THE BIGGEST GIFT?
Posted by bob on February 29, 2008
Zenit today noted that the number of Diocesan priests was on the rise.
http://www.zenit.org/article-21930?l=english
As men leading our families, do we encourage this vocation? Do we provide a spiritual home in which to develop our children’s relationship with God?
Or do we expect our wives and the Church to do this for us?
Men, the shortage of vocations to the Priesthood is not the Church’s fault. We can’t simply blame Seminaries for bad management. Nor can we blame vocational directors for poor advertising. There is only one place to look to solve this problem, into our homes.
The greatest gift I could imagine our family giving to the Church is the opportunity for one of my sons to have a vocation to the Priesthood, and for us to cultivate, support and encourage him in that endeavor.
To be a Priest is not easy. Today the Archbishop of Mosul, Iraq was kidnapped. His three traveling companions shot, and his health unknown. I have watched Priest’s travel through airports and receive countless bad looks. I have heard the hundreds of derogatory jokes about the Priesthood. And I have seen the loneliness that men in this vocation can experience (not first hand of course).
To be a Priest is a calling from God to service and self-sacrifice. How can we encourage this vocation if we do not cultivate homes of humility, poverty in spirit, prayer, and most of all love.
Men, once again God is calling us to the table. Step out in faith, lead the family prayer. Or better yet, START a family prayer time. To be honest this is one of the areas that I fail in the most as a husband and father.
But last night my wife and three children and I prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet together. And my children once again showed me that God’s spirit brings unimaginable power to rise above sin, temptation, and the lies of the devil.
And remember, if you do not want your son to become a Priest due to income deficiencies, fear of them getting hurt, or other reasons…..Just think how cool it will be to call your son Father.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
