Total Common Ministry and Ordination
"is this man sufficiently weak to be a priest?" This interesting question is raised in the Seattle Times by The Rev. Patrick J. Howell, rector of the Jesuit Community at Seattle University. He says the quote originated with Fr Michael Buckley, S.J. in an address to seminarians. Is the man weak enough so that he cannot ward off significant suffering from his life, so that he lives with a certain amount of failure, so that he feels what it is to be an average man. Is there any history of confusion, of self-doubt, of interior anguish? Has he had to deal with fear, come to terms with frustrations or accept deflated expectations?
"These are critical questions because they probe for weakness. Why weakness? Because according to the Epistle to the Hebrews, it is in this deficiency, in this interior lack, in this weakness, that the efficacy of the ministry and priesthood of Christ lies. 'For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.' (Heb. 2:18)" Right on!
Kim Forman, TCM missioner
