In the absence of love stories between priests and women, we are sharing our reflections regarding the latest news in the Catholic church.
In a March 2017 interview with German newspaper Die Zeit, Pope Francis used the term viri probati – in this context, religious married men of proven character – in saying he was open to the idea of a married priesthood, as is allowed for deacons, in remote areas where the priest shortage is particularly serious.
We are still not 100% sure of the outcome of married priests as we are still receiving conflicting news! Read this article.
In any case it seems that all newspapers are agreeing that married priesthood is again in the news. Mulling all kind of news to look for positive news, we see some troubling ones. In the quoted statement made above, we have one single question: So are married priests just fillers? That is: are they being allowed as if they are necessary evil? Are they being allowed simply to fill in the blanks? Are we sort of second class priests who are allowed to work as priests simply because there is lack of?
Many people point to married priests because they think that will stop sexual abuse of children. People focus on sex because for news agencies it sells a lot of money! We do notice many priests who are living a solitary life. They are practically moving bodies but dead in their minds. Others who travel most of the time. Some who embrace luxuries. Others who are simply walking study books which amply shows the negative effects of forced celibacy. The list goes on and on.
Our main point of view has remained the same. Most of the apostles were married. Are we going to follow the bible or are we going against it? They do quote the bible profusely in other moral matters, yet about this one they are so silent! Why? If the apostles did it, why not the priests of today? Or are we like a supermarket: we pick up what we like in the church?!
Having married priests we hope it will bring the focus of the church on new challenges. One might be the complete overhaul of the relationship teaching (and not sex!). Strong and stable relationship calls for consequences which will help the priest to mature as he faces different challenges in life. One glaring example would be children. Taking care of your own children will bring a new insight in the life of the priest. Married priesthood will help the priest to reconnect with normal life with all its challenges. Consequently, the whole church will change. This is the revolution which we are looking forward to experience. In the end there will be winners all the way. All would feel much nearer to God. Everybody will experience the Emmanuel – God is with us! It would be interesting to visit a priest who has kids crying, eating and dirtying all the house whilst he is trying to communicate with God! It would be a good example of how to keep God in the centre of all activity!
It’s up to our readers to continue our reflection.
In a way the RCC is a government unto itself, and like most governments it likes to talk about change, have consultations , call in “experts” to propose change– looking like they are doing something when in reality, they stall for time, hoping whatever “hot potato” topic they are trying to avoid will either go away or land on their successor’s steps.
A prime example of this is the Pope proposing married priests for those who serve in remote areas. First off, even if a priest could find a wife willing to live in these remote areas– his service in this area will not last forever, eventually, this priest will return to a populated area– so what then? Does he ditch his wife?
And what does that say about the Vatican’s view of chastity? The RCC preaches all unmarried Catholics are to abstain from all sexual activity as a matter of morality– yet the premise of allowing priests in remote areas to marry, is because the RCC thinks chastity is impossible under certain circumstances– and since they believe lonely priests in remote areas will inevitably have sex, then they should get to be married least they cause a scandal– but what about the rest of them. Can not a priest in the crowd of a urban city be not as lonely if not more at times?
Allowing only certain priests in certain areas to marry is the RCC version of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic– it is absurd— it looks like they are doing something when they are not. However, knowing how slowly the RCC moves, at this point any crack in the myths around of the glorious virtues of forced clerical celibacy by the Vatican is welcome.
We only need to look at the married pastors of the Protestant Church for a template on how a married priesthood would work and look like. The biggest obstacle is not the practical end of things, but the attitudes of Catholics themselves. There are still those in my parish who kneel in front of the priest and take communion by their tongue. There are still some who refuse to take communion from a woman lay person, and instead line up to get the host from the priest. Vatican 2 was how long ago? How many Catholics still do not accept the changes made then- more than you think and not all older folks either.
The hardest thing to change is belief– so even if a universal married priesthood comes in my lifetime, it will take years before it is truly embraced and accepted.
