What does the Catholic church do actually and what do the priests do? Why are they there? What do they really do? If you are a protestant or another religion, you may have asked yourself this.This might seem like an odd question, but not to be taken lightly or for granted. It's worth asking the question- to get the answer. The answer may surprise you.
Everyone knows (unless they were born in a pod in planet pluton) that Jesus was a Jewish fellow who lived about 2,000 years ago. Ever since then there has been a sect of Jews that followed him which morphed into what is called "The Holy Catholic Church" that later morphed into a bunch of denominations called generally "church." The Catholic church educated and anoints priests which they claim all come down a line of succession from Peter the Apostle, the first Pope- and they participate or dispense 7 sacraments -pointing toward God's grace.
Peter Vaghi, Pastor to a number of Judges and lawyers in the DC region through the John Carroll Society, as well as the Bethesda, Maryland parish of Little Flower is himself a lawyer and still admitted to the Bars of Virginia and the District of Columbia. This is his second book (the first was The Faith We Profess) in a four part series based on his talks and lectures.
For anyone confused about what the sacraments are and what they mean, this book promises to be highly informative and gives people a better sense of what the men in dresses are all about. (He wore a standard black suit to the lecture-they don't always wear dresses; note to Maureen Dowd.) What would draw a lawyer to become a Priest? This book subtextually partially answers why the calling might be higher than the current news stream would have us believe.
Greater Love has no man than this; than to lay down his life for his friends.
Monsignor Vaghi doesn't appear to drive a fancy car or any car- he is happy to graciously bum rides off fans or take public transport. He doesn't have expensive cuff links or silk ties- a simple square white roman collar suits him fine, his black suits aren't pin striped and his shoes don't come from Madison Avenue (I am thinking DHW or Payless.) He doesn't get to pick which house he lives in (if he practiced law he could likely pick his McClean or Bethesda house), he is lucky if he gets to pick the change in wallpaper. He devotes his life to his flock- and guiding them to peace of mind and joy of heart in the Lord. He does this all without complaint, without missing the finer luxuries. He is a priest who keeps a picture of Jean Vianney by his bedside, he told us today at the talk at the Catholic Information Center to remind him of the Cure of Ars' gift of hearing confessions- which he got on a trip to Ars. It's a backwards place, he said- like a lot of what we see here in some respects. We all have lived in backwards places. Challenging folks to find God in the most backwards of places fuels his juice more than the stuff of status that Washingtonians thrive on. He is a Priest. One priest once remarked to me that he greatly admires him because Vaghi knows the names of homeless people on the streets as much as he knows the folks in the parish.
In quoting another theologian Vaghi noted that Priests have a rough rap sometimes. When one falls they all are on trial (and presumed guilty by association.)
When asked about one of his more memorable dispensations of the Sacrament he noted that the 'sacrament of the sick' which used to be called 'last rites' or 'extreme unction' can also be given to anyone undergoing a serious operation. He was called in to administer to a sick child going into serious life-saving surgery- it was the youngest person whom he ever gave it to- the child survived and thrived and he stays in touch with him even now as the boy is in high school.
These are the things that make a Priest happy.
That's what a Priest does.
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