Joseph Lee Hooker: "Our Priests" Shows Solidarity and Support for the Priesthood

Joseph Lee Hooker sings the headline single from his 2009 "Our Priests" album, which has garnered accolades from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Pope Benedict XVI himself.

Hooker, a devout Catholic and shockingly, a documented abuse victim of the priest scandal first revealed in the late 90's in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, felt a compulsion to show solidarity and support for the priesthood and its countless members who strive to eradicate the current stigma of abuse and scandal.

"I've known so many priests in my life who have helped and supported me in my struggles and my faith," Hooker said. "Those priests, the true shepherds, help to heal and erase the damage done by others." The artist's response was to create this inspirational work that calls priests to a higher standard and has received an apostolic blessing from the pope.



 

Lyrics:

In this world of darkness, still there shines a light
Standing with God's people to show them what is right
They carry on the wisdom that God has handed down
They are truly diamonds in our Savior's crown

Our priests, they are treasures
Their hands, our saving grace
Instruments of God, they must never be disgraced
Our priests

The world calls and taunts them, yet they firmly stand
Bringing light to darkness at the Lord's command
Serving Bread of Angels to the hungry lambs
Their voice of truth will lead us to the Promised Land

Eyes upon the Saviour, guided by their vow
Strongly must they shepherd, yet humbly must they bow
Shining light from heaven, teaching truth sublime
Reaching for perfection, touching the divine

Our priests, our saving grace, our priests
Never be disgraced, our priests, our saving grace

Copyright 2009, 2010 Joseph Lee Hooker
Published by: Come Alive Communications, Inc., ASCAP
All world rights reserved.
Come Alive Music - "The Melody of Inspiration"

 

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.

Future Pope Francis on Holy Eucharist, Priesthood, Vocations to the Priesthood

"In the last Supper we have been born as priests.  There isn't the Eucharist without the priesthood and the priesthood doesn't exist without the Eucharist.  Only the priest who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders can validly celebrate the Eucharist, because there is something mysterious there.

 

"The Eucharist isn't a reunion of friends who come to pray and eat bread and wine.  The Eucharist is fundamentally priestly, because the first Eucharist was celebrated in a priestly way by the unique High Priest, in whose priesthood we ourselves participate, Jesus Christ. He was the priest and was the victim of the Sacrifice.

 

"Once when I was in the seminary, my grandmother told me never to forget that I was going to be a priest, and the most important thing for a priest was to celebrate the Mass.  And she reminded me about a mother who said to her son, who was a very holy priest, she told him, "Celebrate the Mass, each Mass, as if it were the first and the last."

 

"With what greatness the priest has to prepare himself to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.  Such a beautiful thing!  Such a great thing!  Something that fills us with joy!  And what applies to the priest also applies in a way to each of the faithful who participate in the common priesthood of all the faithful.  He can't celebrate the Eucharist, but he can participate in the celebration.  This is the greatest thing that can take place during the day.  It is the most profound, the most priestly. For this reason we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ the Priest who offers His Sacrifice to the Father.

 

"But back to the priest--if some of you who are listening to me  are young people, doesn't this excite you?  Don't you feel that God is calling you to this great thing--to have in your hands the Body of Christ?"

 

(From EWTN's exclusive interview with Cardinal-Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, now Pope Francis. In this excerpt, the future Pope talks about his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. )

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.