BINGO!!!! Promise can,,,I love the way you write..you get to the point..and you are absolutely right!! Read my comment below,,please. I think the way you do..”this married priests” thing in the amazon will not work out at all!! It would not be fair to all ”celibate” priests all around the globe. It would backfire on them!!! Believe me,,,”Optional Celibacy” will soon return into the church!! Amen!!!! Next years synod..will not be titled..”synod of married priests”…but,,”synod of ”optional celibacy.” Blessings to you.
Viri Probati, as I’ve understood it (hope I’m wrong though), is not about granting permission to get married to already ordained priests who agree to go and serve in remote priestless areas. Rather it seems to be about already married laymen who have proven themselves devout Catholic husbands and fathers and, as such, may be ordained priests in areas lacking “true” priests (read: celibate priests).
So I don’t see this ‘viri probati’ development as a milestone in the road to optional celibacy for all priests. But, of course, it’s better than no step at all in that direction, no matter how small and… indirect.
Anne the first!!! Annie,,i understand what you are thinking,,but,,yes,,this laymen already married thing is not going to work out!!! It’s just a ”beat around the bush” to letting go of forced celibacy for all priests. Go on internet ,,i have been finding so many articles,,stating,,that pope francis is soon going to let open the door to all priests that have left for love and marriage,,to welcome them back into the church. It’s about time!! They have no priests left..they have no choice. The only way to fix this broken church is to let go of ”man made” mandatory celibacy…yes,,for ”all priests.” The priests that have left all have the experience of being priests. Laymen..are elderly,,they would not want a big responsibilty of taking over parishes…besides,,they have no experience whatsoever of being a priests. Plus..it would not be fair,,to have married men priests for the celibate priests. The next synod,,is going to be a ”BLAST”. Some articles are saying..that it will not be titled…”married priests” anymore..but,,some title of ”restoring the catholic church.” I don’t care what they title it…as long as they get rid of ”mandatory celibacy.” HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO EVERYONE ON THE BLOG…MAY ALL OUR DEARLY DEPARTED SOULS R.I.P. AMEN!!!!
Another interesting article forwarded by Maria: Irish priest
I’ve come to believe that yes it will be used to fill in the blanks. I don’t for a minute believe the church is moving towards optional celibacy. If ever it does happen I think it would be for those coming in new while those already ordained will be held to the rule. If there is anything that proves the church is moving towards optional celibacy for all please correct me. I just am not hopeful.
Princess,
I am in agreement with you. If there is some sort of optional celibacy for priests I don’t think it’ll affect those now serving. I think it will be for those who will be new to the priesthood. Perhaps, even married already.
No one from nowhere,,,You don’t understand this thing at all….please read my comment above to ann the first…it will explain better!!!! It would not be fair to only allow new priests to choose optional celibacy,,and not the ones who are already priests..they would rebel against it. Mandatory Celibacy is at fault for all the sins and evil scandals in the church for the past 1000 years…it is about time..the church goes back to its’ ”original roots” of ”optional celibacy” for all priests. Blessings to you.
Maria,
I do understand. It’s not that I don’t agree with priests being able to marry, I just don’t believe the Vatican will allow it for those already ordained. I do think marriage for priests would be a very good thing.
However, I doubt very much the priests would rebel if optional celibacy was enacted only for those newly entering priesthood. Too many priests have stood by without protest, I doubt they’d speak up for themselves or for what they think should be done. They haven’t done it yet. I doubt they’d speak up in the future.
Maria, I do understand and do think priests being able to marry would be a very good thing for the church and her people.
