HE MOTHER OF PRIEST
Dear father
Hail Mary full of Grace, Blessed art thou among women, blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus!
Blessed is fruit of your mother’s womb: YOU , father!
The Church honors Our Lady, who is the Mother of Our Lord Jesus.
May I humbly recommend that the Church will honor your mother who gives birth to you, a Priest, the minister of our Lord who is risen.
Christ is the source of all priesthood: The priest of old law was a figure of Christ, and the priest of new law acts in the person of Christ. (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
Honoring the parent of priest is not only a mission but also a duty. Without priest there is no Church.
Saint Mary is the Mother of God, Mother of the High Priest. Your mother is the Mother of Priest!
Priest is a figure of Christ who acts in the person of Christ so the Mother of Priest in some way shares the ministry of Saint Mary!
The Mother of Priest has an unique role in the Church and she should be recognized solemnly! How the Saints pay respects to Our Lady in Heaven, the faithful should do the same to the Mother of Priest here on earth!
From eternity our Lord has chosen the Priests for his sacrificial Ministry and at the same time chose their parents.
This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.( Act 10 ( 40-41)
The Family of Priests and their parents in someway has the same characters of the tribe of Levi which has been set apart for liturgical service. So, the parents of priest should be recognized separately.
Even I am but a sinner, may I propose that:
the Church establishes the Title Mother of Priest and recognizes publicly all the parents of clerics in Holy Orders: Bishops, Priests and Deacons for all that they have sacrificed for the Church and let them take their special role in their Congregations.
This recognition is once for eternity!
When we recognize a Catholic Family, we remind everybody of their role in the Church.
1. The Family of St. Mary & St. Joseph includes The parents of Clerics ( Bishops + Priests + Deacons) :
a. St Mary, the Mother of the High Priest, Our Lord Jesus is full of grace. The mother of a priest, the figure of Christ, could have the same grace as St Mary. They are spiritually richer than all of other mothers. They could share this grace to the poor when being asked. The faithful must know this so that they could come to mother of priest to ask for grace.
b. St. Mary intercedes for the faithful so the mother of a priest could have the capacity of interceding for the faithful. They must know this duty so that they could intercede for the faithful who come to ask them. The faithful must know this capacity so that they could come to a mother of a priest to ask for interceding.
2. The Family of Levi includes the parents of Religious brothers and Sisters. Member of Levi tribe are set aside to worship:
In the Book of Numbers the Levites were charged with ministering to the Kohanim (priests) and keeping watch over the Tabernacle:2 And with you bring your brother also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.3 They shall keep guard over you and over the whole tent, but shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar lest they, and you, die.4 They shall join you and keep guard over the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent, and no outsider shall come near you.5 And you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar, that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel.6 And behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting. Numbers 18:2-6 (ESV)
The parent of religious must know their role so that they could take part in worshiping activities in the Church. The Church should give opportunities for the Family of Levi to be a part of worshiping ministry.
The Members of the Family of Levi could intercede for the faithful when being asked. The faithful must know the capacity of the Family of Levi so that they could come to ask for interceding.
3. The Family of St Louise & St Zelie Martin includes the catholic couples who have the same characters as that of St. Louise & Zelies Martin:
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Matthew 5-14,15,16
The Catholic Families who have been recommended like the bright lamps. They must be put in the high lamp stand giving light to all the church. Recognizing these families is the opportunity for the whole community receiving their light. By this recognizing we glorify God the Creator of Heaven and earth.
Deacon An Thanh Vu