Let's Hear It for Priests!

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How has a priest touched your life for good? Have you been inspired, rescued, helped by a priest? Has your heart been touched or your mind been opened by a priest?

How do you thank your priest or priests for all they do for you? In my parish in Poland, priests are remembered on their ordination day anniversary and on their ‘Name Day’ (the day of the Saint that has their name, which is traditional here) and on their birthdays. Our parish priests know they are loved, honored and appreciated!

My personal way of honoring the priests who have done so much for me is sending them a personal card or note on Holy Thursday, when the priests participate in the Chrism Mass, which is dedicated to the renewal of priestly ministry. I figure priests are probably looking back to their ordination, looking back over their years in the priesthood, and it’s a perfect day for them to get a heart-felt ‘thank you’ from the people to whom they bring Christ in the Eucharist, and in themselves.

So, tell us a story that reflects the beauty of the priesthood, and what you do to show priests that they are blessings from God in our lives.
 
I just joined the Church at Easter:) I had and have been positively influenced by every Priest I have come into contact with. How can I not when they all bring Christ real presences into my life!! Not just at mass but each in their own unique and awesome way.
The most influenctial has been Father Harman. His passion and understanding of the depth and breath of Church Teaching has help me to know that I am in the Church Christ founded. He also showen me and my growing family that we are deeply loved by God.
So many of us take for granted the simple but moving things our Priest do to protect us. Yes, they are busy and maybe some do not know our name but it is God’s grace that empowers them able to do what they do and they deperately need our prayer and support as individuals and as a group in their continued walk in the light of these graces:gopray2:
:blessyou:
Beth
 
I have been blessed by so many good and holy priests throughout my life!

As a child, I remember Fr. Begley who was always joking and happy and easy to approach.

As a teen and early adult I remember Fr. Buschelman, who was a friend, mentor, teacher, and great human being! He was one of those rare people who got along equally well with toddlers, teens, adults and the elderly. A true gift from God who is now rejoicing in heaven!

In my early adult life, I also remember many wonderful priests who directed and participated in retreats – Fr. Kramper, Fr. Novotny, Fr. Brown, Fr. Arkfeld, Fr. Macaslin, and many more.

Currently I am so blessed to have Fr. Urbanski as my pastor. He is a wonderful teacher, spiritual director, and speaks the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

Thank you, Lord, for such wonderful priests, spiritual fathers to us, who give us the gifts you left in Your Holy Sacraments and bring Your Presence to us in the Most Blessed Sacrament!
 
I probably should have posted my own ‘In Praise of Priests’ story, but mine often have to do with confession, so that’s tricky! My confessor is so wonderful that I fell in love with the sacrament of confession, thanks to his delicacy, gentleness, clear-eyed reason and compassion.

I can tell that he prays deeply before and during confession. He spends at least an hour with me, answering all my questions. He’s been there for me every time I’ve got into a spiritual tangle, wanting to please God, failing or not knowing how.

Every time I leave confession I’m overwhelmed by the natural gifts God has given that particular priest, and by the supernatural graces that God makes available to me through the ‘channel’ (pardon the new-agey word) of that priest.

Then there’s just the sweetest old priest (retired pastor) at my parish now. I live in Poland and he doesn’t speak English (he throws me for a loop by talking to me in Latin!), but I’ve heard all about how he worked to build a new church and was harrassed constantly by the secret police during the communist times - they even arrested him, held him and tore down the outdoor shelter the parishioners had built so people could stand under a roof during outdoor masses in winter in Poland. I’m sure that all that harrassment and all those attempts at humiliation and defeating him went into making him the radiantly holy man he is today - not to mention his deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin in the rosary.

This priest says a few words to a person and you can see the person glow…he never passes a child without a greeting, a smile, a hand on the head in blessing, and the children just sort of…swell…with joy and happiness from his attention. So often I’ve seen him chat with someone for just a few minutes and then turn away and fall into prayer. He seems to be in prayer most of the time except when he’s actually talking to someone.

I suspect I’m watching a living saint… I don’t have to understand a word of his sermons - or his Polish-accented Latin! - to feel his genuine love for people and for God.

How blessed we are to have the celibate priesthood, pouring out their lives in service to us, and in imitation of Christ!
 
