Priesthood
The sacrament (of Holy Orders) configures the recipient to Christ by a special grace of the Holy Spirit, so that he may serve as Christ’s instrument for His Church. By ordination, one is enabled to act as a representative of Christ, Head of the Church, in his triple office of priest, prophet and king.” (CCC 1581)
A priest’s job is to bring Jesus to people and people to Jesus – primarily through preaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments.
In his book “The Joy of Being a Priest” Christoph Cardinal Schönberg reflects on these two quotes by the Curé of Ars, St. John Vianney, the first of these reads:
“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus” which defines his identity.
The second comes from a story from the life of St. John Vianney as he was first arriving in Ars.
“Unable to find the way to Ars because of fog, Monsieur Vianney asked a boy who was watching his sheep; the youngster showed him the road. Then the future saint replied, ‘My young friend, you have shown me the way to Ars; I shall show you the way to heaven.’”
Schönberg continues with his meditation on these two quotes. “Since the priest is the love of the heart of Jesus, he is entirely at the service of what the love of Jesus desires for us: heaven, blessings, eternal happiness, the beatitude of the living God. God desires our happiness and he intended that the priest should be the servant of his blessings: “I will show you the way to heaven,” and the way to happiness.”
For further information about priesthood:
Talk to a priests you trust, tell them you are discerning and looking for advice. Ask them their vocation story.
Find a good spiritual director and trust him or her!
Read Good Books – Check out this resources page for discernment specific literature.
Think Priest is the website for the Vocation Office in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Here you will find contact information for the Vocation Office, information on the Priesthood, Discernment, and Seminary Life, as well as free resources for you in your discernment.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Vocation Page provides information about all four vocations