“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you.” These words from the prophet Jeremiah will echo throughout Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville in early June, as eight men stand at the foot of the altar, ready to declare their obedience to Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and to be transformed into priests of Jesus Christ.
Each of these men has been chosen from all eternity to be there that day. God in his infinite wisdom has been preparing them for this moment, forming each of them from the very beginning of their lives to become a unique incarnation of his Son, an Alter Christus.
I was particularly struck and humbled when I heard these words one year ago, as our own son stood at the altar of the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington on the day of his priestly ordination. To this son of ours, chosen from all eternity . . . somewhere along his path, God whispered his proposal, “I have chosen you, will you choose me?” And what is more awe-inspiring, is that he accepted. The ordination of a priest is truly a mystery, a gift and a blessing for all of us.
I am often asked, “Did you know? Did you have an idea your son would become a priest?” My answer is always the same: A vocation is a profound mystery hidden in the providence of God. Surely every mother wonders what her child will become, and prays he or she will have the courage and grace to accept God’s unique plan. And yet, even as I see this plan unfolding, it will likely take my entire lifetime to ponder, to begin to grasp the depth of this great mystery, just as Mary pondered all throughout her life the unfolding of her Son’s mission.
On that day, as each man held out his hands to the bishop, upward and open as they were anointed with the sacred chrism, I was reminded of Mary at the moment of the annunciation, at the Incarnation of the Word within her womb. Like Mary when responding with her Fiat, “Let it be done unto me according to thy word,” these men are completely open to God’s will. And as a result of this fiat, this act of total abandonment and surrender to God, Jesus again becomes “incarnate,” this time within the person of the priest.
And also like Mary, after receiving this gift, they in turn give themselves to us, their bride the church, just as Mary turned her sights to the home of Elizabeth and Zachariah to bring Jesus to them. It is a reminder that every vocation is a gift that is received and then given back; it is intended to be shared with others. We, the church, are the Elizabeth of the Visitation, we rejoice at the good news of God with us, in the person of the newly ordained priest.
As these new priests move forward in their service to the church, each will reflect in his own unique way that supreme sacrificial gift of Jesus on the cross, as they too surrender their lives to the Father. Just as Mary stood at the foot of the cross as her Son, the eternal high priest, sacrificed himself for us, we too stand in witness today as these priests pledge to empty themselves out to the church.
St. John Paul II reminds us that it is only in giving ourselves to others that we become truly human and thus attain the perfection that God has intended for us. This gift of self is not easy, and these priests will always be in need of our prayers. But the reward of such a gift, as Jesus has promised to all those who follow him to the cross, is abundant peace and joy.
This peace and joy were palpable on that sunny day last June as the eight newly ordained men turned to walk back down the aisle to greet their families and friends. They were beaming. They truly radiated the happiness that has been promised to them by accepting their vocation, by becoming what God had intended from all eternity.
St. Irenaeus said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” These men who respond with open arms to the gentle voice of their priestly vocation are truly alive, and they provide us a living example of what we are all called to be from all eternity, transformed into Jesus Christ to live in union with him forever. Let us never forget to pray daily for our seminarians, deacons and priests.
Briggs is the mother of Fr. Philip Briggs, parochial vicar of St. Philip Church in Falls Church.
The Good Shepherd