I Will Make You Fishers of Men

I went to the Chrism Mass yesterday at the Cathedral. Chrism is the perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop that is used in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders. It signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Chrism Mass brings together all of the priest in the diocese for a reaffirmation of their vows before the bishop. Lay representatives from all the parishes also attend to receive the yearly allotment of consecrated oil for their church. The Holy Spirit is ever present.

These good men of God need the Holy Spirit these days. From sex scandals to the DaVinci Code to the Gospel of Judas there is always something present to move the faithless further from the church and to tug on those at the fringes. Add to that the diminished ranks of the priesthood and you have a recipe for a tried and tired group of spiritual leaders. These good men of God need our prayers.

We also need more young men to commit to the priesthood. Where are the new "fishers of men"? Does no one hear a whisper from the voice of Melchizedek, John the Baptist, or Peter? Has Jesus stopped casting His net?

The average age of a diocesan priest in the United States is 57 years old. Most of us are looking for a golden handshake at this age while a priest is planning for the 2nd half of his career.

Not only does a priest have to work longer in life, but they also have to work harder. 50 years ago there was a priest for every 650 Catholics. Today the number is 1 for every 1,200. This translates into longer days, more administrative task and fewer hours devoted to prayer and the spiritual healing of our souls.

Frankly, I worry about the ability of many priest to meet our spiritual needs. How can a man achieve any level of holiness without the time to reflect on the teachings of Jesus Christ? How can a man listen to God without significant moments of silence? We need to provide them relief.

At the start of this Holy Week, I offer up my heartfelt prayers for all those priest who faithfully serve those of us in need. I pray that the voice that called them to priesthood still echoes in their ear. I pray that a new generation of believers will hear the same voice and answer the call.

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