The Grace of Priesthood

Tu Est Sacerdos In Aeternum

You  Are A  Priest  Forever

June 1, 1957 – June 1, 2007

50th Anniversary in the Holy Priesthood

Soulwinning, My Priestly Joy
 

 

 

 

My dear Friends of God,     F O L L O W     C H R I S T !

 

This, my 50th anniversary as a Priest, comes from My Heart, the heart of A Priest to God’s Wonderful People--- and You are that Person.

 

 

                                                P A R T     O N E

 

God has never forgotten His people.  Age after age has passed since that day when a man and woman, blessed so abundantly in a garden called Eden, foolishly and deceptively were tricked by an evil entity whose name is lucifer / satan ( I refuse to capitalize its name with all the hatred for it in my heart and soul ). Their ignorance, incredible as it seems, led and ended into the catastrophic consequences of sin, However, yes, catastrophic as the first fall of Adam and Eve causing the sorrows and excruciating wounds from Original Sin, their human fall did become their ticket, so to speak, to God’s never ending love through salvation. This redemptive act of love was God’s loving mercy for His fallen weakened people.  Unlike the angels who knew their consequences of pride and vanity and hatred, the human family, not knowing nor realizing he consequences of sin, only inherited the wounds of Original Sin. The evil entity, on the other hand, which had its intellectual and volitional power, and complete grasp of the consequences of “evil pride” against its Creator, could not repent nor be saved. Separation fro their Creator, and Hell was definitely their everlasting domain. The fallen angels chose Hell – a region of everlasting abyss, and total absence of the presence of God. What a terrible choice

by their abuse of free will ! Sin is insanity !

 

But the love of God had mercy. And in God’s merciful love and Divine Providence, salvation was promised. Many centuries later, after many a prophet and leader of the Jewish nation, as read in the Holy Book, the Almighty fulfilled His promise. If you would, try to read at this moment Genesis 3:15. Herein these lines God promised to send a Savior through a chosen woman. Her name is Mary of Nazareth. She would crush the evil one’s prideful head and cast it into everlasting separation from eternal happiness, into the fires of Hell. Her seed, which the Holy Book speaks about, is the Son of God. His name is Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed true Priest, who would offer the ultimate and complete sacrifice of redemptive love.

( Isaiah 7:14 ).

 

His sacrifice would be His birth on earth, His mission for all humans, and His holy crucifixion on Hill Number 1. That hill of battle against evil is called Calvary. I had the grace to say Holy Mass there three times. What a grace to be a priest ordained for the continuation of Christ’s Redemptive love for all peoples! Every tribe and nation was given the chance to come home –back to God. Isn’t this marvelous love by God?

                                                                 

 

BEING A PRIEST:

 

The Man in The Black Robe:

There is an old story about What is a Priest!

 

The story is very descriptive.  It speaks to us only as a Native American Indian has the vision to describe. Read, if you will, this splendid similarity between unlike things, but so representative in words.

 

Old Wolf, a Cheyenne Indian chief of Montana, thus beautifully expressed the prominence of the priest in his figurative and poetic language.

 

“In the land of the Cheyenne, there is a mountain higher than all the mountains around him. All the Cheyenne know that mountain; even our forefathers knew him. When children, we ran around wherever we wanted. We never were afraid to lose our way so long as we could see that mountain which would show us home again.

 

When grown up, we followed the buffalo and the elk; we cared not where we pursued the running deer, as long as the mountain was in sight. We knew he was ever a safe guide, and never failed in his duty.

 

When men, we fought the Sioux, the Crows, the white man. We went after the enemy, though the way ran high and low. Our hearts tumbled not on account of the road, for as long as we could see the mountain we felt sure of finding our home again.

 

When far away, our hearts leaped with joy on seeing him because he told us that our home came nearer.

 

During the winter, the heavy snow covered all the earth with a mantle of white. We could no longer distinguish him from other mountains except by his height, which told us he was the mountain.  Sometimes dark clouds gathered above. They hid his head from our view. Other times arrows of our enemies flew like fiery darts, and pierced his sides. But still he stood tall and high.

 

The thunder shook him from head to foot, but the storm passed away, and the mountain stood there forever strong and tall.

 

 

Who and What is this Mountain?

 

This Tall Mountain, Big and Strong, is the Black Robe. His heart is as firm in faith as a rock. He changes not. He speaks to us the Words of Truth. We are always sure of our path when we look to him for guidance. He has taught us in the summer of his days. And even now, when his head is whitened by the snows of many winters, and his face is wrinkled by the storms of life, we still recognize him as our Spiritual Chief. He is the mountain that leads up to God.”

 

Is this not an inspiring story?

