Living Our Vocation Well

“How can I repay the LORD for all the good he has done for me? I will take up the chalice of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.”

These words of the Psalmist still ring in my ears as I celebrate this week the ninth anniversary of my ordination to the diaconate. (In case you didn’t know, all priests are ordained as deacons first, and spend about six months to a year serving as deacons before then being ordained to the priesthood.) It is a privilege and a blessing to share in the Apostolic Ministry that our Lord entrusted to His Church, and I am so grateful to God for calling me to collaborate with Him in this way. 

Diaconal ordination marks a man’s first definitive commitment to sacred ministry and constitutes him as a cleric. He makes a set of seven promises to the Bishop that he must keep for the rest of his life. Priests make a corresponding set of seven promises, renewing and amplifying the ones made at diaconal ordination. 

These promises include: to assist the bishop in his mission; to preach the truth of the Catholic faith; to celebrate the liturgy reverently; to remain celibate for the sake of the kingdom; to pray without ceasing; to imitate Jesus Christ; and to respect and obey one’s bishop and his successors. These promises are serious obligations, assumed freely for love of Christ and His Church. They call us out of our selfishness, to live for Christ and order our life to Him, much as our baptismal promises do for all the faithful, as well as the marriage promises for those who are married. Rather than hindrances to our freedom, they make us truly free to live in accord with God’s will and live as His children. 

Priesthood Sunday was last weekend, and so I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the many lovely notes of appreciation. (By the way, next weekend is Deacon Sunday, so please join me in thanking Deacon Paul and all deacons for their “yes,” and in praying for many vocations to the diaconate.) It has been my experience that God is never outdone in generosity. How can we repay Him? By living our vocation well, and always striving for His greater glory and the salvation of souls.