All of us are called to bring forth life and life in abundance. Jesus said: “I have come to give life and life in abundance.” Likewise, we are all called to be fathers or mothers in the biological realm or in the spiritual realm.
DESOLATION AND SADNESS OF DEATH.
A barren field, a desert wasteland, a stagnant marsh, a weed-filled garden, smoldering ashes, a flowerless meadow, a leafless and barren tree, a fruitless orchard– what do all of these share in common? Correct lifelessness or better-yet death! The famous English Poet T.S. Eliot depicted the modern world as a “Wasteland” in his famous poem.
Fertility, vitality, the bloom and fragrance of spring flowers, the rush of powerful waves or currents, autumn foliage season in full bloom, the mother bird feeding her chirping young ones– all of these present a marked contrast between the former scene depicting death!
SPIRITUAL PATERNITY WITHIN THE RANKS OF THE CHURCH
Priests, nuns, male and female Religious have willfully chosen to renounce biological or physical paternity/maternity for the purpose of exercising what we might call SPIRITUAL PATERNITY. All are called to be mothers or fathers in the physical or spiritual realm. For that reason priests, as well as nuns are called “Father”, “Mother” or “Sister”. How is it then that priests indeed exercise this spiritual paternity, the bringing forth children in the spiritual realm? Following, we will offer some very clear and concrete examples;
1. BAPTISMS. Every time that “Father”, the priest baptizes and uses the baptismal formula: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” and simultaneously pours water upon the head, then he indeed has become a spiritual father to that new baptized. The soul of the newly baptized has new life, life in abundance!
2. CONFESSIONS. Another Sacrament that manifests this spiritual paternity is that of the Sacrament of Confession, also called Penance, Reconciliation, Sacrament of God’s mercy. When the sinner bares his soul to the priest who represents Christ in the Confessional and humbly begs pardon for his sins, then the priest– the spiritual Father– concludes the Sacrament by imparting absolution, with these final words: “And I absolve you of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Then the dismissal: “Your sins are forgiven; go in peace.” In that moment, once again, spiritual paternity is being exercised. The sinner who had died in sin, due to mortal sin, is bought back to new life through the Sacrament of God’s mercy, this being carried out by the priest, the spiritual Father, and Physician of the soul.
3. HOLY MASS, CONSECRATION, AND HOLY COMMUNION. One of the most powerful and efficacious means by which spiritual paternity becomes a reality is through the most sublime action that can ever be carried out– the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In the moment of Consecration, when the priest– spiritual father– repeats the words that Jesus pronounced at the Last Supper: “Take and eat, this is my Body; take and drink, this is my Blood; do this in memory of me” then once again Jesus is being born again. Moreover, in the moment of Holy Communion, when the priest-father is distributing Holy Communion, “The Body of Christ”, “Amen”, then upon receiving Holy Communion into one’s soul, once again Jesus is being born in that soul. Life is born in that soul. Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
4. PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD: LIFE TO THE SOUL! According to the Church Documents the principal duty of the ordained priest is the Ministry of the Word, most specifically, the Preaching of the Gospel. Now how is this related to bringing forth new life? The spiritual father the priest spends time with the Lord by meditating upon the Word of God, the Gospel for the day in Holy Mass. The Word that the priest reads or meditates passes from the page to his eyes and from his eyes to his mind and from his mind to his understanding and then from his understanding the Word sinks into the very depths of his heart. (in imitation of our Lady who pondered the Word of God in her Immaculate Heart). Then, within the context of Holy Mass, after the priest– spiritual father– reads the Gospel, then he preaches and explains it. Now this is how spiritual birth is brought forth in those who are attentively listening to the words of the priest, the spiritual father. The Word of God that is in the depths of the heart of the priest, as a result of his personal prayer and meditation, comes forth from his heart to his mouth in words, concepts, ideas, spiritual ideas. These words then vibrate in the ears of the listeners; then they ascend to the minds of those who are attentive; then finally, these words descend into the depths of the hearts of those who are well-disposed. What a miracle of grace, and sublime spiritual paternity! The Word of God that took deep root in the priest– the spiritual-father– has passed into the minds and hearts of the many. These leave the Church being spiritually enriched and being spiritually renewed, being spiritually enlightened, possibly even spiritually reborn. All of this is related to the spiritual paternity that every priest is called to live out to the fullest extent possible in the exercise of his sacerdotal ministry. Indeed, Jesus came that we might have life and have life in abundance.
5. PRIEST– SPIRITUAL FATHER, ACTING IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST. Jesus, in His providential plan, willed to choose collaborators, friends and companions in the work of redemption. Indeed a very fruitful spiritual father was the great Apostle Saint Paul. Through his preaching, suffering, writing, and finally by his shedding his blood through decapitation, the Apostle to the gentiles brought forth a most abundant spiritual harvest he stated: “We fill up what is lacking in the passion of Christ.” The meaning? Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection– the Paschal mystery- resulted in the salvation of many, many souls! However, Jesus willed that priest be the spiritual-father to work side by side with Him until the end of time. Therefore, pray for vocations to the priesthood; pray for priests already active in their ministry so that they will understand with greater clarity and depth their call to bring forth new life and life in abundance!
Father Ed Broom, OMV, is Associate Pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary and was ordained by Saint John Paul II on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed teaches Catholic Ignatian Marian Spirituality through articles, podcasts, a radio show, retreats and spiritual direction.
