Priesthood
“May he be a faithful steward of your mysteries, so that your people may be renewed in the waters of rebirth and nourished from your altar; so that sinners may be reconciled, and the sick raised up.” – Prayer of Consecration, Ordination to the Priesthood”
Priesthood, at its core, means being intimately united to Jesus. It means being so united that the priest stands in persona Christi, or in the person of Christ, in order to shepherd His people. It is Christ that gives new birth in Baptism; it is Christ that feeds His people in the Eucharist; it is Christ that forgives sins; it is Christ that raises up the sick. Christ does this through the priest. Maybe Christ wants to do this through you!
Am I Called?
How do I know if God is calling me to the Priesthood?
- Have others told you that you would make a good priest? Sometimes other people see it in us before we see it in ourselves.
- Are you a prayerful and reflective person? In the end, it is going to be in prayer that you will hear the call of God to the Priesthood.
- Can you imagine yourself visiting the sick and walking with people at difficult times?
- Are you compassionate and a good listener? Maybe God planted those gifts in you so that you could use them to serve Him as a priest.
- Are you fascinated by church architecture, church history and learning about the customs and traditions of the Church?
- Do you have a love for the Word of God and a desire to share it with others?
- Do you have a love for the Sacraments and a strong desire to receive them often?
- Do you have a love for the poor and needy and a desire to reach out in Christian charity?
Any or all of these could be a sign that you are called to serve God and His people as a priest. If you see these signs in yourself or if someone has pointed them out to you, speak to your parish priest about it or contact the Vocations Office