Addressing priests, bishops, & called to vocations

While commenting on a blog about the status of vocations as it pertains to the level of bishops, I was able to put into words some of my views on vocations, and why priests deserve much more credit than they receive. My comments might also be helpful to those starting in on their vocations, or even long time priests who have reached a period of spiritual aridity, or have been too afflicted by the pressures of the world.

Most everyone understands that when one first thinks about being a priest, in the very early stages, they describe it as hearing a call or an attraction to vocation. The first thing that the potential future priest may feel, often as a youngster, is a pull to the vocation itself. It is the “job” that is what seems to be the voice that God uses to call them with. So I do not mean that they view it just as a secular job but one that serves God, far from it. But what I mean is that the language of inner, interior dialogue, the invitation, that God extends tends to center around “what the priest would be doing for God,” as in the specifics of the service. The young proto-priest often envisions himself performing priestly roles, and may admire priests in his parish, or long distance role models such as the Holy Father in Rome.

But what these proto-priests, who first hear the call to vocation, don’t realize is that a second dialogue that is much more subtle is taking place. That is, to hear an invitation from someone who loves them dearly to love them in return. At the same time that God is extended the “call to vocations” by framing the dialogue as being about having a “job” that is in service to God and his flock, there is a second conversation which is, especially if one is a youngster, the first spiritual invitation to love and be loved.

I would explain to you, even though most priests probably could not explain it themselves this clearly, that their formation is not just learning the “job” of priesthood, but understanding and developing their personal love relationship with God. We all know priests who are marvelous, while others struggle. Some of this is a matter of how much they are able to take the love they freely exchange with God and now magnify God’s love onto their parish, or whatever their assignment or religious community. The most successful and serene priest is the one who is not the most “hip” or the most “modern” or the most “popular,” but the one who can authentically magnify the love he has learned about with God onto his flock.

A bishop, then, finds an even greater challenge, which is why it is so daunting to some, but welcome to others. Just at a time when one must bear an extra burden of secular administration types of responsibilities, one must also magnify their learning of God’s love onto and throughout their entire diocese or archdiocese. They are literally the interpreters of their personal “love dialogue” with God for now tens of thousands of people, or even a million. It is an enormous challenge for the consecrated clergy at all levels, but one must have special appreciation for this part of their vocation that they themselves often do not recognize, understand, or give themselves credit for. This is one reason why the Blessed Virgin Mary loves the priesthood and prays continually in God’s presence for their intentions. This is because she well knows, and indeed foretold that, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47).

With those words, Mary essentially wrote the first lines of the job description of future Catholic priests and bishops. Just as her purpose was to “magnify” the Lord, with “rejoicing,” it is the vocation of priests and bishops to magnify their personal love dialogue with God so that it is visible and easily attained by their flock. THAT is their number one task, in addition of course to the sacraments, most especially the Sacrifice of the Mass, though obviously that is the shared expression of worship of God’s love for his flock.

Priests and bishops also have much more serenity with the personal sacrifice, including chastity that they have made through their vocations when they mindfully deliberate and promote this magnification of God’s love. As a priest is formed, and then throughout his maturing, he must constantly work on, and benefit from, his personal dialogue of love with God. In some ways it is like any love relationship in that there is potential for miscommunication, aridity, or the competition of outside forces. Recommitting and refreshing oneself in one’s personal dialogue with God is only enhanced when one recognizes that he must “magnify” this love dialogue for his flock. Magnification means to make visible what the eye cannot see without assistance. A priest who can take the love dialogue he feels with God and now “display” it through his works, words and feelings onto his flock is “magnifying.” Likewise, the bishop does the same although the day to day activities differ from that of a parish priest.

I have to emphasize that I do not mean to rack up a longer list of charitable works in the name of Jesus. And I do not mean that the flock must be made happier because "you" love them. What I mean is to display the depth of love that you have with God in public, magnifying it, just as a spouse who is with someone he or she adores does so automatically with just a look. A priest cannot be serene and totally fulfilled in his calling if he is not continuing, even through periods of aridity, to be "in love with God" on a personal level and in dialogue. It is that love of God that YOU feel that should translate into your demeanor, works, and deeds, as naturally as rain falls. You are not magnifying your personal feelings toward the flock in imitation of Christ, you are magnifying the love dialogue that you have with God himself onto your flock. (And no, this does not mean you tell them your secret prayers to God! :-)

When one learns how to dialogue with God in his love, he is truly accessing something that is infinite and immeasurable. It is a source of refreshment, rather than a burden. Unlike activities that place a physical, intellectual or emotional strain on a person, increased access to God’s love and the sharing of it with others only refreshes and sustains, rather than depletes. This is one of the unspoken but obvious ways that the Blessed Virgin Mary endured what she did during her life, and two thousand years later, continues to touch the hearts of millions through her intervention and understanding. It is not her power that she wields, but instead, she continues to magnify her love dialogue with God onto all of those who believe and listen.

So I hope that those in the priesthood, bishops, those in formation, and those considering vocations take these words of illumination, explanation and encouragement to heart, and God bless all who serve him.