Thursday, December 17, 2009

St. Josemaria Escriva: Respect for Priests

(from the author's preface:) "Read these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in the end you will be a more worthy soul."

66 A Priest — whoever he may be — is always another Christ.

67 Though you well know it, I shall remind you again that a Priest is 'another Christ'. And that the holy Spirit has said: 'Nolite tangere Christos meos — do not touch my Christs'.

68 Presbyter — Priest — means, literally, an elderly man. If old age deserves veneration, think how much more you ought to venerate the Priesthood.

69 It shows very little refinement — and great lack of respect — to make fun of a Priest, whoever he is, and whatever the pretext!

70 I repeat: to make fun of a Priest — no matter what the circumstances — is always, at best, a sign of coarseness and poor taste.

74 To love God and not venerate his Priests... is not possible.

75 Like the good sons of Noah, throw the mantle of charity over the defects you see in your father, the Priest.

526 If you have not the highest reverence for the priesthood and for the religious state, it is not true that you love God's Church.

~ St. Josemaria Escriva, excerpts from The Way, found here. ~

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests, and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests. Amen.









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