Princess,,i have just read Fr.Daniel’s great article!! I do believe optional celibacy is coming forward. Married men out of the blue without having any clue of being a priest…will not go forward. Did you read the article on the story?? Vatican stalls on married priests…Not many married priests will want to give up their jobs to take over a church..believe me. I search for articles everyday..and place them on my facebook page..for moral support and pubblicity,,i found few of them saying..vatican is thinking of..rentering back to the priesthood all the past priests that have left for love and marriage. It’s about time!!! why??? Because they have the ”know how”..they lived the life a priests..plus..they are still priests. As Daniel always says…”once a priest,,always a priest.” Daniel will be welcomed back due to he was a priest. The only way to lure in young men in becoming priests. If they don’t get rid of man made mandatory celibacy..the ”evil” of the church that has destroyed it…the church will never mend,,it will just die in the end. Priests are fading away toooooo fast!!!! In the end,,they will have to shut down lots of more churches. I had a feeling this married men priests wouldn’t have worked out. Don’t worry Princess,,keep up the faith!!!! It would not be fair,,to only have the new priests not take a vow of mandatory” stupidity” celibacy,,and married priests..while having the celibate priests remain celibate. It would backfire!!!! Like I always say..and Daniel said it,too…”most priests are just walking robots,,,while they are dead inside!!!! Blessings to all!!!!!
I pray that you’re right Maria!!!
Thanks..Princess,,,let’s all keep the faith!! We will not be disappointed this time around. The synod of next year..God willing..will not be titled..”married priests” anymore,,it will be titled..something like..”restoring the church”…they need restoring alright,,and getting rid of ”forced celibacy” is headed for the right direction!!! Please read my comment above to ann the first,,,it will explain better. Blessings to you,,princess.
YES,,PRINCESS,,LET US KEEP PRAYING!! GOOD CHANGES ARE COMING SOON!!!!!
You make an excellent point that even if the Pope ordains men already married so they can serve remote areas, the likelihood of getting many to come forward is slim. As those who do will still need some formation to equip them for service– so we are still talking years before these married men could be functioning priests. In the meanwhile the problem worsens.
The key to the priesthood surviving is not looking to older married men, but to young men– and most of today’s young men are too smart to sign up for the a life of solitude. I find many of the young Catholic men today are deeply committed to the Church and to their faith, and would serve as a priest, if allowed to marry. This is where the change has to come.
I think many Catholic youth made this clear during the recent Youth Synod — even advocating for the ordination of women– falling on deaf ears.
Like others I do not fore see any change for men who already priests– so I am focusing my prayers on the Vatican allowing priests who left to get married to be allow back to active service within the RCC. This is the best first step, because, these men do not need to be retrained– they are available for service immediately, and in some areas, the need for a priest is now, not seven years from now– so this will fill the need and be the learning curve on how a married priesthood who operate within the RCC
Hopefully many of these priest would want to come back even after the RCC treated them so unfairly in the past. It makes more sense to let good men who left to marry back, then to keep men who are known sex offenders around– but if the Vatican worked off common sense this issue would have been dealt with at Vatican 2.
You are definitely correct,,Promise…Yes,,I’m reading lots of articles stating pope francis wants priests that have left to marry to return back into the church. Yes,,they have got ”the know how”,,,meaning…”experince.” They should have done this many years ago..before they finished destroying the church. Yes,,,i’m sure most of the priests that have left will gladly return,,even though they had it tough when they left…they treated them as if they were nothing..only bad names,,calling them..”fallen priests.” How sad..they were condemmed just for…”falling in love” and being humans!!! I always knew this..old men married priests would have not worked out at all!!! Thank the Lord the almighty!!! Yes,,Promise,,I heard the outcome of the youth synod,,,many young men and women want a new restored church..many young men will not step in being priests and being treated like some sort of walking ”robot”,,with no feelings at all. As I said above,,the synod of 2019,,,will not be titled…”married priests” anymore,,it will be titled…”restoring the church”…something like that!!!! It’s about time…past time!!!! Blessings to you,,my dear friend.
