As we take a closer look at the priesthood this month, I would like to make a couple of things clear before I begin. The first is that I do not think that being a priest makes me better, holier, or more loved by God than a person who is not a priest. Being a priest though is different from being married, consecrated or being single. As St. Paul teaches us in his first Letter to the Corinthians the Body has many parts and each part has a role to play. Most of what I have learned about the five priestly identities, I have learned through my Spiritual Direction classes that were designed and hosted by the Institute of Priestly Formation. I feel that while the focus of these identities is on the priesthood, everyone can discover something about how to live a more authentic Christian life from them just as I learn how to be a spiritual father from watching real parents. Finally, each year at Christmas I tell people if they like their parish priest they should contribute to the Seminary Collection in thanksgiving and if they don’t like their parish priest they should pay more so that the next batch of priests will come out better. In that spirit, I have included at the end of each identity five ways in which you can help make your parish priest better by supporting him.

1. Beloved Son -“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)

It is extremely important for every Catholic no matter what his or her vocation is to come to realize that they are a beloved child of God. At Baptism, God adopted me into his family. Before I could do anything except cry, dirty my diaper and spit up God chose me to become a part of his Divine Family. In a similar way Jesus, received affirmation of His eternal identity as God’s beloved Son at His Baptism before Jesus performed a miracle, confronted the devil in the desert, had one follower, the Father was already proclaiming His love for Jesus because God’s love is unconditional. I know that I can only be a true disciple and thus be the best me that I can be when I am firmly rooted in the Father’s love for me. Only then can I preach the truth, perform works of charity without caring what others think, and be totally unselfish so that I can give my life away as Christ did.

5 Things you can do to support priests discover their identity as Beloved Sons.
1. Pray for them that they may always know of God’s love for them.

2. Appreciate and understand the fact that they are human beings and that no two priests are alike just like no two children have the same personality.

3. Be sparing in your criticism and lavish in your praise. Remember that each human being grows better in a loving environment instead of a hostile one.

4. Lead them not into temptation. Help them to live up to their baptismal dignity by living up to your own baptismal dignity. Remember that we are all children of God.

5. Let a priest know that he has touched your life in a positive manner even if it is only by bringing you the Sacraments.

2. Chaste Spouse - “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (Matthew 9:15)

As a priest, I try to see myself as being married to the Church in a very literal way. When a phone call comes in the middle of the night asking me to go to the hospital to anoint someone who is dying, I think of my friends who are parents and how they get up in the middle of the night and take care of their sick children. When I find parishioners difficult to deal with I know that every couples have their arguments. I also know that only marriages where both spouses are committed to being chase (treating each person as a person and not as an object) can be happy ones. I am married to the Church and I do the Church no good looking over the fence to see if the grass is greener on the other side. I know that from the beginning of time God created me to be a priest and to serve His people.

5 Things you can do to support priests discover their identity as Chaste Spouse
1. Don’t expect your parish priest to be able to read your mind. If you have a need please tell him.

2. Invite your parish priest over to dinner (don’t be offended if some say “no” for priests have all different comfort levels in this area).

3. Invite/encourage your parish priest to come to parish sporting events, First Communion and Baptism Parties

4. Assume that your parish priest is trying his best

5. Defend your parish priest from gossip.