Priests don't grow on trees

It's time to celebrate.

One of our parishioners, John Norman, is about to be ordained to the priesthood. He should be congratulated for his faithfulness to God's plans for his life. And his family should be congratulated, too.

After all, priests don't grow on trees.

That saying is supposed to be about another type of treasure, but it applies to priests as well. Money doesn't come out of thin air, and neither do vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

So where do priests come from? Families, of course. John's parents, Joe and Joan Norman, have provided a rich soil in which a religious vocation could grow. Now that it's ordination time, we should consider the role of families in encouraging vocations to the religious life.

Valerie Conzett, director of the Archdiocese of Omaha's Family Life Office, offers her insights:

"Parents are instrumental in being the first people with the greatest opportunity to begin to direct our lives toward others and to understand that we have a purpose in God’s creation and in fact are called to be the body of Christ.

"In a home where the faith is actively practiced through regular and consistent participation in the Sacramental life of the Church and through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy practiced in daily life, a child begins to see a life ordered in a particular way; a way that is grounded in prayer and relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and with Mary as our Mother who models a response of 'yes' to God. The child comes to know that each of us matter to God and to each other.

"It’s pretty basic stuff . . . and fundamental. Like a favorite poem states, 'a child lives what he learns' and it begins at home”

Father John McCloskey, a nationally known speaker and writer, has some tips for parents:

"Catholic parents who want to produce vocations for the Church have to be ready to be heroically counter cultural. As the old Beatles song put it, 'It don't come easy.' Putting it mildly, the world appears designed at the moment to thwart people, particularly young people, from even entertaining the thought of complete dedication to God."

First of all, McCloskey says, love your children unconditionally.

"Your children should know that you pray for them every day, that they be holy and happy and generous to whatever God calls them. They must know that while you are concerned with their education, health, achievements, career prospects, these are all secondary to their being virtuous and happy in this life and saved in the next."

Some of his other suggestions:

"Foster a simple life of piety in the home adjusted to the condition and ages of the children. It should leave the children asking for more, not begging for less. The Cure of Ars was once asked by parents what they could best do for their children. He said simply to bring them frequently to Jesus in the Eucharist and in the Sacrament of Penance. Figure out how you can do this respecting their freedom yet making it attractive."

Lead a devout life as an example for your children, he says. "They will watch you pray, go to Mass, go to confession, read the Sacred Scripture, pray the Rosary, and so on. They will see that the liturgical calendar is the most important one for their family and that you celebrate accordingly. They will also see you make sacrifices in order to do so. Pleasing God, not men, will thus become the priority in their life also."

"Teach them to value poverty and detachment. Keep them short on money. Do not let them indiscriminately acquire things or to measure people by the amount of their possessions. Teach them to make things last and how to go without happily. Teach them how to share cheerfully. Make sure they spend their summers productively. That often times will mean they work and/or spend time in generously serving others less fortunate than themselves."

Raising faithful children who are open to God's call might seem daunting, but take heart, parents, says Father Joseph Hirsch Director of Vocations Diocese of La Crosse:

"Christ asks you to be a holy parent, not necessarily a perfect parent. Seek to sanctify your spouse and children by your loving and nurturing—God will do the rest. Trials will inevitably occur within your family. You preach your most powerful sermons during times of difficulty. The saints have said that a holy family is a struggling family. When the Apostles were in the midst of the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus told them not to be afraid. If we have Jesus in our boat—home life—he will get us through. Your witness of trust in those times will speak a thousand words."

Inspired by this Year of Faith we will be posting columns like this from Susan Szalewski about exploring and/or deepening our faith. Watch for it on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.