Fr James Valladares, resident priest at Adelaide’s St Francis Xavier Cathedral, writes exclusively for The Record on the radical call of the priesthood
As an alter Christus (another Christ), the sacrifice that the priest celebrates and the absolution he gives are grounded on this Otherness that passes through him, by means of the sacrament, and makes him “a humble instrument pointing to Christ, who offers Himself in sacrifice for the salvation of the world.”
This is how the saintly Curé d’Ars, St John Vianney, wisely described how immense a gift a priest is to his people: “A good shepherd, a pastor after God’s heart, is the greatest treasure which the good Lord can grant to a parish, and one of the most precious gifts of divine mercy. Without the priest, the passion and death of our Lord would be of no avail. It is the priest who continues the work of redemption on earth.”
If I may be permitted to be personal, I was once visiting my sister in Virginia Beach, Virginia, while on my annual holiday. While there, I would assist the Parish Priest as and when it was necessary.
One day I got a call from the lay Chaplain of the local general hospital.
He explained that a lady wished to see a Catholic priest urgently, as she was not expected to survive the night. He further explained that the parish priest was away and not due to return until the next day.
He also explained that the parish priest of the neighbouring parish was away for a few days. He turned to me because I was the only priest available in the area. Of course, he was apologetic for turning to me even though he knew I was on my annual holiday. Without hesitation, I assured him that I would be willing to respond if only he would be good enough to come and fetch me as I had no transport.
Minutes later he was at my door, and a few minutes later I was at the bedside of the patient.
Her joy truly knew no bounds. Very candidly, she confessed that she had strayed from the Catholic faith and the Catholic Church years ago in a moment of youthful recklessness and juvenile rebellion. That was some 40 years ago.
However, in that crisis, it was her earnest desire to make her peace with God even as she prepared for the final encounter. And for that she needed the priestly ministry of God’s visible representative, and so she asked to see a priest.
In God’s Divine Providence, the only priest available was one from another continent thousands of miles away, another distant city and another nationality and culture.
None of that mattered to the patient. For her, a priest, any priest regardless of nationality, culture or language, is indeed the love of the heart of Jesus.
He is God’s representative, an extension of Christ Jesus and a channel of the Holy Spirit’s life-giving power and love.
With great fervour and heart-warming sincerity, that good lady did make her peace with God in and through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, reverently received the Sacrament of the Sick, and joyfully received the Holy Eucharist.
The manifest peace and inexpressible joy that descended upon her literally defy expression. The prodigal had returned home into the welcoming arms of a very merciful and forgiving Father and the heavenly banquet had already been organised. “My daughter, whom I thought lost, has been found; and she whom all thought dead has come back to life.” And that is exactly is what did happen within the next few hours.
Said Jesus, “I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine other virtuous people that have no need of repentance.” And God rendered that possible in and through the sacramental ministry of a priest. Indeed, a priest is the love of the heart of Jesus.