{"id":17750,"date":"2022-01-20T11:39:15","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T16:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/?p=17750"},"modified":"2022-01-20T11:39:15","modified_gmt":"2022-01-20T16:39:15","slug":"the-secret-happiness-of-a-priest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/the-secret-happiness-of-a-priest\/","title":{"rendered":"The Secret Happiness of a Priest."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wpimg\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/w_books.jpg\" alt=\"Fr. Tim\" class=\"wp-image-5709\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/w_books.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/w_books-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/w_books-500x281.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/w_books-624x351.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In these days, marked by Covid, political malfunction, social distancing, it might be well to tell you, good reader, how happy my life as a priest has been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is of course the happiness of marriage and family life: spousal love, the birth of children and their thousand \u201cfirsts\u201d (first step, first word, etc.), holidays, vacations, family nights. Everyone knows these joyful moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Did you ever wonder about the secret happiness of a priest? I am convinced that few people know the joys of a priest\u2019s life. I\u2019m sure Fr. John has his list of the happiness of priesthood. Here\u2019s a list of mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The surprising newness of the tools of our trade: the psalms, scripture, the prayers of the sacraments, al- ways seem fresh and full of power to touch and heal.<\/li><li>The beauty of the liturgical seasons and the \u201cinside\u201d experience priests have of them each year.<\/li><li>Secret moments just between God and me.<\/li><li>The deep peace in knowing we were used by God in very specific ways to help a soul that was burdened with sorrow or sickness.<\/li><li>Watching the beauty of a bride come down the aisle to meet her soon to be husband, and to know our lives as Priest\/Bridegroom, point to the Bride yet to come \udbff\udc01\udbff\udc01\udbff\udc01\udbff\udc01 The New Jerusalem.<\/li><li>Of course the confessional . . . we see the guilt and burden of sin lifted from God\u2019s children. The hope and faith that gets fanned into flame with the words \u201cI absolve you . . .\u201d. (The humble and tender way people speak their sorrow for sin never ceases to touch my heart. \u201cLord, do you see how much they love you?\u201d, I tell God.)<\/li><li>The love of God\u2019s people who look at us at times as they would look upon Christ. (Oh how I wish I were as good as your kindness toward me). How touching is your love for the priest.<\/li><li>The privileged and sacred moment in the pulpit when the living Word of God comes out of you and is received by His people. It\u2019s a holy moment, a goose bump moment.<\/li><li>To be called \u201cFather\u201d and know it means something very good.<\/li><li>To have wise old priests, with battle worn faces, light up when they greet you. Their humble lives have been poured out for thousands of people. Now, older and bent, they smile a secret smile. (Fr. John and I love our Saturday night dinners with our brother priests.)<\/li><li>To see the Paschal Mystery up close. That means: through suffering and death to self, we experience a victory over sin and selfishness . . . and the love of Christ poured into our hearts. I\u2019ve seen this in so many of you in your darkest hour your Faith.<\/li><li>The collar. I like wearing it; sometimes for the stares it gets.<\/li><li>Convocation &#8211; seeing my fellow priests all together each year with our bishop. Watching the grey hairs grow!! (or have fled entirely!).<\/li><li>Time. (I love this one). You can use it as you see fit. In a sense there is no \u201cinconvenient time\u201d. The priest\u2019s time is meant to be spent on the people and their needs \udbff\udc01 \udbff\udc01 not a time clock at work.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>There are lots more I could mention. (Be sure, of course, there is another list of sad or difficult times for the priest. We all have a list like that). But after 43 years as a priest (Fr. John\u2019s 57!), I can honestly say I\u2019d be a priest again in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let me end with a message to our young men. Take a look into your heart. God is calling you to give your life for others. Could it be he\u2019s calling you to be His Priest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m praying for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fr. Tim<\/p>\n<a class=\"synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-24 synved-social-resolution-single synved-social-provider-facebook nolightbox\" data-provider=\"facebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17750&#038;t=The%20Secret%20Happiness%20of%20a%20Priest.&#038;s=100&#038;p&#091;url&#093;=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17750&#038;p&#091;images&#093;&#091;0&#093;=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F09%2Fw_books.jpg&#038;p&#091;title&#093;=The%20Secret%20Happiness%20of%20a%20Priest.\" style=\"font-size: 0px;width:24px;height:24px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Facebook\" title=\"Share on Facebook\" class=\"synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"display: inline;width:24px;height:24px;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: none;box-shadow: none\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-media-feather\/synved-social\/image\/social\/regular\/48x48\/facebook.png\" \/><\/a><a class=\"synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-24 synved-social-resolution-single synved-social-provider-twitter nolightbox\" data-provider=\"twitter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Share on Twitter\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17750&#038;text=Hey%20check%20this%20out\" style=\"font-size: 0px;width:24px;height:24px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"twitter\" title=\"Share on Twitter\" class=\"synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"display: inline;width:24px;height:24px;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: none;box-shadow: none\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-media-feather\/synved-social\/image\/social\/regular\/48x48\/twitter.png\" \/><\/a><a class=\"synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-24 synved-social-resolution-single synved-social-provider-linkedin nolightbox\" data-provider=\"linkedin\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Share on Linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17750&#038;title=The%20Secret%20Happiness%20of%20a%20Priest.\" style=\"font-size: 0px;width:24px;height:24px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px;margin-right:5px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"linkedin\" title=\"Share on Linkedin\" class=\"synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"display: inline;width:24px;height:24px;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: none;box-shadow: none\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-media-feather\/synved-social\/image\/social\/regular\/48x48\/linkedin.png\" \/><\/a><a class=\"synved-social-button synved-social-button-share synved-social-size-24 synved-social-resolution-single synved-social-provider-mail nolightbox\" data-provider=\"mail\" rel=\"nofollow\" title=\"Share by email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=The%20Secret%20Happiness%20of%20a%20Priest.&#038;body=Hey%20check%20this%20out:%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.holytrinityweb.com%2Fweekly%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F17750\" style=\"font-size: 0px;width:24px;height:24px;margin:0;margin-bottom:5px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"mail\" title=\"Share by email\" class=\"synved-share-image synved-social-image synved-social-image-share\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"display: inline;width:24px;height:24px;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: none;box-shadow: none\" src=\"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-media-feather\/synved-social\/image\/social\/regular\/48x48\/mail.png\" \/><\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In these days, marked by Covid, political malfunction, social distancing, it might be well to tell you, good reader, how happy my life as a priest has been. There is of course the happiness of marriage and family life: spousal love, the birth of children and their thousand \u201cfirsts\u201d (first step, first word, etc.), holidays, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-weekly-column"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17750"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17753,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17750\/revisions\/17753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}