From Maintenance To Mission

 On the seventh day of our pilgrimage we visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Formerly two churches separated by a courtyard, but now together under one very large roof, this church contains both the site of Jesus’ crucifixion as well as the tomb from which he resurrected. For Christians, this most sacred and holy place is the very definition of Love. It is both emotionally and spiritually overwhelming to be there, but the experience becomes a deep font of grace for every pilgrim. At lunch later that day at a Carmelite convent, some members of our group were inspired to share a magnificent poem with Adam Habershaw, our parish Seminarian, and Fr. Young, from a guide book several of them had been reading. It was a very special moment.

“The Beautiful Hands of a Priest” is a poem written from the point of view of the lay faithful. Fr. Charles Samson, author of Come and See, A Catholic Guide to the Holy Land explains that this anonymous poem “evokes tender and awe-filled appreciation for the shepherding that occurs by means of the gentle, sure, and holy hands of the priest.”

 
When we pray to our Heavenly Father out of love for someone, we are following the example of the Saints, and Jesus himself, and we can be certain our prayers will be answered. Let us always remember to pray for our priests!

 

The Beautiful Hands of a Priest

 
We need them in life’s early morning, we need
them again at its close; We feel their warm clasp of friendship, we seek them when tasting life’s woes. At the altar each day we behold them, and the hands
of a king on his throne are not equal to them in their greatness; their dignity stands all alone; And when we are tempted and wander to pathways of shame and sin, It’s the hand of a priest that will absolve us ---not once, but again and again; And when we are taking life’s partner. other hands may prepare us a feast, But the hand that will bless and unite us is the beautiful hand of a priest. God bless them and keep them all holy for the Host which their fingers caress; When can a poor sinner do better than to ask Him to guide
thee and bless? When the hour of death comes
upon us may our courage and strength be increased by seeing raised over us in anointing the beautiful
hands of a priest!