In Praise of the Priesthood

I am not going to get technical about what’s going on in the news right now. I will say this and only this: I think the attacks are unjustified at best and at worst, diabolical.

So there. That is my non-technical opinion.

I owe my faith to the Catholic Church and, in particular, to the hard work and good example of a great many priests. I owe my conversion to these servants of God!

And for that, I owe them everything.

Today, as we enter into the sacred Triduum, I am praying hard for our Catholic priests. This is a busy, busy time for them! I know firsthand what all these men must do, because—ahem—I myself am the daughter of a deacon.

Hi, Dad! ☺

Dad’s been a Catholic deacon for 30 years, having been ordained in 1980. I was a high school freshman at the time, and how’s that for dating him and me? He has assisted at countless weddings and innumerable masses, and has preached many a humble, eye-dabbing sermon. (My dad is not a college graduate. When he speaks, it is simple and from the heart.)

He has baptized almost all my children.

My father’s joy is infectious and his generosity is well-known. Dad is an example of everything good (and there’s a lot of good) in the Catholic Church. For every bad priest that makes the news, there are scores of saints that get no mention.

More’s the pity, and more’s the reason we need to thank them.

(PS. We also need to pray.)