Good priest died this week

[Bootoo]

For as long as I have been going to my parish, we have had an elderly retired priest who volunteered his time to say Mass at our church at least every few weeks. Yesterday at vigil Mass our priest announced that he had died earlier in the week, at age 85. When I went to my first Mass at this parish, over 15 years ago, he was the priest presiding. I remember seeing him walk down the aisle, with a smile on his face big enough to light up the whole church, and thinking “this man does love being a priest”. In all these, years, I have never seen anything to change my mind about that. He was always affable and upbeat, and gave great sermons from which I learned probably more than I ever learned as a child taking religious education classes. I had no personal relationship with this man, aside from being on the receiving end of his bright smile sometimes. But when I heard of his death, tears were in my eyes. He was a Father to me, in every sense of the word, and I am greatful for everything he gave us.

 

[TimOliv]

For as long as I have been going to my parish, we have had an elderly retired priest who volunteered his time to say Mass at our church at least every few weeks. Yesterday at vigil Mass our priest announced that he had died earlier in the week, at age 85. When I went to my first Mass at this parish, over 15 years ago, he was the priest presiding. I remember seeing him walk down the aisle, with a smile on his face big enough to light up the whole church, and thinking “this man does love being a priest”. In all these, years, I have never seen anything to change my mind about that. He was always affable and upbeat, and gave great sermons from which I learned probably more than I ever learned as a child taking religious education classes. I had no personal relationship with this man, aside from being on the receiving end of his bright smile sometimes. But when I heard of his death, tears were in my eyes. He was a Father to me, in every sense of the word, and I am greatful for everything he gave us.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
Amen

 

[havemercy]

Eternal Father, I offer you the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, for those in our own homes and in our families, and especially for this priest who was doubtless, a man after Your Sacred Heart.

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

 

[jennyr]

bless you for caring so deaply about your former priest who touched you so deeply

 

[LilyM]

I’ll remember your priest in my prayers.

I also have a beautiful, kind, funny and gentle priest of about the same vintage (Fr Pat) in one of the churches I attend. I know he would be sorely missed if he went.

 

[plato3]

Many churches have retired priests helping out. We miss the one we had. He had to leave as he would get dizzy spells during Mass. He is still alive, but lives in a rest home. As our aging priest population retires, I hope that many will continue to serve as much as they are able.:yup:

 

[Crumpy]

It must be wonderful to have a relationship like that, but I think we should not become too attached.

I have almost despaired of meeting a holy priest, one who wouldn’t want a personality cult to form around him, even if such was offered.

The Vatican II said that the mission of the priest is to urgently bring men to Jesus Christ. Fulfilling that mission is what makes me appreciate a priest the most – not his personal charisma or sense of humor or whether the priest is wordly, urbane in fact.

There seems to be an inner circle in a parish, people who try or otherwise manage to get a lot of a priest’s attention. It bothers me when I see a priest preaching just to that inner circle. It bothers me when I see that inner circle ( the politian looking for notoriety, the businessman looking for free publicity, etc. ) getting control of a priest.