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Text Box: given purposes, the establishment and maintaining of these ideals in every person, especially himself. Ref: 2 Peter 1:16-19; Mat. 17:1-9 + BEING A PRIEST IS WONDERFUL AND WONDROUS There is nothing which can compare with being a Priest. It is the most fantastic, delightful, humbling, frustrating, desirable, exhausting, demanding, difficult, easy, seemingly impossible yet never impossible, whatever. Though it is termed a vocation it actually is something else, something more than a vocation. It is much more than an occupation. It is more than a state of being. It is the Priesthood. It is sorrowful, a great sorrow, that many Priest, though truly ordained, have not, or no longer, or only rarely, know this. Truly know this. There is an awesomeness in being able to, and actually cleansing a penitent’s soul and restoring it to life. The closeness to God a Priest is allowed to experience if he but makes the effort when he Consecrates the Sacred Eucharist, is different and potentially of extremely greater intensity than that which is possible for one not Consecrating the Eucharist. Often a Priest will but rarely pray Divine Liturgy without others physically present, and therefore he but rarely is able to fully savor that experience. But when the opportunity is presented, he would do well to release all thoughts and cares not immediately associated with praying the Divine Liturgy. For in that situation is the opportunity to contemplate each prayer in a personally meaningful manner, to ask God and ask of God, to thank God, and most exciting of all, to just simply be with God physically

Text Box: present in the Eucharist. While God is always God, God physically present in the Eucharist is in some manner different, and God physically present in the Eucharist a Priest has just Consecrated is in some manner differently different to and for the Priest who has just Consecrated. A man should not become a Priest because he wishes to experience this closeness. Nor should a man become a Priest because he hopes it will assist him to attain eternal salvation, overcome sin, or provide a foundation to fight for any cause especially social justice. He should not become a Priest because it is something to do, because it may seem to be an easy life (it is not), or because his Mother wants him to become a Priest. A man should become a Priest, actually a man should be ordained a Priest because that is what he is designed to be, that is what he is called to be, that is what he is and ordination is the means by which he becomes what he is. Any Priest who does not know or experience this, has never known or experienced this, has not recently known or experienced this, or only rarely knows or experiences this, would be well served by ceasing to read this and immediately praying the Divine Liturgy. A Roman Catholic Priest of the “Latin” Rite would be best served by praying the Gregorian or Tridentine Mass (using a vernacular - Latin Missal or Missalette if necessary). Just shut everyone and everything out and take your time. [Oh, if there is any doubt about your being in a state of Grace, take care of that potential problem through Sacramental Absolution - from a truly and validly ordained Priest.] Those who are not truly and validly ordained Priest may experience some form of self-induced emotion, excitement, vision, or some other form of “vapors”. But a truly, validly ordained Priest will, absolutely will experience the indescribable. And he will desire to experience it again and again, in continually greater and

Text Box: increasing measure, fullness, and intensity. Surprisingly, there really is nothing or not much in the way of emotion in this experience if it can properly be termed experience. It is simply fact. That may sound dry and dull but it is not. It is in the experience of the Eucharist and the Priest’s living memory of the Eucharist that the Priest finds both gentleness and firmness in assisting those who seek his help, his advice, his counsel, and the Sacraments. Only another Bishop can appreciate that which a Bishop experiences in the Divine Liturgy of the Holy Chrism, or his Ordination of a Priest, or his Consecration of a Bishop. Only another Priest or a Bishop can appreciate what a Priest experiences when he Baptizes, Chrismates or Confirms, Marries a man and a woman, anoints with Holy Oil no matter what the circumstances, receives the Confession of a Penitent and Absolves that Penitent, or prays Divine Liturgy and confects the Sacred Body and Blood of Christ - and receives and gives Holy Communion. The life of a Priest is also filled with that which in comparison, is often thought of as the more mundane: paying bills, cutting the grass, obtaining Sacramental wine, providing proper bread for the Eucharist, overseeing the children, worrying about the budget, and if Orthodox, Eastern, or Byzantine, being a good husband and if blessed a good daddy. But in the experience of praying the Divine Liturgy and of Christ in the Eucharist these other activities and “things” leap out from being merely mundane and become one with the Divine Liturgy - Eucharist essence of the Priest. + ST. MARY MAGDALENE NEWS St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church 125 Hartsie Drive - 150

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