Pentecost 2003

Every year when I preach on this ‘solemnity of marvels’ that we call Pentecost, I focus on a particular theme latent in the celebration. For example, one year, I spoke on the unity of the Church wrought by the HS, thereby reversing the disunity of Babel. Another year’s focus was the gift of tongues: the real and the spurious; yet another time, I talked on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially fortitude, the virtue most needed today and least in evidence in our clergy and laity alike. Finally, I also have spoken on the place of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, present with the apostolic band that day for a particular purpose of divine Providence.

Pentecost 2003 finds me faced with the coincidence of my twenty-fifth anniversary of the priesthood, and so I think it appropriate, to speak about The Priesthood and the Holy Spirit, and maybe a bit too about the Blessed Virgin in a personal way.

Although the priesthood of the New Testament was not founded on Pentecost, the first priests–the apostles–were strengthened with a grace on that day to evangelize the world without fear of any unfavorable consequences. Indeed, it had been foretold by our Lord, before His departure from earth, that His priests would be witnesses before governors and kings, but that the needed eloquence for their testimony would be supplied for them–even if they would also have to endure persecution and even death on His account.

My first thought about this in relation to priests at this critical time in the life of the Church is that there is sorely lacking the evidence both of the holiness of their sacred anointing and the convincing power of their preaching. Regarding the latter, I am reminded of what Saint Gregory the Great once wrote of the ineffective preaching of certain priests of his day: they were ‘dumb dogs that do not bark’–meaning, in the original sense of those words, that they were silent when they should have warned of dangers. It seems there is as great a need now for vigilant guardians (watch dogs) now as much as ever in the Church’s history. Catholic people are often grossly ignorant of the articles of the creed; that are exposed to immorality in myriad forms, scandal and a general impiety. Where are the men at the watch? Where are the rousing sermons and exhortations to steadfast faith and persistence in the battle against this laxity and perversity? Did they not become priests to sanctify through the sacraments and to teach the saving doctrine of Christ? Every priest on ordination day was given solemn words by the bishop. First, upon becoming deacon, he was handed the book of the Gospels. The bishop told him: “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read; teach what you believe; and practice what you teach.” And then, on the day of his ordination to the priesthood, when handed chalice, he was admonished thus: “Accept from the people of God the gifts to be offered to him; know what you are doing, and imitate the mystery you celebrate; model your life on the mystery of the Lord’s cross.” Weighty words! An awesome assignment, beyond the powers of man, one might add, except for the fact that grace is given to accomplish this by the very act of ordination.

The Church is suffering now from poor, ineffective leadership. There’s a weakness and even carelessness that is difficult to account for. Certainly the defect is not on God’s part, who always grants a needed grace. My Pentecost prayer is for a renewal of the priesthood, so abused in our time: that we may have zealous and holy priests to defend Christ’s precious truth, and to make souls fit for heaven.

My second thought this Pentecost relates the priesthood with the mother of Christ. It was the plan of Jesus, not the invention of the Church or of pious-minded saints, that the Mother of the Lord should be also the Mother of priests. “Behold your mother” were words addressed to an apostle-priest, even though Saint John was not the natural son of Mary. It was so like Jesus to provide his priests not with a mere model of pastoral zeal like a Saint Peter, nor an inspiring exemplar of convincing discourse, like the prophets or a Saint Paul, but with His own Mother: divine strength proved through humble means. The Virgin Most Powerful and Mother of Priests is the same lowly handmaiden of the Lord who once formed the body of Christ the Priest in her womb and who brought Him up unto maturity. To make a sweeping statement, based on observation as much as by information, I would say that without a special relation to the Blessed Mother, a priest will likely fall, if not actually fail. I can give no reason for her necessity in the life f a priest beyond the express directive of the crucified Christ and the constant practice of devoted priests throughout the Church’s history.

May the Mother and Virgin of Pentecost protect her priest-sons, and renew those who have failed or compromised their sacred office!

My final word concerns my own priesthood. Twenty-five years! I recount a few of my past adventures, edifying or not, in today’s church paper. I won’t duplicate them here. I want only for you to know that being a priest is a privileged life and an undeserved divine gift. There is nothing else I would rather have done with my life. To be able to cancel the sins even of one penitent, or to have said just one Mass, is a privilege than which no greater can be thought. I don’t know why the good God permitted me to become a priest. To say I’m not worthy of it is too obvious, but testifies to the goodness of the Lord, goodness beyond telling. I am grateful to you, people of this parish devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I can say that I have been richly blest being your pastor.

Just before saying my first Mass at Old Saint Mary’s Church, June 11, 1978, in his room at the parish rectory, I received what was to be the last blessing given by a dear and holy priest, Fr. Henry Thiefels, a Holy Ghost Father. He was on his death bed and too weak to concelebrate. I felt it was as if he were passing on the torch to me. Just yesterday I learned of the death of another saintly priest who was a mentor of mine, Father Thomas Bresnahan, pastor of Old Saint Joseph’s Church in Detroit. He died a pious death yesterday at about noon. For me, his death is a signal to imitate his very dedicated priestly service and his sanctity, which was–I would say–of a very high degree.

Praised be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Maker of priests who, along with his mystic spouse, Holy Mary, has molded priests according to the pattern of Christ, the Eternal High Priest!