Lord, give us good priests!

Nowadays, we are accustomed to being reminded of some vocations that society needs, and there is a shortage of them. We celebrate the day of builders, rail workers, teachers, etc. Our Church throughout the world also commemorates one vocation: the priestly vocation. I ask everyone not to accept this reflection as praise, a preference for the priest, but we all realize the severe need, which can be expressed with the thought or motto: Lord, give us good priests! Let us turn these words into an even more sincere prayer because today, more than ever, we need more priests than in the past.

“My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” (Jn 10:27).

As we follow the texts of the Sunday Gospel readings, we sense the Lord Jesus’ great concern for the Church here on earth, for his brothers and sisters. Last Sunday, we read about the event after the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus when He appeared to the Apostles for the third time on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias. In this encounter, Jesus asked Peter a question – do you love me? – to which Peter had to answer three times. We know that this so impressed Peter that he realized the seriousness of his Master’s words and wept at the last answer. Christ made Peter the first Pope, the first Bishop among the Apostles, and because he went to preach the teachings of the Lord Jesus in Rome, where he died, our faith is called Roman and Catholic because we are followers of the teachings of the Lord Jesus.
We know that the Lord Jesus did not cease to care for His Church even after His ascension, that He promised her the Holy Spirit, which came to pass on the tenth day after His ascension. Even today, the Holy Spirit directs His Church through the visible Head of the Church-the Pope.
The Holy Father John Paul II also often used the words of today’s Gospel in his travels around the world as the representative of Christ to stress the need for new vocations, both religious and priestly.
That Jesus used a simile familiar to his hearers in ordinary life – the sheep listen to the shepherd and follow his voice – is not unworthy of us. We feel that this is not to diminish the dignity of man, but it is a beautiful simile, an excellent thought. We know that a good shepherd is willing to do everything he can not to lose a single sheep entrusted to him.

The Lord Jesus died for all. Jesus is the Shepherd, and we are His flock. That is why we understand the words of the Gospel to mean, “My Father who gave them to me is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. the Father and I are one.” (Jn 10:30).

When we observe what has been happening in the Church in our own country since the Second Vatican Council, we find that the priest’s attitude has changed toward unbelievers and believers. The priest of the 21st century is aware that it is not he who is to be served but he who is to do. However, many people misunderstand this. Some would like to go so far as to see the priest as their vassal, come running at the nod of the hand and oblige them in everything, renounce their regulations, conscience, respect their power and position, their strength. The priest today must be especially aware that he is working with the two great gifts of God, that not only he-the priest-but also those around him, the people, have the gift of reason and free will. That is why the Church of today does not want to pressure, threaten, but rather instruct, to explain that the believer or the baptized person does not only have rights in his faith but also has duties. When we realize this principle, no one will say that a pastor “must” when your life does not indicate a believer!

As a priest respects the teachings of Christ, so he must demand that of his faithful. Many look at the priest incorrectly. Some underestimate him; others ascribe to him what he does not have at all. A priest is first and foremost a person who consciously and voluntarily, after preparation in the seminary, receives from the hands of the bishop the power of the priest, which he receives not from the bishop but Jesus Christ Himself. This thing, however, does not absolve him of his human weaknesses and imperfections. He is left with his temperament, abilities, hereditary qualities, and other positive and negative characteristics. Therefore, especially today, those who see only faults in a priest must recall the words of St. John Mary Vianney. He said: “The faithful have such a priest as they ask for,” This means that criticism without help, good advice, a word of appreciation, understanding, and prayer is little enough. Many people, in turn, want from the priest what he cannot do. The priest is only a facilitator of grace.

Lacordaire says: – The priest is the man to whom Jesus Christ has entrusted all men.
Francois Mauriac expressed the meaning and, at the same time, the power of the priest in this way: – I ask nothing else from the priest but that he should give me God.-
Giovanni Papini wrote: – The salvation of the world is in the hands of the priest! Christianity is the only medicine that can heal humanity, and the priest is the only doctor who can dispense it.-
Otilia Mosshammer explains: – The vocation of a priest is quite different from that of a doctor, a teacher, or an engineer. The science that the priest has to learn is the folly of the cross. The priestly office means continuing the work of Christ, proclaiming the truth, and leading the faithful to eternal life, to the goal, distributing graces in the sacraments. As the authorized mediator of God, He has the power to sacrifice Christ for the people.

All these statements can be summed up in words; The priest is the mediator between God and the people. And the priest himself must be aware of this. He must not forget that he is a precious vessel in which God is hidden.

There were several families and children at the retreat, and among them was a young man. The next day they already knew each other; they knew about each other, only nothing about the young man. Is he single or married? What does he do? He was cheerful, bright, but also strange. No one asked him precisely what they were interested in. It wasn’t until the next day that a little girl of about 12 asked, “Uncle, are you an engineer like my father, too?”
The man smiles and says: “I have a college degree, and I’m not an engineer. I go to the hospital to see the suffering, and I am not a doctor. I teach children and adults, and I am not a teacher or a professor. People come to me to cry, and I am not a psychologist. I often preach, and I am not a politician. I wear different clothes every day, and I am not an actor. So, what do you think I am?”
Though not brought up Catholic, the girl answered correctly, “Then you are none other than a Catholic priest.”

Brothers and sisters, I wish you often and beg for graces daily. I pray for you a lot because it is my duty. Today, on the Feast of the Good Shepherd, I would like, if you will permit me, to use this solemnity, in a way, for my benefit. I want to thank all of you who help me in any way and, at the same time, I want to ask you: to pray for me because my vocation also depends on you, on your prayers and your example.

Let us pray: Mary, Queen of priests, intercede for us!