Maria, I wish I could share your optimism. I am a ‘laicised’ married priest. Even though dispensed and married in the church, there is still a huge stigma attached to men like me. I feel it most from former priest friends who treat me as if I am dead, no communication from them whatsoever despite my futile attempts to keep the friendships going. I have learned not to share my past with people. I thought I should be honest with one priest in the parish where I live and tell him I was a priest. He has not spoken to me from that day and I think he also told another older retired priest in the parish who gives me dirty looks when I am attending Mass. He even bypassed me one day at the sign of peace and shook hands with other congregants. I will never again tell anyone about my past. The church does not value honesty. It’s all about putting on a ‘bella figura’. You can be as promiscuous as you wish- just don’t get caught. It is pharisaical and hypocritical but that’s how the clerical church operates. Marriage is the biggest sin for priests. They will tolerate almost anything else-promiscuity,homosexual activity, adultery and until recently paedophilia but marriage is the final straw. I really don’t see how the clergy would tolerate accepting married priests who left, back again, even if the Pope were to grant this dispensation. Once you leave the clerical world, you are blacklisted and treated as if you never existed. Sad but true.
Chris,
You are most welcome on our blog! Here you are not judged! I’m a married catholic priest like you.
On our Catholic tiny island, I’m forced to meet my ex-companions. Fortunately I still talk with some of them. Most of them agree with my decision. Some of them would like to leave too, but now at their age it would be a huge financial loss. So they are very sad…They admire our courage to make a bold step and improve our life.
May God Bless you!
ps please check you email account (in the spam folder too).
I’m afraid not just married priests like you, but even us lay persons would be shunned and treated as dead both by Catholic lay people and clergy if we were to openly confess our being against mandatory celibacy.
I’ve tested the waters in that direction a few times over the years, and I’m not optimistic. Should the Pope decide to lift the mandatory celibacy rule, I expect an hysterical uproar by the diehard celibacy upholders, perhaps even a great schism.
PS. Nevertheless I enjoy Maria’s enthusiasm. 😊
God Bless You Chris!!! Your courage is admirable. Isn’t it astounding how supposed men of God, followers of Christ can be so uncharitable? Their behavior says nothing of you and everything of them. They are the ones who should be removed from priesthood and those like you reinstated. Thank you for sharing!!!!
Furthermore, they accept pedophiles and shun priests like you!!! It is infuriating. Change needs to take place.
Chris,,i just love your message,,you made a great point!!!! Yes,,the catholic church is nothing but a ”big phony” business!!!! They tolerate peodophiles,,homosexual priests…etc.etc. all the evil that was brought into the church by this..horrible..man made,,hypocritical..mandatory celibacy. Yes,,I learned,too…we can not say a word in public. That is why I love this blog,,we can support and help eachother,,all of us who are in the ”same boat.” I don’t consider myself,,a ”roman catholic” for many years now..I consider myself a ”proud christian catholic.” Yes,,with this ugly man made mandatory celibacy,,the church has opened its’ doors to homosexual men..that is why they look down on marriage in the church for priests. Only gay men,,don’t have any desires for women. Like you said..is this what the church wants..gay priests..peodophiles,,and all its’ evil,,instead of trashing mandatory celibacy and make it optional like it used to be 1000 years ago. I think pope francis is desperate..he is seeing the church sink…and he is desperate in bringing back priests that have left to marry,,,the only way to introduce..optional celibacy and married priests back into the church. It’s the only way to survive the church..otherwise it will die!!!!!! Blessings to you for being so honest. Yes,,Daniel is a proud married priests just as you are. Don’t worry,,Chris..Jesus is on our side.
It is my understanding, and correct me if I’m wrong, that Pope Francis can in fact wake up tomorrow morning and decide optional celibacy for all priests. He is only, by not doing so, being diplomatic.
A Warm & Hearty Welcome, Chris!
You are a remarkable man, and you are living as God has created you! What The Church has been operating under the shroud of mandatory celibacy is an abhorrence, and I appreciate your candid description of just what The Church has created: A climate of monumental deceit, and the destruction of the dignity of the person~ our children, women and the honorable clergy who live a life of integrity.
Of particular notice is your ‘just don’t get caught’ caution. Too many priests live a double life~ this blog is testimony, and those of us women who come here for support need to hear the chilling reality of the inordinate secrecy that propels the priesthood.
