for and encourage our priests. They alone can bring us the Eucharist and without them, we don’t receive Jesus.
 
Claire_from_DE said:
After reading several threads that deal with abuses at Mass I was wondering if anybody ever writes notes of appreciation to those priests who do it right. Or maybe a short letter to the editor of the diocesan paper? A letter to the bishop might be the most effective approach and would appreciated by the bishop and by the priest.

I once sent a note to the bishop because I knew some people had written to him about a priest new to the parish whose personality clashed with many parishioners (later they came to like him a lot). But he did many things well and I mentioned some of them. I later received a short letter from the bishop and a Christmas card!
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I try to when I think. In the end, between email and letters, I usually end up doing things like this about once or twice a year. Clearly, not enough, but a good start.
 
I have emailed my priest and spoken to him in person about some things he has said or done. He is a very humble man and always manages to turn a compliment back on the person giving it. Still, I know it’s good for him to hear them, and he’s taught me a lot about being gracious in the process.
 
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