In 1944, when a priest was ordained, one of the most popular holy cards that was distributed was that that contained the statement from Henri Lacordaire, the French philosopher of the 19th century:
Without wishing its pleasures,
To be a member of every family
Yet belonging to none,
To share all sufferings,
To penetrate all secrets,
To heal all wounds,
To go from men and women to God
And offer Him their prayers,
To return from God to men and women,
To bring pardon and joy.
My God, what a life!
And it is yours,
O Priest of Jesus Christ.”
This is all moving, and beautiful language, and had an almost romantic aura about it. And it is very, very truthful. But over the passing of years, it has lost its popularity and more down to earth, real language has taken over (as you know, this is the age of the “reality show”.
Carl Arico, a New Jersey priest some years ago conducted a retreat for the priests of the Tulsa Diocese. Father Arico, who had authored books on the priesthood, tells of the time that he attended a parish council meeting with one of the regional bishops of that area. They wanted to hear the expectations of the council to see and hear what they felt a new pastor for their parish should be.
Father Arico and the Bishop were presented a printed copy of their expectations.
The council members thought that the new pastor should be: “A priest who cares deeply about his vocation, who is willing to be available and present to the needs of our people, who is willing to use others’ gifts and talents, especially those of our deacon, our DRE, our youth minister, and our committees; one of broad scope and vision; who is knowledgeable in theology and ecclesiology; who is emotionally stable and who can deal with criticism in a constructive manner and who has strong appreciation of respect for other Christian communities without in any way compromising those beliefs and practices that are uniquely Catholic.”
Father Arico recalled that he was very surprised at the Bishop’s response: “I know only two people who can fulfill this job description: myself and Jesus, and I’m not too sure about Jesus!”
The life of the priest and what is expected of him has changed mightily in the course of 65 years, from 1944 to 2009. And yet the priest in the eyes of our Lord, in the eyes of the Church is still the same as always. When we celebrate an anniversary, it always gives us opportunity to give thanks, to remember and most especially it gives us time for serious thought and reflection. Let me share some of the thoughts that I have today with you, thoughts that have accrued with the passing of 65 years.
This is certainly a time for “thanksgiving” -- and that has to begin with thanks to God, our Father. Father Leo Trese, who lived in 1952, said it so well on one occasion: “Why did I become a priest? It is a question that is open to a glib reply. I might be tempted to give an answer only half honest. I might say that in the idealism of youth, I responded to the high challenge of Christ’s ‘Come follow Me’; that I chose to seek my happiness in a life self-dedicated to the service of God and the salvation of souls. Actually, of course, I myself had very little to do with becoming a priest. I am a priest because God wanted me to be one and saw to it that I became one.”
As some of you well know, I feel that Catharine de Hueck Doherty’s summing up is most impressive and to the heart of the matter. “The moment you hear God’s call is a moment of recognition, a moment of receptivity and of deep concern. It is a moment when all we have to do it to realize that we are creatures, and that it is God who makes the call.” Our thanks begin and we thank Almighty God that He called us to this life. It is most humbling for the priest to remember that he is what he is because God wanted him and called him to the work. All he, the priest, did was answer the call.
We are priests solely and only because God wanted us to be. As Father Trese, in another place, put it, “What kind of net God may have used to draw us within the sanctuary gates does not matter now. What motives, however human and worldly, He may have used as levers upon our selfishness is no longer important. It is enough to know that God, in a tremendous mystery of unmerited love, finally got me where He wanted me.”
There was one unfortunate priest who tried to excuse his failings on the ground that he only became a priest to satisfy his parents. As though that mattered. As though he shouldn’t have been eternally grateful to God for having used the likeliest tool that came to hand. I have always, and I am sure my seminary classmates here today, Msgr. (Louis) Meyer, Msgr. (Matthew) Meister and Msgr. (Peter) Dunne would agree with me: I have always said that one of the most important people in my life who directed me to answer God’s call was my mother. Included in that recognition is the fact that without her I would not be here.
She was and is kind of important in the whole process. It is axiomatic that God works through natural causes. It isn’t the “how” of my priesthood that matters, but the ultimate “why.” To my mother, my sister, my brothers and others in the family, to the priests, the sisters and good friends I have met on the way. To them and to everyone who helped me along the way, “Thank you very much.”