I am sorry for what you have encountered~ but you have peace, and most likely the hostility of the priests you mention is propelled by envy…craving the life you have.
Thank you, again, for your unbridled sharing~ it’s great having you here! God Bless You, Chris…”You are a priest forever, according to the Order of Melchizedek.”
~Marshmallow
Thank you for your courage to share your story with us Chris. Hopefully your words will resonate with those who think it is easy for a priest to leave the priesthood in order to marry their love.
Yes, how sad it is that when you tried to do the right thing this us how you are treated.
May God bless you Chris. I am proud of you.
Chris ,
That’s disgraceful treatment you’ve been on the receiving end of.
Most undeserved, but not surprising given the hypocrisy of the rcc.
The priest I fell in love with chose to remain after much effort and influence ( stating it mildly).He still hasn’t returned to full ministry and says frequently he feels labeled and judged by his confrères.
He too isn’t convinced repeal of celibacy will be extended to existing clergy.
So stay or leave you’re always going to be judged by these hypocrites that don’t follow the truth in the Word of God.
I really believe many aren’t accepting of optional celibacy because they have no interest in a traditional marriage as God intended.
On the other hand, given everything coming to light, “they” may feel compelled to ‘save face’, and concede.
Either way , you have chosen love as God intended.
Who in truth can be judgmental of that!?!
Many Blessings
Another article sent by Chris: Irish Newspaper
Thanks to all for your kind comments.
This message is to..No one from nowhere,,,i’m commenting your repsond to me. Yes,,indeed i have been finding so many articles on google search,,lots of priests,,bishops and cardinals are already protesting to ending this man made horrible rule of mandatory celibacy. Everyone is sick and tired of standing by and seeing all the evils of the church. Priests are finishing up now!!!! tooooo fast!!!!! They either make celibacy optional or risk of shutting down parishes all around the globe. Plus..they are so many articles I find stating Pope Francis wants to welcome back all priests that have left for love and marriage. They are the ones with experience..and as Daniel says..”Once a Priest,,,always a Priest.” The synod of youth that has just ended,,,young jouveniles reported,,”they would love to become priests,,if only they would remove mandatory celibacy. ” The young females..said they would like to see..”women priests”,too. So,,you see,,,it’s time for the church to mend…otherwise it will die completely. Blessings to you.
Maria, you’re right. It is definitely
time for the church to mend!
This message is to Promise above,,yes,,promise,,the pope can change this stupid man made forced celibacy by a stroke of his ”white papal pen”,,,it’s those homosexual sharks,,bishops and cardinals that do not approve of ”optional celibacy.” But,,with all of us fighting so hard..they are getting out numbered!!! Pope Francis,,is getting more and more desperate,,he is seeing his catholic church sinking fast..he is getting desperate. That is why he is thinking of welcoming back priests that have left for love and marriage. But,,there are lots of priests ,,and normal bishops and cardinals asking for,,”optional celibacy.” Amen!!!! Let’s keep on praying!!! Great changes are coming soon!!!!
Does anyone understand the spiritual reasoning behind why the Church considers ordination an “impediment” to marriage, but marriage not necessarily an “impediment” to ordination? This perception is partly why the Church will consider ordaining married men to the priesthood, but, from everything I understand, will not allow previously ordained priests to marry—even if they do eventually change the rules to allow optional celibacy for those not yet ordained.
