A priest is a man after God’s heart. God allows Himself to be physically present at his command.

Gratefully we value, treasure and know the power of the hands that God uses to transform mere bread and wine into Lord’s body and blood. Priesthood is God’s gift to oneself, to one’s own family, society and to the universal Church.

Vocation to the priesthood is a call to dedicated service and sacrifice. Every priest is called by God, no one chooses for himself the honor of being a priest. When God makes the choice, He chooses the weak and humble like Saints peter and John Mary Vianney so that He could manifest His power and glory through them. God chooses the weak and empower them to perform great wonders and service in the lives of God’s faithful people. Every priest is called by name, is commissioned and is blessed by God. In the book of Exodus we see how God calls Moses by name out of the bush, ‘Moses Moses’ (Ex. 3:4). Then God commissioned him saying, “come I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt’’ (Ex. 3:10). Finally God sends him blessed and empowered for the mission, “I will be with you” (Ex.3:12).

Every call to priesthood has these threefold qualities – called by God, entrusted with the care of his sheep and is blessed by God. Every priest is anointed forever, no matter what his weakness is, God accepts him with all his weakness, if so who are we to find fault with him? St. John Mary Vianney is the patron and model for our priests. He was a humble priest hidden in a small remote village. By his earnest preaching, personal mortification, prayer and charity he renewed the church in a wonderful way. His help to those who came to the sacrament of reconciliation was renowned and people flocked to him from all sides to obtain his advice. He is a role model for our priests today, whose feast we celebrate on 4th August. Fondly and gratefully we remember and pray for our holy priests on this occasion. Christ is the Great High Priest (Heb.4:14) and He is represented by priests in the Church. God’s blessing comes down to us through the hands of our priests. The hands of the priests play a vital role in the lives of every Christian.

Gratefully we remember our dear priest for their beautiful hands at the altar to transform mere bread and wine in to Christ’s body and blood – a holy act rather a miracle which no hands in the world can perform but only the hand of a priest. The holy hands of the priest make his whole body sanctified, for his fingers care the most holy bread and wine transformed in to the Lord’s body and blood. Every morning God’s faithful long for the holy hands of a priest, for his hands feed us with the living bread of heaven at the Eucharistic meal.

The holy hands of the priests are raised to invoke the Trinitarian God and folded to adore the creator where ever the Church is gathered. It is to the beautiful hands of the priests, we bow our heads for blessing every day – we need their blessings to keep going day by day. We venerate the holy hands of the priests which bring, proclaim and break the Divine Word to God’s holy people. Through the holy hands of our priests, at the sign of their cross, we were welcomed to the Holy Church at our infancy.

At every Banquet the hands of our priests absolve us, bless us and sanctify us again and again to strengthen us to face the realities of life. The beautiful hands of the priests are entrusted with the keys of the Tabernacle, for the Divine Vision of the Lord to His people. No one can give us the peace of the Lord at the Banquet, except the beautiful hands of the priests. Gratefully we value the beautiful hands of our priests, for our noble families take its origin by the blessings of the priests at matrimony. When we lie helpless on the sick-bed, the holy hands of the priests lay their hands, anoint and extent the healing touch of the Lord. At death-bed the holy hands of the priests grant absolution for our sins and failures and strengthen us to face death as a reality and face the Final Judgment. At our final journey the holy hands are sure to be there, at the body to give away the last blessings.

If every priest knew the greatness of their call and the beauty of their holy hands!

Pray for our priests : Lord Jesus, the Great High Priest of our faith, we thank you for gifting us your priests with beautiful hands to bless us always – from birth to death. Eternal Priest, help our priests, to live their commitment in the spirit of service and dedication. Enkindle all our priests, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, put your Word on their lips and your love in their hearts to bring good news to everyone and healing to the broken-hearted. In loneliness and pain, Lord keep them safe and comfort them with your presence and grace. Eternal High Priest, we ask you to fill our priests with the fire of divine love that their ministry may reveal your presence and blessings in the Church and let your power shine out through their weakness. May mother Mary shield them from all evil and harm and form every priest into the divine image of the Great High Priest. Amen.

- – - written by Sr. Mercy Pottokaran OSB

Had God’s approval before His earthly life had begun
Jesus came to set the standard by which we are to live,
And to do this, His own life, he freely did give.

Jesus pleased His Father in all that He did,
That man – from sin – could be rid.
As a lad of twelve he was about his Father’s business,
And all through His physical life manifest faithfulness.’

God was well pleased as Christ in life grew,
Fulfilling all the Father sent Him to do;
Progressing in stature and wisdom well,
Giving to man exactly what God had for Him to tell.

Jesus grew in favor with God and benefited man,
For he opened the door to the Heavenly land.
We need to grow with Jesus every day,
For He is the only one, that to God, knows the way;

That we may receive entrance into God’s mansion above,
And continue throughout eternity in God’s unending love.

You will love with a perfect love.
You will worship with a radiant face.
You’ll hear each word God speaks.
Your heart will be pure,
Your words will be like jewels,
Your thoughts will be like treasures.

You will be just like JESUS.

