Homily for the Ordination Mass at the Cathedral

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 6/15/00)

This is the homily for the Presbyteral Ordination on June 10, 2000, at St. Thomas More Cathedral in Arlington.

My sons Kevin, Paul, Stephen and John,

Every ordination to the order of priests is such a significant, life giving and hope-filled reality in the life of this diocesan church. This is no less true today as you are being called to and consecrated for priesthood in the presbyteral order. However, your priestly ordination is unique, for you will soon become the priests ordained in the Holy Year of the Great Jubilee. The readings from the sacred scriptures, proclaimed in our midst moments ago, help us to understand and to capture simultaneously the meaning of priestly ordination and the significance of this ordination in the Jubilee Year 2000.

The very words of today’s first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah describe so clearly the meaning of the Jubilee Year and define so succinctly your priestly life and ministry. "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me." Within moments, you will each be consecrated with "the Spirit of holiness" to be "a co-worker with the order of bishops" and anointed with Sacred Chrism "to sanctify the Christian people and to offer sacrifice to God." Consecrated and anointed, you will be "sent … to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor form the Lord…." Yes, your entire priestly life and ministry will be lived in the Jubilee spirit, making present the Lord’s desire to save everyone as you participate in a ministerial priestly way in Christ’s three-fold office of teaching, sanctifying and shepherding.

"You must apply your energies to the duty of teaching in the name of Christ, the Chief Teacher. Share with [the entire human family] the word of God you have received with joy. Meditate on the law of God, believe what you read, teach what you believe and put into practice what you teach" (Rite of Ordination). This Jubilee Year ushers in "the springtime of the gospel," the time of the New Evangelization. Our Holy Father reminds you — all of us: "As teachers of the faith, priests play a direct role in responding to the great challenge of evangelization facing the Church as we … enter the Third Christian Millennium" (Ad Limina Address to the U.S. Bishops of Region VI, May 21, 1998). Let the doctrine you teach and your example of life lead people to Christ Jesus and to full membership in His Body the Church.

"In the same way you must carry out your mission of sanctifying in the power of Christ. Your ministry will perfect the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful by uniting it to Christ’s sacrifice, the sacrifice which is offered sacramentally through your hands. Know what you are doing and imitate the mystery you celebrate. In the memorial of the Lord’s death and resurrection, make every effort to die to sin and walk in the new life of Christ" (Rite of Ordination). Today’s Gospel reading depicts for us the Lord’s priestly action which you shall relive in every Eucharistic Sacrifice you celebrate: "This is my body to be given for you. Do this in remembrance of me…. This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you." Again, our Holy Father so precisely points to the core of true priestly "success." "The celebration of the Eucharist is the most important moment of the priest’s day, the center of his life…. From this unique sacrifice, the priest’s entire ministry draws its strength (cf. ibid., no. 2) and the people of God receive the grace to live truly Christian lives in the family and society" (Ad Limina Address to the U.S. Bisho’s of Region VI, May 21, 1998).

Moreover, you will act in the person of Christ in celebrating the other Sacraments. "When you baptize, you will bring men and women into the people of God. In the sacrament of penance, you will forgive sins in the name of Christ and the Church. With holy oil you will relieve and console the sick. You will celebrate the liturgy and offer thanks and praise to God throughout the day, praying not only for the people of God but for the whole world…. Do your part in the work of Christ the Priest with genuine joy and love, and attend to the concerns of Christ before your own" (Rite of Ordination).

As the second reading from the First Letter of Peter states so strikingly: "God’s flock is in your midst, give it a shepherd’s care. Watch over it willingly as God would have you do… and… generously. Be examples to the flock, not lording it over those assigned to you…." Jesus echoes this mandate in today’s Gospel by reminding you — all of us priests – to be "as one who serves." "Let the greater among you be as the junior, the leader as the servant." Dear sons, soon to be conformed forever to Christ the Priest, Head and Shepherd of the Church, you must daily lay down your life in the self-emptying service of pastoral love, initiating "the example of the Good Shepherd, who came not to be served but to serve, and to seek out and rescue those who were lost" (Rite of Ordination).

Once more the Holy Father reminds us: "It is the priest’s task to lead the faithful to spiritual maturity in Christ, so that they may respond to the call to holiness and fulfill their vocation to transform the world in the spirit of the Gospel (cf. Christifideles Laici, no. 36)" (Ad Limina Address to U.S. Bishops of Region VI, May 21, 1998).

You are being ordained on the day before Pentecost in this Jubilee Year. "May the Paraclete who guides the Church in the task of evangelization renew his sevenfold gift in your hearts, so that with total fidelity you may love and serve" this diocesan Church of Arlington with unfailing joy and never-ending hope (cf. Ad Limina Address to U.S. Bishops of Region VI, May 21, 1998).

Yes, dear sons Kevin, Paul, Stephen and John, when you come to the end of your lives, may you hear Jesus say to you: "You are the ones who have stood loyally by me" in faithful priestly service. Enter into the joy of your Lord!

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