Ourroleasthelaity

Weneedtodoabetterjobtakingcareofourpriests.
ItseasytonameoffthepriestswhohaveinfluencedourlivesFatherEd,FatherJ,
FatherMike,FatherJimbutdowerealizethatthetitlewegiveeachofthemisFather?These
mensacrificetheirentirelivesforChrist.Theygiveupthecomfortsofawifeandafamilyto
feeduswithChristsBodyandBlood.Theycareforusspiritually;wecallthemfather.They
leadusandguideusasspiritualfathers;theyfeeduswiththesacraments.Whileourearthly
fathersprovideforusandmakesurethatthereisalwaysfoodonthetable,priestsspendtheir
livesdoingthesamemakingsurethatthereisBreadontheTableintheEucharist.Likeour
earthlyfathers,theyarenotallperfect,buttheybringChristtous.Asthelaity,weneedtomake
surethatwearecaringforthemandlovingthem.Wemustdoourjobastheirspiritualchildren.
Whenmostmengrowold,theyhavesonsanddaughterstocareforthem.Theyhave
grandchildrentolovethemandcheerthemup.Wemusttakeupourresponsibilityasthe
spiritualchildrenofthesepriestsandmakesuretheyarebeingcaredfor.Whentheycanno
longerdoforthemselves,weneedtodoforthem;justastheyhavespenttheirlivesdoingforus
whatwecantdoforourselves;bringChristtousintheEucharist.Weneedtomakesurethat
theyhaveafamilytoenjoyThanksgivingdinnerwith,childrentocareforthemastheygrow
old,andgrandchildrentomakethemlaughandbringthemjoy.
Theyhavegivenupthesejoysoflifeandprovidedforus.Thatiswhygivingbackto
themneedstobeapriorityforus.Whenyouseethatoldprieststrugglingupthestairs,helphim
LovehimwithChristslove!Whenyouknowthatthepriestatyourparishhasnofamilyclose
by,welcomehimintoyourfamilyShowhimthehospitalityofChrist!WhenFathersDayrolls
aroundeachyearsendthepriestsinyourlifeacardShowthemhowmuchyouloveand
appreciatethem!Whenyouhearthattheretiredpriestfromyourparishisinanursinghome,go
visithimCareforhimwithChristsgentleness!
Aboutayearagoaretiredpriestwhohadbeenatmyparishforafewyearstookafalland
endedupinarehabilitationhospital.Hehasnofamilyorrelativesclosebybutithasbeenso
beautifultoseeourparishcometogetherasafamilyandcareforhim.Evennow,almostayear
later,wegovisithimdailyandbringhimChristintheBlessedSacrament,ashehasprovided
Christforusforthelast47yearsofhislife.
ThesearethewordsthatFatherJeanBaptisteHenriDominiqueLacordaire,O.P.hadfor
apriest:"Toliveinthemidstoftheworldwithoutwishingitspleasures;tobeamemberofeach
family,yetbelongingtonone;toshareallsufferings;topenetrateallsecrets;tohealallwounds;
togofrommentoGodandofferHimtheirprayers;toreturnfromGodtomentobringpardon
andhope;tohaveaheartoffireforcharityandaheartofbronzeforchastity;toteachandto
pardon,consoleandblessalways.MyGod,whatalife!Anditisyours,OpriestofJesusChrist!"

OurspiritualfathersarefollowingGodsplanforthemandlivethelifeofapriest.Asthe
laity,letsmakesurethatwewelcomethemasmembersofourfamilyandtheyweloveandcare
forthemasthefatherstheyare.