The summer months bring opportunities for vacations and trips. Time to get away from the usual day-to-day to focus on family and seek out new adventures.
No matter how near or far away our summer adventures take us, whenever we return home, there is always a consistent presence in our lives. Our priests and deacons commit themselves to being consistently present in our lives.
In August, we celebrate two saints that serve as reminders of the incredible gift our priests and deacons are in our lives.
St. John Vianney
On August 4, we celebrate St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests.
Young John Vianney grew up during the French Revolution. The upheaval of the times interrupted his studies and his struggles with Latin made his path to priesthood questionable, but he persevered and worked hard to learn.
He was ordained in 1815 and after only three years of priesthood, he was appointed as the parish priest in Ars. He understood that the French Revolution led many people to be ignorant or indifferent to religion. He sought to reawaken faith in the people of Ars by calling them to live a sacramental life.
Most days, he spent more than 10 hours hearing Confessions and giving absolution.
With the addition of other priestly responsibilities, he frequently spent 16 or more hours a day in service to the people of Ars.
Knowledge of the Curé of Ars spread throughout France and thousands of pilgrims journeyed to Ars each year.
Many aspects of the priesthood of St. John Vianney sound familiar to our day. Many people of our time are ignorant and indifferent to religion due to relativism, individualism, and a variety of other cultural currents.
Priests today serve tirelessly and are stretched thin often across multiple parishes. They seek to rekindle faith in people. They allow us to encounter Jesus through their ministry of the sacraments.
St. John Paul II said, “The world looks to the priest, because it looks to Jesus! No one can see Christ; but everyone sees the priest, and through him they wish to catch a glimpse of the Lord! Immense is the grandeur of the Lord! Immense is the grandeur and dignity of the priest!”
St. Lawrence
On August 10, the Church celebrates St. Lawrence. Living during the third century, Lawrence served as a deacon for the Church of Rome. During this era, the Church faced persecution under the emperor Valerian. All priests and deacons were being arrested, including Pope Sixtus.
The Emperor Valerian ordered Lawrence to bring him all of the Church’s riches. In exchange, Valerian would spare Lawrence’s life.
Deacon Lawrence requested three days to fulfill the request. During those days, Lawrence began to give away Church property. He distributed money and treasures of the Church to the city’s poor.
Then he gathered the poor, handicapped, and outcasted people of Rome. Lawrence presented the true riches of the Church to Valerian.
Expecting gold and silver, Valerian was enraged and ordered for Lawrence to be burned alive. Even in his execution, Lawrence offered himself joyfully to Jesus.
Deacons are called to be the servant of all. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states clearly the role of the deacon.
“It is the task of deacons to assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the divine mysteries, above all the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity” (CCC 1570).
The life of a deacon is closer to the world than priests and bishops. This gives them a real sense of the needs of the people they serve. In this way, deacons are sent by the Church to be the presence of Christ to those in need. Deacons truly become the servant of all through their sacramental ministry and charitable works.
Gratitude for our priests and deacons
Where would we be without our priests and deacons? St. John Vianney knew his role was irreplaceable. “Everything has come to us through the priest; yes, all happiness, all graces, all heavenly gifts. If we had not the Sacrament of Orders, we should not have Our Lord. Who placed him there, in that tabernacle? It was the priest. Who was it that received your soul, on its entrance into life? The priest. Who nourishes it, to give it strength to make its pilgrimage? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, by washing that soul, for the last time, in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest — always the priest. And if that soul comes to the point of death, who will raise it up, who will restore it to calmness and peace? Again the priest.” (St. John Vianney)
This August, as we celebrate St. John Vianney and St. Lawrence, make it a priority to thank your parish priests and deacons.
A note of gratitude, an invitation to dinner, or simple words of gratitude after Mass.
Without the priest, we would not have the gifts of the Eucharist and Confession.
Without the deacon, the ministries of the Church would be impoverished.
Our priests and deacons provide spiritual food to nourish and strengthen us to be Christian witnesses in the world. Let us make our gratitude known to all our priests and deacons.
Sarah Pandl is a member of St. Christopher Parish in Verona. She works for the Evangelical Catholic and loves living in tune with the liturgical calendar of the Church.