Monday, May 14, 2007
Christ's Representative
By Rev. Fr. Marcial Maciel, LC
Because the image of the priest has been thoroughly disparaged in popular culture, many Catholic parents have a distorted opinion of the clergy. We have seen how systematic campaigns, orchestrated by certain groups with the help of the mass media, ridicule religious conviction in general and often strive to portray the Catholic priest as an absurd or irrelevant individual. Perhaps this explains why each year we witness the loss of promising vocations due to the inexplicable resistance of some parents who oppose their sons’ priestly calling.
Therefore, it is important that you promote an appreciation for the priest as Christ’s representative among men. Thankfully, there already exists among numerous families a sincere respect for the priest and an esteem for the priestly vocation. Frequently, I meet young couples who express their hope of having one or more of their sons become priests. Yet this work must continue if we wish to offset the attacks which the priesthood suffers today attacks which damage the Church by tearing down the image of the priest in the eyes of the Catholic faithful.
Because the image of the priest has been thoroughly disparaged in popular culture, many Catholic parents have a distorted opinion of the clergy. We have seen how systematic campaigns, orchestrated by certain groups with the help of the mass media, ridicule religious conviction in general and often strive to portray the Catholic priest as an absurd or irrelevant individual. Perhaps this explains why each year we witness the loss of promising vocations due to the inexplicable resistance of some parents who oppose their sons’ priestly calling.
Therefore, it is important that you promote an appreciation for the priest as Christ’s representative among men. Thankfully, there already exists among numerous families a sincere respect for the priest and an esteem for the priestly vocation. Frequently, I meet young couples who express their hope of having one or more of their sons become priests. Yet this work must continue if we wish to offset the attacks which the priesthood suffers today attacks which damage the Church by tearing down the image of the priest in the eyes of the Catholic faithful.
Labels: Priesthood, Spirituality, Vocations
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