Monday, July 13, 2009

A Beautiful Day at the Oratory

Yesterday was an especially nice Sunday. Our boys were very excited to see the newest priest at St. Francis deSales Oratory, Canon Jason Apple. As a deacon, he was our oldest son's catechism teacher at the SFdS homeschool co-op and thus, our son was particularly anxious too see this former deacon recently ordained to the holy priesthood. (Click here for some nice pictures posted at St. Louis Catholic from Canon's ordination).

And see him we did. The boys followed his every move around church as we sat in our places waiting for Mass to begin. "Look," they both whispered to me, "there he is!"... "Is he going to say Mass, Mom?"... ""Look, Mom, he's going to hear confessions now!!"

It really impressed upon me how much our young boys look up to these deacons and priests. They were truly in awe of him. Such a high calling they have! And so we offer our congratulations and prayers for Canon Apple. And we are reminded to pray:

Lord, send us priests,
Lord, send us holy priests,
Lord, send us many holy priests and religious vocations!

After Mass the boys received their first instruction in serving from Abbe Alex, the Oratory Sacristan (and also our younger son's catechism teacher). Some of the concerns I posted in my last blog entry were relieved as my husband and I sat in the pew observing their practice. All of the boys--five in all--were very attentive and reverently followed Abbe's excellent direction. If our boys were excited about serving before, they are more-so now.

And so ended another blessed morning at the Oratory. God bless our good priests and religious!

As we got in the car to go home, my 7-year old son and I had the following exchange:

"Mom, if God is calling you to be a priest, but you don't want to be one, do you still have to be?"

"Why? Don't you want to be a priest?"

"No," he answered, almost sheepishly.

"You know what I think?" I asked him, "I think if God one day calls you to the priesthood, you will probably want to become a priest. You have lots of time to pray about what God is calling you to. For right now I think He's just calling you to be an altar boy, don't you?"

"Yeah!" he said with a sigh of relief and a big smile.

4 comments:

Peklet Mom said...

Jill,

Your blog is beautiful. I especially like the poem from a few days ago with the five children, for 5 children soon we will have - in February.

Your boys are great! Though I would have the same apprehensions regarding my boy. :) I look forward to seeing them both up on the altar.

God bless,
Peklet Mom

HSMom said...

Oh Peklet Mom, thank you for your kind words!

And CONGRATULATIONS!!! What wonderful news. May God bless you and baby #5!!

:D

Sharon said...

We had a similar experience with our son the night before he was to serve for the first time at DeSales. He wasn't too interested at the time of becoming a priest, though I think now he finds the idea more appealing. But we've told him that we would support him in whatever God calls him to do.

I just think it's great (and telling) that the boys at DeSales see the connection.

Can't wait to see your boys in action!

Anonymous said...

I used to wonder "What does it 'feel' like being called to be a Priest"?

Same thing.

But the answer is... if it becomes such an obsession that you just can't stop thinking about it, you are being called. Much like what most people call falling in love. But in this case, with the Priesthood, not another human being.