Between the Hearts with Fr. Craig
This Sunday is priesthood Sunday! Let’s talk about vocations to the priesthood for a moment. You may have heard that we have a vocation crisis going on in our world, but that’s not exactly true. God has not stopped calling men to the priesthood. However, this world is so loud and noisy, men aren’t hearing God’s generous offer to become a priest. Having been vocation director for the last six years, the greatest hurdle that men are going through at this time is fear of life-long commitment. With our culture telling them to do their own thing, live life to the fullest, don’t settle, they sometimes choose to do nothing. Or they do everything and anything that the world tells them will make them happy. It was common to have men come to my office and tell me they have everything they ever wanted and were still incredibly empty and unhappy. Doing God’s will is what creates happiness in Our lives. Taking on responsibility and to live for others is what creates fulfillment and joy.
In just a few short years, here in the Archdiocese Of Detroit, there is going to be a significant drop in the number Of active priests. That means less Masses being said, less confessions being heard, priests not there to be able to celebrate in the joys, and to be with you there through all the struggles. I don’t say this to cause despair, but rather to stir up that gift Of hope that was given to us at our baptism, that theological virtue that says we have already won in Christ. God will provide the grace we need. Yet, we need to do our part.
Our first response should be prayer. Sometimes we say things like, “Well I guess all we can do is pray,” as if it is some consolation prize. prayer is powerful! Everything we do in life should begin with prayer. Without it, we are just spinning our wheels. I particularly like praying the Luminous Mysteries Of the Rosary for vocations to the priesthood. What would our archdiocese 100k like if we all prayed a rosary for men to say yes to their vocation to the priesthood? Also, we need to pray and support our current priests as well. It always saddens me when I hear about a younger priest leaving the priesthood, but it is happening. Let’s make sure we do all we can do to foster holy, healthy, and happy lives for our priests.
Secondly, we need to encourage and invite our grandsons, sons, nephews— someone in our life that we think does have the characteristics to make a good, holy priest. It would be great to sit them down and make it a sacred moment, a special moment. Saying that, “l believe you would make a good priest. I’ll pray with you and I’ll be here for you.” You would be a St. Barnabas to them, one who offers encouragement!
There are so many things in this world that need our prayers. However, maybe this week we focus on praying for our priests and for a new generation of priests to rise up. May we have priests that serve with the heart of Christ, and may His Sacred Heart pump his precious Blood into the lives Of our young men in church today to have the courage to say yes.
In Christ, Fr. Craig
