First Sons
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
Pope Benedict XVI once said to priests, “No priest is a priest on his own; we are a presbyterate and it is only in this communion with the Bishop that each one can carry out his service (August 6, 2008).” Never was that idea clearer to me than on Saturday, June 4 this year when I, as Bishop, ordained my first class of deacons to the priesthood for the Diocese of Trenton in our Cathedral in the presence of the clergy and faithful. To say it was a profound, awesome and emotional experience would be an understatement.
From the moment I processed down the aisle with the ordinandi, along with my predecessor Bishop John M. Smith – who only a week before had celebrated his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination – and the priests and deacons of the diocese, my heart filled with pride and my eyes filled with joyful tears. These were our newest priests and “my sons,” as the Rite of Ordination repeatedly reminded me. I was overcome with the thought of what I was about to give them through the laying on of my unworthy, trembling hands.
A few days before, I had given these six eager young men their priesthood retreat, sharing with them the fruit of my own reflections and experience over the past 30 years. Almost a year to the date of their ordination, I stood before a gathering of diocesan staff and media, awestruck again, as I acknowledged my own appointment as their future Bishop. What a great way to celebrate that incredible day in my own life one year later!
I had already given them their first parish assignments, having carefully selected good pastors who would be their mentors in that first important year of their priestly ministry. In their retreat, not only had I given them several spiritual conferences but I also had the opportunity to hear them preach their own homilies at Mass – not an easy audience for them, with me as their “boss.” And they did not disappoint! Especially meaningful was the occasion to speak with each man, inviting their conversations, shared expectations and neophyte questions. They are each and all, good men, ready to serve God’s people.
But ordination to the priesthood is not about the men ordained or their Bishop or even about the people we have been called to serve as priests. Ordination to the priesthood is about Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, who calls and takes the priest from among his people to make him their “representative before God that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins (Hebrews 5:1).” The gifts are given by God. The sacrifices are initiated by God after the pattern of Jesus Christ’s own sacrifice.
The sins, however, are our own. And the priest is called to lift them up so that God may take them and turn our weaknesses – those of the priest and the people – into moments of grace. The priest does that through the sacraments he administers, through his preaching, through the comfort and counseling he offers, through his quiet, humble and loving presence in this one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church of ours.
Although the sordid, fractured, well-publicized actions of a few have stained the priesthood in our day, the ministry of the overwhelming majority of good priests continues, in Christ, to redeem the Church. Good, holy priests will fade that stain so that our people will begin to see and recognize in us again the face of Christ, the heart of Christ.
Pope Benedict has reminded us that “the priest receives his ‘name,’ his very identity from Christ. Everything he does, he does in his name (May 3, 2009).” In another place, he said, “in our hearts we priests must live the relationship with Christ and, through him, with the Father; only then can we truly understand people, only in the light of God can the depths of man be understood. Then those who are listening to us realize that we are not speaking of ourselves or of some thing, but of the true Shepherd (May 7, 2006).”
This is why my eyes filled with tears as I ordained my first class of priests in the Diocese of Trenton. This is what I, in succession with the Apostles, gave to these six men on Saturday, June 4, in our Cathedral. And now, with joy and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ and his will, I give them to you.
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Pope Benedict XVI once said to priests, “No priest is a priest on his own; we are a presbyterate and it is only in this communion with the Bishop that each one can carry out his service (August 6, 2008).” Never was that idea clearer to me than on Saturday, June 4 this year when I, as Bishop, ordained my first class of deacons to the priesthood for the Diocese of Trenton in our Cathedral in the presence of the clergy and faithful. To say it was a profound, awesome and emotional experience would be an understatement.
From the moment I processed down the aisle with the ordinandi, along with my predecessor Bishop John M. Smith – who only a week before had celebrated his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination – and the priests and deacons of the diocese, my heart filled with pride and my eyes filled with joyful tears. These were our newest priests and “my sons,” as the Rite of Ordination repeatedly reminded me. I was overcome with the thought of what I was about to give them through the laying on of my unworthy, trembling hands.
A few days before, I had given these six eager young men their priesthood retreat, sharing with them the fruit of my own reflections and experience over the past 30 years. Almost a year to the date of their ordination, I stood before a gathering of diocesan staff and media, awestruck again, as I acknowledged my own appointment as their future Bishop. What a great way to celebrate that incredible day in my own life one year later!
I had already given them their first parish assignments, having carefully selected good pastors who would be their mentors in that first important year of their priestly ministry. In their retreat, not only had I given them several spiritual conferences but I also had the opportunity to hear them preach their own homilies at Mass – not an easy audience for them, with me as their “boss.” And they did not disappoint! Especially meaningful was the occasion to speak with each man, inviting their conversations, shared expectations and neophyte questions. They are each and all, good men, ready to serve God’s people.
But ordination to the priesthood is not about the men ordained or their Bishop or even about the people we have been called to serve as priests. Ordination to the priesthood is about Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, who calls and takes the priest from among his people to make him their “representative before God that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins (Hebrews 5:1).” The gifts are given by God. The sacrifices are initiated by God after the pattern of Jesus Christ’s own sacrifice.
The sins, however, are our own. And the priest is called to lift them up so that God may take them and turn our weaknesses – those of the priest and the people – into moments of grace. The priest does that through the sacraments he administers, through his preaching, through the comfort and counseling he offers, through his quiet, humble and loving presence in this one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church of ours.
Although the sordid, fractured, well-publicized actions of a few have stained the priesthood in our day, the ministry of the overwhelming majority of good priests continues, in Christ, to redeem the Church. Good, holy priests will fade that stain so that our people will begin to see and recognize in us again the face of Christ, the heart of Christ.
Pope Benedict has reminded us that “the priest receives his ‘name,’ his very identity from Christ. Everything he does, he does in his name (May 3, 2009).” In another place, he said, “in our hearts we priests must live the relationship with Christ and, through him, with the Father; only then can we truly understand people, only in the light of God can the depths of man be understood. Then those who are listening to us realize that we are not speaking of ourselves or of some thing, but of the true Shepherd (May 7, 2006).”
This is why my eyes filled with tears as I ordained my first class of priests in the Diocese of Trenton. This is what I, in succession with the Apostles, gave to these six men on Saturday, June 4, in our Cathedral. And now, with joy and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ and his will, I give them to you.
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