And this is a time for remembering. The three amigos and myself are aware that a lot of water has gone under the bridge in the passing of 65 years. You cannot remember but a fraction of the good times, the happy times, the bad times, the sad times that have gone by. But whatever does come to mind, be it parish work , instructing converts, teaching the children, witnessing marriages, baptizing little ones and big ones, ministering to the sick who need to know the healing touch of the Lord, burying our loved ones who have died, administering the temporalities (figuring budgets, repairing roofs, replacing floors, making sure the heat and air conditioners work, and on and on.)
Or may it be the school work, developing minds, helping the sad to laugh, fashioning Christian leaders, directing and watching the athletes, the music programs, or what. We remember these things and much more when at dinner with our brother priests and friends these days. Many and long will the war stories be. But when all is said and done, the good times and the bad times remembered, it can all be summed up with the words from the Sacred Scriptures, “Here I am Lord, I’ve come to do your will!.”
Last, but not least, these days are a time for reflection. Father Walter Burghardt, S.J., who died a short time ago, on an occasion when several priests were celebrating various anniversaries, submitted that the priest must be a man of joy, a man for others, and a man of prayer.
A man of joy! I think it most important that people who see the priest, hear him, touch him, feel that he is happy and filled with joy in his priesthood, that he would not exchange it for, literally, the world and all that is in it. Every look, every gesture, every word says something whether it is to one or to hundreds.
In the case of the priest they should all say, “I’m delighted to be here --- delighted to be with you.” But not only at the altar. In a wheelchair, or on a hospital bed, or on the phone, or at the meeting of the school board or finance committee, or at a party or at a big celebration such as this the people see a man who is happy, a man who is fulfilled, a man who is grateful. A man filled with joy. The priest must smile, even when it hurts, especially when it hurts. The future of the Church depends on it.
Secondly, he must be a “man for others.” You see, Jesus was the priest ‘par excellence’. But He was not content to live his priesthood only in heaven. He wanted it to be available to men and women on earth until the end of time.
As has been said, Jesus, merciful priest who forgave sinners, the gentle priest who blessed people, the zealous priest who sought out the lost sheep, the loving priest who offered Himself and fed His disciples with his own flesh and blood, still lives and continues His priestly work in the world. He shares that priesthood with humankind in the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
Some might be shocked at the idea that a priest, a human being, should claim such powers, especially the power to forgive sin. “How can an ordinary man be such?” The answer is that the priest is not an ordinary man. He is a man who has been made an “alter Christus”, “another Christ,” through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
It is Jesus who has performed this wonder. He desires to work through men. He desires to forgive sinners, to teach and preach, to give divine life, to renew His sacrifice on the cross through human beings.
The reason a priest has these powers is so members of the People of God who need these special services will have someone designated to care for their needs. A priest is not ordained for himself. Let me repeat that. The Sacrament of Holy Orders is one of the “social sacraments”, a priest is ordained not for himself but to provide spiritual services for the members of the Body of Christ. A priest is a bridge builder. He brings God to the people and the people to God. He is perforce of the will of our Blessed Lord a “man for others.”
Finally, he must be a “man of prayer.” Why? Simply because if any human being was called to carry out the work that the Lord calls the man to do when he calls him to be a priest he would be an abysmal failure if he tried to do it all himself. It’s impossible! The duties that are caring for the little ones, the children, the teen-agers, the adults, the married and the unmarried, the elderly --- the instructions, the classes, the meetings, the sick and the ill, the dying, consoling the mourners -- reaching to the poor and the homeless, the hungry and the affluent, the rich and the powerful, the helpless and most vulnerable -- and that just starts the list. How in heaven’s name could one take on such program without the grace and strength that comes from the Father and Lord of all?
Prayer is the answer. The only answer. It is absolutely necessary.
A “man of joy”, a “man for others”, a “man of prayer”. Pete, Andy, Lou, I hope and pray that our years to come will be as happy and fulfilling and profitable for us as have been these 65 years that have passed so, shall I say, “swiftly”? Ad Multos Annos. And God be with us always.
Father William Swift, senior priest of the Church of St. Mary, was ordained along with the “three amigos” he referenced in his homily, on Sept. 23, 1944. The priests of the Diocese will join him, his family and friends at 5 p.m. Vespers Monday, Sept. 21 at the Church of St. Mary. A slideshow of his anniversary weekend will be available soon on www.dioceseoftulsa.org
Clive O
[9/23/2009 5:13:26 PM]Thank you for sharing your insightful inspiration!
Larry Littlefield
[9/20/2009 9:37:37 PM]Father Swift, your 65 dedicated years as a priest is extraordinary. Congratulations Father Swift. You are an inspiration to us all. Many will do more good works because of your example. Thank you.