Who all are there in heaven? What kind of place and relationship is existing there?

The kingdom of heaven is called a “habitation” because it contains such a multitude of different inhabitants; no palace or city, but only large kingdoms contain such numbers. There, as St. Paul tells us in his Epistle to the Hebrews, are many thousands of angels; there also are “the spirits of the just made perfect,” to whom belong all who have departed in the Lord from Abel, even to the last good man who will die at the end of the world. But not only will the souls of the Just be there, but also their glorious bodies, each of which shall shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father, as our Lord assures us in St. Matthew.

With regard to the angels, we who live on this earth scarcely know anything of them but their names. We learn from the vision of the prophet Isaias, (chap, vi.) that some are called Seraphim, and others Cherubim (These are two pure Hebrew words; the first means “to burn, or burn up;” the second, “ to be like the Most High”. Some Thrones, others Dominations: some Principalities, others Powers, as St. Paul mentions in his Epistle to the Colossians (1:16).

In his Epistle to the Ephesians he also speaks of “Virtues,” and in another place, Archangels are spoken of: Angels are finally ranked among them, of whom there is so frequent mention throughout the Holy Scriptures. From these nine names, it is the unanimous opinion of learned doctors, that there are nine “orders” of angels, each of which contains many thousands, according to the prophet Daniel: “Thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before him” (7:10).

And Job asks: “Is there any numbering of his soldiers?” But although all the angels are doubtless most happy, and wonderfully resplendent with the glory of every divine gift, yet those are called “Seraphim” who burn with the flames of love: the others “Cherubim” who shine with the splendour of knowledge: those are named “ Thrones” who enjoy an inexpressible tranquillity in the divine contemplation: those “Dominations” who rule this lower world, as the ministers of a mighty commander: others “Powers,” because they do signs and wonders by the command of their Almighty Lord: others “ Principalities,” because they have power over the kings and princes of the world: some again are named “Archangels,” because they assist the prelates of the Church: and many, in fine, are called “ Angels,” since they are the guardians and protectors of all that live upon the earth.

But these are not the only significations of the names of the angels: “they are also images or representations of the greatness of God: thus the seraphim, by their burning love, represent as it were in a glass, the infinite love of God which alone induced Him to create the angels, man, and all other creatures, whom He still preserves. The cherubim in like manner represent the infinite wisdom of God, which hath regulated all things by number, weight, and measure. The thrones also, by a perfect image as it were, show us that profound “rest” which God enjoys on His throne; who, while all things are in motion, remains unalterable, tranquilly ruling and directing events.

The dominations too tell us, that it is God who alone truly rules all things, because He alone can either preserve them, or annihilate them. The virtues convince us, that it is God “who alone does wonderful things” and who has reserved to himself alone to renew signs, and to multiply wonders.

The powers signify by their name, that God alone is absolutely and truly powerful, to whom nothing is impossible, because in Him alone true power resides.

The principalities signify, that God is the Prince over the kings of the earth, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. The archangels signify, that God is the true High Priest of all the churches. The angels, that God is the true Father of orphans; and that although He has given His angels to be our guardians, He himself is present with each one, to guard and protect him. The prophet who has said,“He has given His angels charge over you, to keep thee in all your ways,” introduces the Almighty thus speaking: “I am with him in tribulation, I will deliver him, and I will glorify him” (Psalm 90).

And our Lord, who had said, “ their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven” has also added: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing; and not one of them shall fall upon the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore; better are you than many sparrows” (Mt. 10:29).

With these nine orders of the angels, correspond on the other hand that multitude of holy men, which no one can number, as we learn from the Apocalypse. This multitude contains also nine “orders;” for some are patriarchs, some prophets, some apostles, some martyrs and confessors; whilst others are pastors, doctors, priests, Levites, monks, and hermits, holy women, virgins, widows, or married people.

Wherefore, my soul, I beseech thee to consider what great happiness it will be, to be united with such great saints! St. Jerome mentions, that he visited many provinces, and many people, and crossed many seas, that he might see and hear those celebrated men, whom he had known by their works. Queen of Saba came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and to St. Antony, the hermit, men hastened from all parts, being moved by the fame of his sanctity: even Emperors themselves courted his friendship.

But what will it be to behold hereafter so many angels, so many just men, to be united with them in the closest friendship, and to be made partakers of their happiness? Were we to behold, in this our exile, one angel arrayed in all his beauty, who would not eagerly wish to meet him? What therefore must it be, to behold all the angels in one place? And if only one of the prophets, apostles, or doctors of the Church were to descend from heaven, with what curiosity and attention would he be heard!

Now in the kingdom of God, we shall be allowed to behold not one only, but all the prophets, apostles, and doctors, with whom we shall continually hold sweet converse. How greatly does the sun rejoice the whole earth: but what will be the glory from innumerable Suns in the kingdom of God, all animate, intelligent, and exulting in their joy! This union with the angels and men, all of whom are most wise and excellent, appears to me so delightful, that I consider it alone will be a great happiness, and on this account, would willingly be deprived of all the pleasures of this life.

- – - written by St. Robert Bellarmine