Dear Friends,

Recently, a close friend of mine posed a highly insightful question to me. I had just described my ministry day, which began with the profound solemnity of hearing confessions, immediately followed by the grief and hope of a funeral Mass, transitioned into the joyful celebration of a wedding Mass, and concluded with the celebratory atmosphere of a school gala.

My friend, witnessing these emotional switchovers, simply asked: “How do you manage to switch emotions in all of these? How do you handle the pressures of the Advent and Lenten Seasons?”It is a fair question, and the answer to me is rooted in two essential truths: the power of the grace of ordination and the indispensable need for the prayer of the faithful.

The priest is, first and foremost, a man. As a man, I experience grief at a funeral, I feel joy at a wedding, and I certainly share the excitement of a school gala. To move from comforting a soul in the light of forgiveness (Confession), to praying for a soul’s eternal rest (Funeral), to blessing a new covenant of love (Wedding) within a few hours apart is undeniably a profound emotional and spiritual undertaking. If I were relying solely on my own strength, my own emotional reserves, or my own charisma, I would certainly burn out before lunch.

However, the grace I received at my ordination fundamentally changes the equation. Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the priest is configured to Christ, the Head, Shepherd, High Priest, and Teacher. When celebrating the Sacraments—the very core of ministry—I, as a priest, do not act as "Fr. Robert"; I act in persona Christi Capitis (in the Person of Christ the Head).

The grace of ordination is a supernatural gift that provides the strength and interior peace necessary for that particular moment. It allows us to step outside of our own personal feelings and become a vessel for Christ’s presence. When I pronounce absolution, for instance, it is Christ forgiving. When I elevate the Eucharist, it is Christ offering Himself. When I proclaim the hope of the Resurrection at a funeral, it is Christ conquering death. This divine assistance is what allows the heart to hold both sorrow and joy simultaneously without becoming overwhelmed.

But divine grace does not operate in a vacuum. While ordination gives the priest the authority to celebrate the Sacraments, it is the constant, sustaining prayer of the people—you, the parishioners—that empowers the priest to be an effective and holy minister. I thank many of you who always assure me that you pray for us. We need it!

As priests, we are called to carry heavy spiritual burdens—your grief, your guilt, your deepest longings. This is a privilege, but it is also at times very exhausting. The greatest gift you can give your priests is your commitment to spiritual partnership.

Your prayers—whether a quiet offering during the Consecration, a decade of the Rosary, or a brief whispered intention or fifteen minutes of adoration for your priest —are a spiritual lifeline for us. They are the energy that recharges our spirit when our human energy is depleted. They help us remain open to the grace of our vocation so we can continue to be vessels of Christ’s love in every setting, from the silence of the confessional to the joyful noise of a community or school gala.

So, please, never underestimate the power of your intercession. Pray for your priests always, as I implored you in an earlier article, for our fidelity, our holiness, and our stamina to manage the many emotional transitions of a day dedicated to serving the Lord and His people, also depends on you. It is only through your prayers that we can continue to faithfully answer Christ’s call.

As we close this reflection on the daily life of a priest—a life defined by the necessary, grace-filled effort of "switching gears"—let us ground this effort in the current season. We have now entered the Second Week of Advent, a time traditionally symbolized by the candle of Peace and focused on preparation and expectation. Just as Mary prepared her heart for the coming of Christ, we too must prepare our ministry to receive Him fully during this season, whether we are hearing confessions, visiting the sick, or simply navigating the next daily transition. Your prayers, so vital for sustaining our spiritual stamina and fidelity in ministry, become our ultimate Advent preparation. They are the quiet, essential assurance that the grace necessary to continue answering Christ’s call will not fail, allowing us, your priests, to truly be men of peace and vessels of hope, ready to proclaim the joyous message of His coming. Come, Lord Jesus!

I love you!

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