My daughter had just started kindergarten, and asked me when I was going to take her to church. I hadn’t been to church in over 25 years. That next Sunday I took her to Mass. I felt so strange and out of place going in the building and sitting there.

Then, this priest came out and started the Mass. I got chills. The priest had the most love and tenderness in his voice for Christ. I was almost paralyzed. I didn’t participate, but I listened to every word that passed his lips, watched every action–I could not believe what I was seeing. This man gave the Mass more lovingly than any exchange I’d ever seen between people in love. I went to Mass the next few Sundays, and then confession with this same priest.

The Masses he gave continued to be this reverend, holy ceremony between the priest leading the congregation, and God. I could hardly believe what was going on in my heart.

A few weeks later we had our marriage blessed (by this same priest) in the Church. He is my confessor most of the time, and the priest for daily Mass. I consider this man probably the holiest human being I will ever meet, and a future saint. What an example he is to all of us in the parish. And I know others feel the same as I do.

I go to a few different Masses sporadically and although there are very good priests in some of the Churches, I just sense a special relationship between this priest and Christ.

JELane
 
**While having worked for the Church for many years and having had the opportunity to meet some very fine priests, the one I met when I was a Protestant Teen was among the finest…. **

His Name was Father Dom, probably the most saintly man of God I have ever met….

I was just 14 and was allowed to go with my girlfriends to my first dance sponsored by a local parish. I was very uncomfortable at first since the priest was a chaperone and my only prior experience with a priest was with the one who called me a “junior flower girl” at the wedding rehearsal of my older brother, (I was almost twelve and a junior bridesmaid). I had been slouching in the pew as a lengthy discussion was going on as to what to do with this ”Protestant “ at Communion…. The priest stopped the rehersal and said to me “…In the Catholic church we don’t slouch”. I was very humiliated. Needless to say if it weren’t for the Grace of God I’d have never even thought about going near another priest ever again!

Well as in Francis Thompson’s Hound of Heaven, God continued to pursue me…. Father Dom was most kind to me that evening, encouraging me about the Faith, etc. (he happened to be a close friend of the family of one of my friends). Years later, when I was being drawn closer and closer to the Church, A co-worker on mine, who just happened to be the brother of Father Dom, encouraged me to go to talk to him about my interest in the Faith…. The rest is history…
**I thank God with all my heart and soul for putting this wonderful priest in my life.🙂 **
 
Hip Hip Horray for priests!

Who is the priest? The soldier on the front lines for Christ. The spiritual father who brings people to Christ. The one who brings Christ’s healing touch to others. The hero who sacrifices his life so that you may have yours in eternity.
 
One of the bumper stickers on my car says “We Love Our Priests.”
 
**Prayer for Priests

O Holy Spirit, shape our heartfelt prayers for holy priests. You know Saint John Eudes’ devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Under this loving guidance and inspiration, Saint John Eudes bravely shaped priestly formation in wisdom and holiness, vanquishing the particular scourge of homosexuality.

Jesus Christ, our High Priest, be moved by the prayers of the Virgin Mary, Saint John Eudes, and our own. We humbly beg You to confirm all seminarians and priests in Your sanctity and peace. Protect us all, and especially Your priestly servants, from the attacks of the enemy. Send Your Holy Angels to encamp about Your people, Good Shepherd, and receive our perfect thanks. Saint John Eudes, pray for us. AMEN**
 
I’ve had many priests in adulthood who helped me immeasurably.

But the priests that matter the most to me are the Jesuit fathers who taught me at Loyola High School. I got a terrific education from them (although I wonder sometimes if it was Catholic :eek: ). Their education set the foundation for my life.

But more important, I have heard so many Catholics of my generation complaining about Nuns or Priests being so abusive in the classroom. (It is sad I had to clarify where.) I felt genuine affection for the priests who taught me. I always felt like they were good, holy men. One in particular whom I remember fondly is Fr. Leonard J. Altilia, S.J. He was my homeroom teacher as a freshman and taught me first year Latin. It was his first year teaching, and he was not yet ordained. I don’t know how the last 35 years have treated him, but he was an inspiring example of a young Jesuit.

When I left the Church in adulthood, positive memories of the priests and nuns were factors that helped to draw me back.

(I am also grateful to the good Dominican Sisters who taught me in elementary school, but this thread isn’t for them.)
 
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