As far as I know there is no real spiritual reasoning behind any of this. The RCC has Canon law, the rules by which it operates– and by Canon law, a man who is taken Holy Orders cannot marry– even if he leaves the RCC and the priesthood– if he marries without getting a dispensation from the Vatican his marriage is considered invalid in the RCC’s eyes. By the same means, of a dispensation the Vatican can allow married men to receive Holy Orders. Basically– the Vatican has rules that serves their purposes and when those rules get in the way of it, they can make “exceptions” to the rule
If you go online and do a search on reasons for an unmarried priesthood you will get the standard fare of
1. Christ was not married, priests are “images” of Christ, so they cannot be married
2. In heaven there is no marriage, so by not marrying priests reflect this state of being fully
one with God and God alone
3. St. Paul stated a married man loyalties would be divided, so it easier to serve God if not
married
4. Holy Orders and Marriage are both sacraments and vocations, you can only have one
vocation— it is like you can’t be married to two people, likewise, you can’t have two
vocations. You have to choose and be chosen by one– by Holy Orders a man makes
sacred life time commitment to the RCC– just like a man who marries a woman makes a
sacred life time commitment to her. In the RCC these commitments cannot be broken
except under circumstances the RCC deems acceptable
Which brings me back to my first line– none of that is doctrine– and any of it can be change whenever the Vatican allows
I should clarify– according to RCC teaching one cannot have two vocations at the same time– if a married man’s wife passes away, he can be a priest– and a priest, if he gets the proper release he can marry- so you can have two vocations just not at the same time. Yet the more married men they allow to be priests, the more they disqualify this premise that priests cannot be devoted to two vocations at once– so they can easily create a new vocation to cover a married priesthood if they wanted to.
Thank you, Promise CAN, for outlining this. I remember once hearing a priest on television–maybe in a documentary– explaining how a man contemplating his vocation would need to discern which marriage God was calling him to—marriage to a wife, or marriage to the Church as a priest—i.e., it was not possible to have “two marriages.” That was the first time I had heard it explained like that—but it seemed puzzling in light of the married Anglican priests now being ordained in the Roman Church.
The mere fact that the Pope can grant dispensation to a priest to get married, proves that priestly celibacy is not a bible-based theological matter, but a disciplinary one. If the former were the case, then the Pope granting, as he does, dispensations, tantamounts to him being above God’s Word, i.e. ultimately above God himself.
Priests having to be celibate because Christ was celibate seems the weakest of reasons to me. Christ was (is) God, hence unique; priests are mere human beings. A reason hence as absurd as expecting apples to taste and look like oranges, or as expecting fish to walk on earth, birds to live inside the ocean, men to fly, you name it. 😕
This message is to promise above….Dear Promise,,,as i told you above,,this ”married men” stupidity will not work out!!! Articles are stating it will not pass through..that is why pope francis is considering welcoming back priests that have left for love and marriage. Not too many elderly laymen are going to want to study to become priests…it is a big responsibilty for them. Priests that have left are always priests with experience. You will all see by next year…”good things” are in store. Blessings to you.
JMJ,,,you are talking about last year’s reports. This married men thing will not work out at all. The synod of next year..God willing..was suppose to be titled…”married priests.”…But,,now it will be titled something like….”restoring the catholic church.” Go on internet,,i search for articles everyday,,,and place them on my facebook page for support and pubblicity,,mostly planting seeds . You will see,,next year,,,mandatory man made celibacy..will become ”OPTIONAL” For all clergies. Blessings to you.
Another interesting article sent by Maria: Irish Priest
My spiritual director/confessor is a married priest and I am good friends with him and his wife. He was a former Anglican priest and a military veteran. They are a few years older than me and he is retired but serves in a parish where he lives, one Sunday Mass, a weekday morning Mass, and a long line for the confessional. He is the happiest best priest I know. And his homilies are dynamite! Two weeks ago the congregation at the early morning Sunday Mass gave him two standing ovations during his homily. They have adult children and grandchildren as well. He totally UNDERSTANDS us, unlike the “gay” effeminate priests who went into the seminary right out of college and are psychosexually immature, not to mention socially immature and loaded with personality problems. If we can have men like him serving in the priesthood here in the USA, why is mandatory celibacy still existing??? There’s something wrong with the mixed up Church and its hierarchy.
Exactly, Brokenheart, it doesn’t make any sense to welcome married clergy from non-Catholic churches and at the same time impose celibacy upon one’s own clergy.
