tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647537.post116344076596385080..comments2007-05-28T19:38:17.122-05:00Jennifer @ Conversion Diaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11894992378619176830conversiondiary@gmail.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647537.post-66371567260661173122007-05-28T19:38:17.122-05:002007-05-28T19:38:17.122-05:00Jen,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the post, I certainly appreciate hearing things like this, as we priests all too often just hear the other side of things.<BR/><BR/>What would I do if you stopped at my table? I hope I would have answered your questions with grace and understanding, please pray for me that I can do that if the opportunity presents itself.Father Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04731842661336037433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647537.post-1163493875255804132006-11-14T02:44:35.256-06:002006-11-14T02:44:35.256-06:00I always love when I see priests or nuns out in public in their clerical garb. It really gives me a sense of security and peace.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, in this part of the country, the anti-priest sentiment in so rampant due to the priestly abuse scandals that many priests do not feel comfortable wearing the Roman collar in public. It's so sad, and my husband I both feel tremendous sorrow over the whole mess. I can't imagine having devoted my life to my vocation and sacrificed so much only to have my chosen vocation the object of so much disgust and disdain by society at large. Priests really do need all our prayers during this time of such pain and confusion in the church!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647537.post-1163467845087245222006-11-13T19:30:45.086-06:002006-11-13T19:30:45.086-06:00It just goes to show that clericals really do make a difference! I'm quite certain that had you sat down with that priest, he would not only have answered your questions, but would have given you a blessing. And who couldn't use a blessing? Even as an atheist? <BR/><BR/>God's grace overcomes all, and clearly, you were in a state of mind to cooperate with that grace. And look...even though you didn't follow that impulse, God has still used that moment in your life to bring you closer to Him. <BR/><BR/>Awesome!Adoro Te Devotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10071720010689673013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647537.post-1163458495355858292006-11-13T16:54:55.356-06:002006-11-13T16:54:55.356-06:00<I> Unlike most of the rest of us, if the Catholic Church has it wrong and God as they describe him does not exist, then they've sacrificed pretty much everything for nothing. </I><BR/><BR/>I'm not sure I agree with this part of an otherwise excellent post...if God doesn't exist, we <EM> all </EM> have nothing to show for anything - nothing at all matters. It's not just priests who are looking foolish!<BR/><BR/>I would also say (and surveys show) a priest is at least as happy as any of us. Speaking from a strictly secular point of view, sacrifice is really the only thing that makes life have any meaning. Even if there is no God.<BR/><BR/>Life is hard for all, and priests are indeed rewarded for their service in the present. Like all redemptive suffering, a priest harvests meaning from his sacrifice even in this age. As the Scripture says: <BR/><BR/><I> Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" <BR/><BR/>"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to <B> receive a hundred times as much in this present age </B>(homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life." </I>M_Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647537.post-1163457050185664722006-11-13T16:30:50.186-06:002006-11-13T16:30:50.186-06:00When I was at an NFP conference last week, I saw a couple giving the standard witness talk about how they started out using fertility observation to avoid pregnancy without pills, and then gradually found themselves moving towards holy chastity in their marriage.<BR/><BR/>The husband described how difficult it was to learn to sacrifice for his wife. When he spoke about learning to be chaste during fertile days so that he would not treat his wife as an object, his wife looked at him with such devotion and admiration that, I must admit, I had to squish my eyelids together to supress a tear.<BR/><BR/>And I thought, how much moreso must I, as a seminarian, be willing to sacrifice for my betrothed, the Church, and for my future parishioners!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your essay. (And while writing this comment, I've decided to post the same sentiment to my blog. I hope you don't mind.)Dennishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02738094144324939402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647537.post-1163451797449418012006-11-13T15:03:17.450-06:002006-11-13T15:03:17.450-06:00Jen,<BR/><BR/>I agree... thank God for our priests. One things that burns me up more than anything is when people attack, humiliate, and harass priest when they are trying to serve the people of their parish. It makes me angrier when this comes from within the parish.<BR/><BR/>They all have their faults, some bigger than others. However, these men are set apart from us, the laity, with the indelible mark on their souls. <I>You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.</I>Big Texnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22647537.post-1163451224553883482006-11-13T14:53:44.553-06:002006-11-13T14:53:44.553-06:00More than likely he would have been happy to respond, but I can well understand your recalcitrance. Thank God for priests, indeed! They have more courage than I.Kasiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12252276821520357094noreply@blogger.com