The question about the priesthood comes back to me from time to time. People say that the priesthood is a mystery. Although this phrase was used by a great pope, John Paul II, with all respect for his greatness I will venture to say that I do not like this answer. For sometimes it is used as a way of escaping that troubling question. The question touches the identity of a priest, my identity. If I had to face it, I would probably say that for me the priesthood is… a triangle. A triangle of relationships between God, the Church (people) and myself. If one of these elements is missing, then one has the experience that something is lacking.
If a young man reads his priesthood only at the level of a personal relationship with God (I–God), then one may ask how he carries out God's call to service. After all, God instituted the sacraments for his Church, as visible signs of his Love. The priesthood, then, is not merely the private affair of a particular priest.
When it stays at the level of a man's relationship with people, it does not differ much from the work of a social activist scattered over a billion small things. Such a life, though it seems very useful and likeable, nevertheless loses its meaning of being God's Communication.
Similarly, when the priesthood is understood only as the relationship of people with God, without its visible element in the form of an individual — the priest — one loses the awareness of Grace, which acts concretely and sends concrete people, equipping them with charisms.
I myself have gone through various stages in my life. I have already lived through the time of the priest-activist, whose life was scattered among the affairs of the people of the community. Lately God's Call has been strongly coming back to me. Now no longer so much a call to service (I do not lack that) as a call to the union of my heart with the ardent Heart of God, full of Life. There is in it something of a strong call from God, who wants to speak to me, whether during my personal prayer or during my ministry.
In this triangle contact with people is important to me. I am incredibly moved by the prayer of my friends from the communities where I serve. Every year, before the feast of my Patron, I receive a mass of assurances of prayer from the students. That is very precious to me. Sometimes they are messages and letters written over the internet. Sometimes I get them on little scraps of paper. I have a special jar in which I keep these notes. I very much like going back to them.
I always have a great problem then, for I cannot find words able to describe all my emotion and gratitude for that support.
If you are reading these words and you decide to support us priests with prayer, know that I want to thank you warmly here and now.
Fr Paweł SJ
