Reposted with permission. See below for more information on the Mother Teresa Vocation Society.

Last year, my grandmother went home to the Lord, leaving behind her beloved husband of 63 years.  He had cared for her beautifully during her final struggle with dementia, making sure to guide her steps as she walked, to bring her medication at the appointed times, and, of course, to bring her a glass of wine at the appointed time as well.   His love and care for her were a magnificent witness to marital fidelity. After 63 years of marriage, it was no longer a matter of extravagant romantic gestures, beautiful and important as those are in the early stages of love.  It was not even a matter of willed determination to care for the other, beautiful and important as that is during the more difficult years of marriage.   No, after 63 years of marriage, what I realized was that my grandmother was my grandfather’s life.  His faithfulness to her was not solely a feeling or a choice; it was who he was. This year, my classmates and I celebrate our 10-year anniversary of priestly ordination.  And while that pales in comparison to 63 years, I cannot help but recognize how much my life as a priest has formed my very identity.  Yes, there are times when I am overwhelmed by the joy of celebrating the sacraments and ministering to God’s people.  And yes, there are times when I find it difficult to do either of those things, and I have to choose to do them.  But more and more, I am finding that Christ’s priesthood is my life.   This is simply who I am.  “It is no longer I who live,” says St. Paul, “but Christ who lives in me.” The life of the priest is an intimate sharing in the very life of Jesus Christ.  This First Friday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.  We celebrate the love of the Heart of Christ, who gave Himself up for us, his beloved lost sheep.  And that means that on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, we celebrate the priesthood of Jesus Christ.  In the last 10 years, I have found that my joy in the priesthood consists in finding Christ’s Heart beating within my own.  I have grown attentive to Him and His love in a way that I could never have imagined doing.  And as I give my life to Him and His beloved Church, I learn ever more deeply what it meant for Jesus to give His Life for me.  More and more I live in awe of God’s Goodness.  I do not know how long the Lord will keep me on this side of our Homeland.   But I pray that before I meet Him face to face, I will follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and one day be able to say: Christ is truly my life. Fr. Chris Seith

“Without priests, we have no Jesus.” – Mother Teresa

The Mother Teresa Vocation Society (MTVS) is a lay prayer apostolate in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington that invites you to pray daily for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life and for those who have responded to God’s call. There are no dues or meetings. Simply an invitation to pray.

For more information about joining MTVS or to receive notice of our events and reflections, please contact Marysanta (Santa) Bigony at sbigony@stmaryofthemills.org