Either priesthood and marriage are incompatible, in which case no Anglican or other married clergy should be accepted in the RCC; or, if compatible, imposed celibacy must be lifted.
Why such double standards, inconsistency, and intellectual (theological) dishosnesty on the part of our Church? 😩
I apologize in advance for the length of this comment, but you will see why this comment is particularly long.
I recently went back to my hometown and met with the Bishop. He is not at all what I expected.
I went into this meeting knowing I have nothing to lose, so I laid all my cards on the table and told him about the love between my priest and I.
At first, he pretty much called me a liar and questioned my motives for bringing this up now. I showed him my priest’s Last Will and Testament (of which I am a beneficiary), and some of my priest’s handwritten journal entries, and letters. When he realized that there was no malicious intent for my coming to him with this, he admitted that he knew by the way my priest’s family was with me at the funeral, that what my priest and I had was much more than friendship.
He turned out to be a sincere and kind man, and offered genuine condolences and shared stories about my priest, and how valued and admired he was in the diocese. He told me that he is truly missed and has left a legacy of going above and beyond with his programs for the needy and vulnerable in our parishes. We talked at length about my priest and our relationship and how difficult it was for my priest and I.
The Bishop told me that I am not the only person who has come to him in recent months to discuss priestly celibacy, and that he is sure I will not be the last. (He said “not the only person” so I have to assume priests have come to him too). I was very surprised when he assured me that women like me, will help to shape the future of priesthood. He wished me well with my move to Europe and asked me to keep in touch and let him know how things go for me there. He also told me to contact him if there is anything that he can do to help me.
I came out of that meeting with a renewed respect for this Bishop and an admiration of how he is truly trying to tend to his flock with a good balance of compassion and understanding of the needs of his priests, and adherence to the rules of the church.
Meeting with the Bishop and this comment are some of the last things on my list of things I wanted to accomplish before I leave.
I want to take a moment to thank all of you who supported and comforted me during the most difficult of times. Thank you to Angelfish, Lucy, A, Princess, B, Christina, Brokenheart, Nikki, and ALL who offered kind words, compassion, and prayers when I needed it most.
I learned many lessons from all of you on this blog, especially you Daniel.
To ALL who are in love with a priest and hurting, especially E.C., Brokenheart, Lucy, Wendy, and Devastated, I will pray that the Lord guides you to love, peace and happiness.
To all of the priests out there who are in love, I pray that you allow yourself to fully experience the joy that the love of a woman can bring you, and remember to ALWAYS be gentle with her heart.
Blessings to you all. ❤️ 🙏
And bless you Cat. Your story could have made you very bitter and angry, but instead you have shown strength, and much grace under painful circumstances.
I am always saddened when I read about other Christians treating fellow Christians badly, as in Chris’s case, but when I read you post, I am encouraged, there is more love in this world than hate.
I hope you find much consolation in the bosom of your beloved’s family, who embraced you so warmly.
Grief is sacred. Mourning our loved one is the last act of love we can give to them. Our pain proves they mattered, they were valued, their presence can never be replaced nor erased. I know your priest’s death has left an empty place in your heart that can never be filled.
I want to give you a love poem that I wrote for my priest, but you can view it as either a memory of your love story or our Lord’s love for the two of you. It works either way.
Love
If love could be measured by stars then the whole universe could not contain the love I have for you.
If love could be measured by tears then the depths of the oceans could not hold the drops I would weep for you.
If love could be measured by words then all the libraries in the world could not carry the volumes I would write for you.
If love could be measured by song then all music ever heard would be me singing to you.
If love could be measured by actions then I would want to become like you.
If love could be measured by sacrifice I would die with you.
If love could be measured by time then all eternity would not be long enough to express my love for you.
If love could be measured by hope then I will always be with you.
Promise 2015
Thanks so much Cat for all that you are. Best of luck and be safe.xx
Maria has sent another interesting article…https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/slovakia-catholic-priest-celibacy-rules