Beyond human ability, priests succeed with God's grace

By Msgr. Scott Friend
Special to Arkansas Catholic

One of the symbols for Christ and the Eucharist in the early Church was a pelican feeding her young. On the surface, this symbol might seem an unlikely representation of our Lord until it is understood that if a pelican can't find food, she will actually rip away pieces of her own flesh to feed her young.

Jesus gives us his own flesh and blood, his very life so that we may live. A priest is called to do just this to be an "alter Christi" another Christ to give his life in service to the people of God.

St. Paul gave his whole life to the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. He said he would "most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your sakes." (2 Corinthians 12:15) It is clear when you read his letters that he was willing to do whatever was necessary for the people whom he served. He shared the mind and heart of Christ, and that meant he grew to love what Christ loves.

This is exactly what a priest does. He spends his life at the service of Christ and the Church. He gives what is shared with him, the heart and mind of Christ.

A diocesan priest is called to live out his priesthood serving the people of a particular place or local church, which we call a diocese. He will work with the bishop to pastor the people within that diocese.

Most often diocesan priests serve as parish pastors. However within the parish, the priest does many different types of ministries. He celebrates Mass and other sacraments; he visits the sick; he counsels people in crisis. He may also visit those in prison. He teaches, encourages, prays; he does whatever necessary for the salvation of the souls entrusted to his care.

If you are discerning a vocation to the priesthood, speak to your pastor or call Msgr. Scott Friend, diocesan vocations director, at (501) 664-0340 or e-mail him through the diocesan web site.

In the Diocese of Little Rock, the diocesan priest is also a missionary. Our diocese is made up of a diverse group of people. For instance, St. Raphael Church in Springdale has more than 18 different countries represented in the parish. The priests who serve there are missionaries to almost every continent on earth without ever leaving the boundaries of their parish.

At the same time diocesan priests also take their turn serving the many missions in Arkansas. Some drive thousands of miles each month ministering across the state. They spend their lives day after day bringing the Gospel of Christ to the people they serve.

Of course it takes lots of preparation, study, prayer, faith and courage to become a priest. The seminary formation program is designed to prepare men for the priesthood. Seminarians study philosophy, theology and experience many different ministries. In addition, all seminarians in our diocese learn to speak Spanish.

However, the most important part of this preparation, an ongoing process for priests, is the seminarian's growing relationship with Jesus.

Seminarians as well as priests have to fall ever deeper in love with Christ. This relationship becomes everything for the diocesan priest.

Over the course of his life a priest will offer the Mass, celebrate baptisms, hear confessions, and most importantly, pray. And over time, his life becomes configured to Christ. Hopefully the life of a priest becomes so transparent that it is no longer he that lives but Christ who lives in him!

Priests are called to spend their lives in the service of Christ. It would be impossible if they had to do this alone.

In fact, a priest becomes poorer the longer he serves, because he realizes over time that he depends totally on the grace of God. This is what allows him to go beyond his own capacity to fulfill the demands of priesthood. A priest comes to rely on this grace more than on his own life and his own capabilities.

If you are discerning a call to priesthood it is vital you believe that the God who calls you will also be the God who fills you with every spiritual blessing in the heavens through Christ.

Msgr. Scott Friend is vocations director for the Diocese of Little Rock.

Click here to return to the 2008 Vocations section index.

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