This narration was one of those simple but powerful influences which led me to ask to leave home for the seminary. This was way back then on August 15, 1945. I was then having turned 15 on July 19th, 1945. I was scared about this decision-making, but God had His hand on me for what then to me was totally an unknown reason nor comprehensive understanding. Now after fifty years as ordained (1957-2007) and having previously spent twelve years (1945 -1957) in strict seminary education prior to ordination, I gratefully thank God, the Holy Mother Mary as Our Lady of Divine Providence, and the Holy Spirit for the joy and the privilege of hearing and following His Divine Call “Come, Follow Me.”

( St. Matthew 9:9 – St. Matthew 4:18-22 ).

 

The Great Joy of Priesthood:

It is a haunting melody of a “Love Call” to come and to serve the Church.

I see it now. In similarity, this call as a priest of God is somewhat like that of a doctor whose love duty is to heal bodies, whereas with a priest, he is the doctor of souls. Being a priest, his priority from his divine priestly vocation is his “Love Call” response to heal not only the souls of men, but by Charismatic Holy Spirit graces, is able to offer God’s Holistic Embracing Love in healing. This is accomplished by authentically speaking the True Unadulterated Gospel, by administering the Seven Sacraments of Christ through the Church, and by ministering the Gospel’s Social Works of Mercy, Ethical and Theological Justice and Love. This healing power is nothing more than the finest grace a priest can sacrifice his life for; and that is, Soulwinning!

 

I learned long ago from the words of St. John Vianney the reality that if the priest is a saint, his people will be holy. If the priest is holy, the people will be good. If the priest is good, his people will be fair.  If the priest is fair, his people will be mediocre. If the priest is mediocre, his people will be bad. If the priest is bad, his people will be sinful.

 

This June 1, 2007, I will be completing my 50th year as a priest!

Yes, by the love of God, I am a priest. And I like it with all my heart and soul.

I do not suppose everybody would. A lot of people think one must be crazy or queer to be a priest. Honestly, I don’t know if that’s true. I remember reading as a seminarian that one priest who played big league baseball before he entered became a priest; and another who played piano for Paul Whiteman also became a priest. Some many years ago, Father George Kerr was ordained. He was, for those who remember, the captain of the Boston College team that beat Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl and also an All-American Guard. In 1951, the New York Police Department boasted of ten priests who were ex-cops. Then almost 2000 ex-servicemen went to study for the priesthood. These were men who climbed Pork Chop Hill; men who climbed Hill 532; men who battled in Africa against the Nazi Rommel. Some landed and liberated Sicily. Many others made it and walked into Naples, fought at Monte Casino, and struggled through Normandy into Germany. Many found their Religious vocation. Many of them became marvelous heroes in the Priesthood.

 

Some think a Priest is a fellow who does not appreciate girls and ladies, nor can stand the cries of little infants and babies. Believe me, he is not much of a Priest if he hates anybody. He would not be much of a Christ representative if he did.

 

 

 

 

                                                 P A R T   T W O  

 

 

                    THAT SPECIAL DAY--- JUNE 1, 1957:

 

 

 

                                                           

 

My Day of Ordination:

It was Saturday early morning. It was June 1, 1957. For me it was the day of days.

Though I had gone to bed early Friday night, I just could not sleep. There I was throughout the night laying in the dark. I was anxiously waiting for the hours of that night to pass rapidly as possible. I was in profound grateful anticipation. It was the eve prior to my ordination to the sacred Holy Priesthood. I would, after so many years, twelve in fact, become a Priest of Jesus Christ. I would be empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve God’s People. I would have the daily joy to say Holy Mass, bless the world permitted to me in and by the Holy Sacraments and in the anointed added power to preach the Sacred Word in Evangelization and Healing love.

 

 

Since I could not sleep, I arose. After having cared for my personal morning and rising needs, washing and finally vesting in my clerical cassock, I composed myself as a cleric of God and as the Church would expect.  Calmly and pensively I walked to the little clerics’ chapel. That small but beautiful chapel was the place where for so many years my heart spoke, thought in prayerful clear thinking, prayed to my God, to His Holy Mother, my mother Holy Mary Immaculate.

 

 

It was to be the last time I would kneel in that chapel where for so many and long years the good Lord enriched my spiritual soul and spirit. And there in that little old chapel where so many other clerics had spent so many hours of certainly the same experiences as I, and who now were priests, I now was to follow from the seminary enclosure of prayer and study to the altar of my Boyhood Dreams. This was the day in which I would be ordained a Priest. For the last time I would now spend and would pray my customary Holy Hour.  I was alone with my Lord Christ Jesus about to enter a terrific new chapter in my life. I would now enter a vast world of incredible and unforeseen circumstances and conditions pertaining to mankind. I was now to learn the reality of human living so far distant from the seminary academic training.

