ARTICLES

Year of the Priest — June 19, 2009–June 19, 2010
What the priesthood has meant to me

By Msgr. Chester P. Michael
Special to The Catholic Virginian

In observance of the Year of the Priest, a celebration proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI which began June 19, The Catholic Virginian will periodically feature a reflection on the priesthood by different priests of the Diocese of Richmond.

Msgr. Chester P. Michael, who at 92 is the oldest priest of the diocese, will begin the series. Ordained April 6, 1942, Msgr. Michael currently lives independently in Afton and continues to lead the Spiritual Direction Institute.

Being a priest has made it possible for me to be an essential part of all the most important spiritual experiences in the life of each of the members of the parish community.

As a priest I am more than a spectator or bystander in these all-important spiritual events in the life of every practicing Catholic.

It is the priest who pours the water and speaks the words in the Sacrament of Baptism.

It is the priest who consecrates the bread and wine for the Eucharist.

It is the priest who lays hands on the head of the person to be confirmed.

It is the priest who says the words of absolution in the Sacrament of Penance.

It is the priest who officiates in the Sacrament of Matrimony.

It is the priest who anoints the sick and the dying.

It is the priest who celebrates the funeral Mass and blesses the casket and grave of the deceased person.

The vast majority of Catholics who attend Sunday Mass depend upon the priest in the homily to give them some adult religious education. It is the priest who celebrates all the important events of the Liturgical Year — Advent, Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, Easter, Pentecost, Feast Days of the Blessed Mother and the saints.

The three missions of Christ, Priest, Prophet and Leader, are also the missions of every member of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. However, it is the priest who best expresses and exemplifies the fulfillment of these three missions.

This is especially true in the area of adult religious education and spiritual direction.

Because I saw the all-importance of this mission, I have spent most of the priestly energy of my 67 years as a priest in the area of adult religious education and spiritual direction.

Not content with what I could personally do in these two areas, much of my energy has been spent teaching and guiding lay persons, both women and men, in the art of spiritual direction and adult religious education.

There have been times in my 67 years as a priest that I have been tempted to leave the priesthood. However, after further reflection, I have become convinced that there was nowhere else among possible vocations where I could accomplish as much good as I can do as a priest.

I have to thank all the previous generations of holy, mature priests who have established the reputation that enables me and my fellow priests today to do as much good as we are capable of doing.

Persons who have had after-death experiences speak of meeting a divine person who asks them, “What good have you done with your life?”

Good priests will have no problem answering that question.

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