In support of the Eucharistc nature of Christ's Church
What well catechized daughter or son of the Church would not recognize the essential role played by the Eucharist in the life of every Christian? If we are indeed, as St. Augustine teaches, an Easter People, are we not also and exactly a people of the Eucharist, partakers and members in the Body of Christ?
The National Council of Priests of Australia, in their remarkable proposal for the Lineamenta for the coming meeting of the World Synod of Bishops, take the role and centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the Church--The People of God--seriously. They suggest that, if we wish to remain who we are, an essentially Eucharistic people, then the church must address the growing shortage of priests with some vigor.
If it is true that there is one priest for every 2400-2500 Catholics in the world today, and that the number of "Catholics" continues to grow, while the number of priests does not, we really are in serious trouble. I cannot imagine being unable to attend the Eucharist on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. I cannot be sure that a once or twice yearly opportunity would hold much attraction, either. Some things--even terribly important things--become irrelevant when they are not available. Absence does not always make the heart grow fonder, as many thousands will attest in another context.
Our very reverend, wise, and deeply well-beloved Pastors--undoubted successors of the Apostles, all--will probably feel most free to suggest that the remedy to this plight is a manifest confidence in the Holy Spirit and a renewed commitment on our part to pray for vocations!
And, of course, I agree!
We should all pray for vocations, but perhaps we should also pray that these vocations we're praying for be fully recognized, welcomed, nurtured, and supported. There are Gay boys out there, and some married boys out there, and maybe, just maybe some women out there who may feel God's call to the sacerdotal priesthood. And, we desperately need them. If the many are called, just how are we doing the choosing?
I'm personally uncomfortable with the idea of a married priesthood. Most priests of my acquaintance are just a little eccentric, well at least more than some of the time. I love them terribly. Even so, I can't imagine them, broadly speaking as a class, being much improved should they come with wives or boyfriends as part of their standard equipment, not to mention the assorted accumulation of under-supervised juvenile delinquents roaming about, setting fires in the Sacristy or hocking the Parish Plate for the odd line or two. As it now stands, their cats and dogs are quite enough for most parish communities to handle. But this is just my prejudice, and I will one day grow old and die! (possibly, not soon enough!)
The Eucharist is probably more important than the priesthood, which may be merely an important means to an essential end. (If that last bit was heresy, I retract it right now, honestly!) But, soberly, God has vouchsafed to the Church, the People of God, great latitude to deal with these situations:
Matthew 18:18:
The National Council of Priests of Australia, in their remarkable proposal for the Lineamenta for the coming meeting of the World Synod of Bishops, take the role and centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the Church--The People of God--seriously. They suggest that, if we wish to remain who we are, an essentially Eucharistic people, then the church must address the growing shortage of priests with some vigor.
If it is true that there is one priest for every 2400-2500 Catholics in the world today, and that the number of "Catholics" continues to grow, while the number of priests does not, we really are in serious trouble. I cannot imagine being unable to attend the Eucharist on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. I cannot be sure that a once or twice yearly opportunity would hold much attraction, either. Some things--even terribly important things--become irrelevant when they are not available. Absence does not always make the heart grow fonder, as many thousands will attest in another context.
Our very reverend, wise, and deeply well-beloved Pastors--undoubted successors of the Apostles, all--will probably feel most free to suggest that the remedy to this plight is a manifest confidence in the Holy Spirit and a renewed commitment on our part to pray for vocations!
And, of course, I agree!
We should all pray for vocations, but perhaps we should also pray that these vocations we're praying for be fully recognized, welcomed, nurtured, and supported. There are Gay boys out there, and some married boys out there, and maybe, just maybe some women out there who may feel God's call to the sacerdotal priesthood. And, we desperately need them. If the many are called, just how are we doing the choosing?
I'm personally uncomfortable with the idea of a married priesthood. Most priests of my acquaintance are just a little eccentric, well at least more than some of the time. I love them terribly. Even so, I can't imagine them, broadly speaking as a class, being much improved should they come with wives or boyfriends as part of their standard equipment, not to mention the assorted accumulation of under-supervised juvenile delinquents roaming about, setting fires in the Sacristy or hocking the Parish Plate for the odd line or two. As it now stands, their cats and dogs are quite enough for most parish communities to handle. But this is just my prejudice, and I will one day grow old and die! (possibly, not soon enough!)
The Eucharist is probably more important than the priesthood, which may be merely an important means to an essential end. (If that last bit was heresy, I retract it right now, honestly!) But, soberly, God has vouchsafed to the Church, the People of God, great latitude to deal with these situations:
Matthew 18:18:
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.Let us hope the we, the People of God, moved by the might of His Spirit, may act responsibly in this matter.
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