Help wanted: more vocations to the priesthood

How have you experienced God’s love? What are three of your closest, most meaningful encounters with God? Stop. Actually, think of those encounters with Him. 

Now, how many of those would be possible without the priesthood? Did those encounters involve the Eucharist? The Eucharist that only is made present at the hands of the priest in the most holy sacrifice of the Mass. 

Did any of those encounters involve Confession? Where God removes the grime and leprosy of sin from our souls and restores us to new life through the healing words of a priest. 

Did any of those encounters involve the Holy Spirit speaking in your heart? The indwelling of the Holy Spirit that you received at your baptism through the hands of a priest.  Baptism that makes a relationship with God possible.

Every encounter I have ever had with God has been made possible by one of His priests — whether it was in Mass or Eucharistic adoration, Confession, or through my Baptism, which allows me to pray with God, as His child, anywhere or at any time.

I am eternally grateful to the priest who baptized me, to the priests who have heard my Confessions and absolved me of my sins, to the priests who have guided me, to the priest who Confirmed me, to the priests who have offered Mass so that I can receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ into my soul. Without them, I would not have encountered the love of God, would not have the joy that comes from living as God’s beloved child. I would not be striving to become a saint and reach heaven. 

We need more priests of Jesus Christ. We need men who are willing to leave everything to answer the call of God, so that we all can continue to encounter the love of God. 

Young men, is God calling you?  Are you the man being asked to step up to be that priest?  Be courageous, you are made for greatness!

Please pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood for the Diocese of Columbus. Prayers for vocations are the single most important factor in men responding to God’s call.

Pray also for your priests. We are sinners in need of grace just like you and the devil attacks priests because he recognizes how necessary they are for the salvation of souls. Just as God has chosen to work through His priests, so He chooses to work through your prayers.

You are God’s plan A and there is no plan B. You have an essential role in God’s plan of salvation for the world! Praise be Jesus Christ!

Related