The Priestly Vocation Involves Prayer

The Priestly Vocation Involves Prayer

A priest is to be a man of prayer: In his apostolic exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis, Pope John Paul II says:

“The priest is called to be a man of prayer and contemplation, for it is through prayer (and study) that the priest comes to a deeper personal knowledge of the Person and work of Christ. In prayer and contemplation he is sent forth by Christ to minister to his people in pastoral charity. Our priestly life and activity continue the life and activity of Christ himself. Here lies our identity, our true dignity, the source of our joy, the very basis of our life."

Contemplating on my vocation the words of Pope John Paul II echo true in the very heart of what priesthood is all about. To continue the work of Christ you have to deepen your knowledge of who Christ is and prayer is that deepening principle that guides and nurtures the heart to understanding more fully what the priesthood is and what I am called to do: To carry Christ in my heart, my mind, my body, so as to continue the work of Christ.

I find prayer to be a sustaining aspect of my ministry. There are times when prayer is barren, dry, like wading through treacle and nothing seems to come back to me. Prayer can be a struggle and often this is reflected back when my ministry is proving to be a burden or a chore, when I am feeling unloved, un-thanked, not appreciated, when I feel sorry for myself! Yet prayer is the wake up call in bad times, it raises my awareness of the Cross, the sacrifice, it reminds me of the joy of my youth! As the psalmist cries: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:12

Prayer is wonderfully refreshing and mysteriously engaging too! Thank You Lord, is often whispered by me when his grace works though my priestly ministry.

Prayer is an Our Father, or a Hail Mary said slowly or in a hurry, the Jesus prayer whispered before a meeting or after a meal: Lord Jesus be merciful to me a sinner! In fact these are anytime, everywhere prayers that tune up the heart for a deeper conversation with the Lord on a daily basis.

People who say they have no time to pray need to take a deep breath, for it only takes a very few breaths to pray! Prayer is a rosary offered up for the souls of loved ones, or for any other intention; it is thinking about the life of Christ and smiling with gratitude and joy that God has touched our world in such a marvellous and mysterious way!

Prayer is a psalm, the divine office spoken alone or uttered with others. Prayer is formal, allowing me to know my place to see how small I am, but it is life giving too! Prayer has an informal, anytime, anywhere setting too that sets me free and affords me the knowledge that I am loved by God, who never abandons me, even though I stray from him many times, too many times perhaps to deserve any love.

Prayer is the glue that sticks me to Christ. Without prayer I am flailing around in the dark, struggling to keep afloat in the stormy ocean of life, with prayer I am in a sturdy boat navigating the waters below me with fluency, ease and grace!