The Power of a Priest

               The “Power of a Priest” is, indeed, unimaginable and yet it is often taken for granted.  This is the thought that overwhelmed me as I reflected on the words of St. John Vianney, whose feastday we celebrate today, August 4.

            In the booklet  ‘The Anawim Way’ I read the words of St. John Vianney on the holiness and dignity of a priest, which run as follows:

“Behold the power of the priest!  The tongue of the priest makes God

from a morsel of bread!  It is more than creating the ‘world’. The ‘Blessed Virgin Mary’  herself  cannot make her Divine Son descend into the host.  The priest can however simple he may be.”

The Eucharistic Celebration is  considered  the   center and summit of

 the Christian Life here on earth.  It is because when the priest pronounces the words of Consecration “This is My Body… This is the cup of My Blood…a very great miracle happens – THE HOST BECOMES CHRIST HIMSELF, THE GOD-MAN, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, although unseen by the naked eyes of men.  In a very mysterious way CHRIST RE-ENACTS HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS by which the GRACE OF REDEMPTION is offered to all mankind.

In God’s infinite wisdom this tremendous power “TO MAKE GOD PRESENT IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY UNDER THE APPEARANCES OF BREAD AND WINE “ is given  to every duly ordained priest whenever he pronounces the Words of Consecration.

Such power, St. John Vianney says, is greater than creating the world.   We acknowledge the greatness of the world whenever we sing the song: “Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the world Thy hands have made.”   The power of God in creating the world is, indeed, a tremendous power which no one can deny.  It really defies my imagination to see how much greater still is the power that God bestows on a priest. 

 Comparing God’s power in creating the world  and His power of Consecrating Bread and Wine through the words of a priest I see that the difference lies in their visibility.  Much of God’s power in creating the world can be seen by our naked eyes.   The power bestowed on a priest to consecrate bread and wine and make Christ present in a very special way is something that can be seen only by the eyes of Faith.  This may be the reason that it is just taken for granted.

The comparison made by St. John Vianney has made me ponder on the great Power of a Priest and has deepened my conviction in giving support, spiritually and materially, to the Priestly Vocation.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

August 4, 2012

The Power of Faith

                  In the Gospel of Matthew (17:20) Jesus said: “I say to you: if only you   had faith the size of a mustard seed, you would tell that mountain to move from here to there, and the mountain will obey.  Nothing will be impossible to you.”

            These words of our Lord Jesus Christ made me ask the question: “What kind of faith is that which may be as small as the size of a mustard seed and yet could work wonders?” 

            Faith is a conviction, not a certainty.  It is a product of the mind.  It should, however, not remain in the mind, but be put into action, for as it is said in the Epistle of St. James: “Faith without works in dead.” (James 2:26)

            To answer my question  I find in the Legionary Prayer a very good description of such Faith, which is as follows:

1.    “A lively faith – animated by charity, which enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of you, and ever to see you and serve you in our neighbor;”

2.    “A faith, firm and immovable as a rock – through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life;”

3.    “A courageous faith – which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls;”

4.    “A faith which will be our Legion’s Pillar of Fire – to lead us forth united, to kindle everywhere the fires of divine love, to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death, to inflame those who are lukewarm, to bring back life to those who are dead in sin, and which will guide our own feet in the way of peace.”

These descriptions of Faith as LIVELY, FIRM, COURAGEOUS, and like a PILLAR OF FIRE, are, I believe, the characteristics of a true virtue of Faith that can work wonders. 

While all POWER comes from GOD, it is FAITH that unleashes this Power in accordance with God’s infinite Wisdom and Loving Kindness for His own honor and glory.   Hence , the POWER OF FAITH is ultimately the POWER OF GOD Himself.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

July 29, 2012