The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-03-06
THE PRIEST.
Little Do We Realize Our Indebted
ness to Him.

He stands at the foot of the altar in
his snowy investments. his altar boys
around him; he ascends the altar steps
alone.
without him there would be no mass
no confessions. no eOmmunions.
OF all that great churchful of people
at last mass he is probably the only one
fasting. The rest had their fragrant
coffee, their Sunday mornings break
fast hours ago. That is a long fast
Try it some Sunday. 1t will give you
a headache, make you feel half sick
but try it, anyway.
He stands at the altar alone.
Other men have come from homes
where wives and children await them;
he put that possibility away from him
years ago.
Other men meet on the streets, stand
and chat, argue politics and so on by
the hour.
Other men choose their place of resi-
dence, their associates; he goes where
he is sent.
How different from the gest of the
world when he is in the confessional.
When we are sick or worried or an
noyed we speak sharply even to our
dear ones and find ready excuse for our
SttN tS 4Dl 81 uOlIs- DupDOSt lie dl-
lowed such things to make him short
and irritable with us when we go to
confession?
We get out of patience, Disguised
with people when they will not do as
we think they should What if he be
came disguised with us when ave go to
him week after week, month after
month, with almost the same story of
weakness, unfaithfulness and sin?
When people will not do as we want
them we leave them alone after awhile
to go their way. What would become
of us if he let us go our way?
We fly to others with our troubles
He has the sorrows of hundreds brought
TO him Think you that his heart is
not touched. that he does not feel for
his people and suffer with them in their
actions?
And when we do feel grateful to him,
how seldom we let him know.
We are not bound, of course, to thank
the priest for what is his duty to do,
but his heart is human after all; and
gratitude and appreciation are, with
out doubt, as consoling to him as to us.
In that most beautiful and most holy
relation which exists between the
priest and his people all are equally
bound before God: he is $50 to watch
as to give an account of our SOULS" we
to profit with the greatest care and
faithfulness by what God sends to us
through him
st. Francis de Sales says that we
should regard our priests with a rev
erence that does not diminish our affec-
ton and an affection that does not d.
minish our reverence"
A priest once promised a certain
woman that favor from God should be
granted her. He promised it lin the
name of Cod" 1t was granted. A dear
Protestant relative to whom that wo-
man told the circumstances said: "As
Gods minister and representative, he
stands in the place of God to you.
When he promises you a thing in the
name of God it has to come true "
Wonderful answer from a Protestant!
Wonderful consolation to US, when lin
the name Of God" the priest pro-
the words of dissolution over us
and bids us Go in peace"
In his care and watchfuIness over lis
we have a type of the loving care of
the Father who gave him to us. In the
sacrifices he makes for US there is a
symbol in the infinite sacrifice of One
whose humble follower he is and from
whom he receives whatever beauty of
character he possesses, as the tiny pool
reflects the glorious sun. In his wis
dom and knowledge for us there are
shown the workings of that spirit of
truth and holiness whom the Father
promised to send in his Sons name
unto His church.
Never in this world shall we realize
what we owe to the priest We are
too full of our own wants and needs
and we take our blessings too much for
granted to think a great deal about il
But if we ever save our souls. it will
be, under God. through his help.
Then, having more knowledge and
seeing more clearly than we do here
we shall comprehend what our priests
nave done for us.
Then we shall regret, if regret can
enter that happy place, that we did not
more often cheer his heart by gratitude
and obedience.
Let US. then. reverence him, obey
him, love him with a holy affection and
hank God for him.
Let us pray day and night that our
lear Lord will comfort and strengthen
him here and reward him for all eter-
1ity among his saints in heaven here
Monitor.