 

 

Christ through His Holy Spirit was in a few hours about to ordain me His Priest forever. I was to be a Priest, yes, to Christians, but in my heart I wanted to be Christ-like for all mankind. I wanted the world for my parish. God gave it to me in His time to come. I have always firmly believed that Christ came not just for certain Ethnic groups, not just for Catholics nor Protestants. Our Blessed Lord came to touch all men and women, children, the elderly, the teens – everyone. This is what Christ means to me; and I was to be consecrated as I would be ordained (consecrated to use the old term). To Him alone I would belong – to Him, in Him and through Him.

 

                                   

By virtue of the divine power conferred on Priests by the sacrament of Holy Orders, a man becomes a Priest.  On that special day in my life, June 1, 1957, I would become a Priest forever. The Priesthood in essence becomes a living personification of our Blessed Lord Jesus. This means that we priests no longer act in His own name. But by His grace we become the “Alter Christus / Other Christs.”  When, therefore, a priest validly performs the sacraments, when he baptizes he does not say, “May God baptize you,” but, “I baptize you.” In the other sacraments which he is authorized to perform, he says, “I forgive you.”  He says at Holy Mass, “This is my body, this is my blood.” How so often it is seen that the priest takes a little child from the arms of its mother, and he parts with the child only at the grave.

He blesses and consecrates the little ones, blesses man and woman in the heart of divine and human love. He so often is with them at the bed of death. It is to him that so many humans weep their tears and become through his priestly love and care holy and sacred tears for a new birth, a new page in their autobiographies.

                                                                

 

The incredible love of God, however, trusts men with God’s power. In spite of their human weaknesses, God is there to embellish them for further holy, unreserved ambassadorship. It is said that God needs men regardless of who they are, or from where they come. The priest, man of God, remains a man. Though he has no family, nevertheless, he will belong to every family, the family of God. The priest is one whom little innocent children grow to know and to love. People from all walks of life, creed or nationality, when they see him, salute him as “Father.” In God’s intended, redemptive plan, the reality remains that, all things being revealed and determined by Christ, the priest, validly ordained to minister God’s redemptive grace through Word and Sacrament, will be the most beloved among many, and also the most hated of men by the enemies of God.

 

Finally, the authentic priest of God is one whose name is love. Without love, no man, no woman, and no priest can truly be effective. He or she must have passion, as Archbishop Sheen taught us. This passion for God and for souls must become fire and light. A priest, thus, must love everyone, but only hate evil. Why love? Because his vocation was invented by love and for love.  He has abandoned everything. He has given all. But there is one thing which he does retain and which will never be given away from his vocation, which nobody nor anything can make him relinquish, and that is  L O V E.

 

This passion, this zeal, this fire, this light is a small attempt to describe the Catholic Priesthood in essence. It is also found in many of my precious brothers and sisters in other professed faiths, both Jewish and Protestants. God has not abandoned His people. God has sent us hero men and women who from their blood, their sweat and tears share their lives through pain and suffering, through knowledge and wisdom, in prayers and in blessings.  In so ministering, they enrich the mysteries and the graces of Christ’s Reconciliation, Redemption, Regeneration, and Righteousness.  In so doing, God is with His people in their earthly and apparent never-ending Exodus.

 

As you who have taken the time to read this monthly article on the occasion of my 50th anniversary in the Priesthood, I thank you.  I also turn to you, and I humbly ask that you pray and sacrifice in love – passion, fire, light- your concerns for God’s world be it personal, be it for public needs, be it in the areas of political restoration, education, medical, or whatever. Bring these concerns to the Altar of Prayer. Do this work of a true Evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5) for and as a World Crusade. Bring people into Restoration and Healing. Pray for all men and women, ministers and priests, dedicated clergymen of sound prayer and sacrifice – all who have dedicated themselves to teach and preach the Gospel of God as God Himself has revealed Himself through His Divine Word made Flesh. Retain as your primary patron that Lovely Lady dressed in blue, the Holy Mary, Mother of God.

 

 

 

 

 

Pray for us ministers; pray for us Priests. The world needs them, needs us from life’s early morning until its earthly close.

 

My priestly gift to you is that I do remember you in daily Holy Mass, at the white throne of God’s light and glory, and in the joy of His Priesthood in me.  Bless you +

 

 

                                         

 

 

 

 

 

Your friend and priest, 

 

 

May Almighty God bless you and keep you.

May His Holy Mother Mary Immaculate be close to you and protect you always, in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen   + 

 

 

                                                      Reverend Father Ralph Anthony DiOrio, Jr.