A good priest is a priest who knows, loves and practices what the Catholic Church teaches. He does not challenge the Faith, morals and discipline of the Church. He humbly accepts the official teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church.
A good priest is a reverent priest. He recognizes that in the Mass and before the Holy Eucharist he unworthily stands before the All powerful, Almighty and Ever-living God. Aware of this, a good priest acts accordingly. He acts and speaks with respect and devotion toward the one and only God he loves.
A good priest is a zealous priest. He is always ready to drop everything he is doing to help someone in a difficulty. He is always available to hear a confession. He promotes and encourages confessions. He seeks to hear them. He hungers to hear confessions because he knows that forgiving the sins of repentant sinners is a very important reason he is a priest.
A good priest is consecrated to the Blessed Mother. He loves her as a son loves his mother. He is devoted to her; he prays to her and speaks of her often. His relationship with her is a great source of peace in his spiritual life. He depends on her prayers and is docile to her motherly formation.
A good priest is unconditionally loyal to the Holy Father who was appointed by Jesus Christ Himself to teach the truth and bring the Church and her saving Sacraments to the world.
A good priest is a holy priest. This simply means that he is close to God. He lives a morally good life. And even more than this he practices a life full of virtues. He is just, prudent, moderate but courageous. He is chaste, prayerful, merciful, kind and generous in every way.
Is it too much to ask that we have good priests today? I say no; not at all. The type of good priest I describe ought to be a standard, not an exception.
Our seminary in Rome produces such priests. And when you help support our men being prepared for the priesthood you are helping to produce such priests. Every little bit helps. The seminary really runs on $10 and $20 donations on the grass roots level.
Fr. Sullivan, M.J., is a priest with the Miles Jesu order. Miles Jesu is an Institute of Consecrated Life dedicated to promoting reverence to the Blessed Sacrament, devotion to Our Lady and faithfulness to the official teachings of the Church. For information on Miles Jesu and its Seminary Program, please call 1-800-654-7945 or visit their website.
