Father Tom’s Excellent Adventure
Father Tom offe
red these highlights from the Sabbatical priests’ recent week-long retreat under the direction of Fr. Luke Buckles, O.P., of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas:
-We are priests who minister to the Word who is Jesus. In a world of so many words, we must remain close to the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ (Saint John Paul II).
-Holiness of life means seeking daily a friendship with Christ. This takes time, like any friendship we have as humans, but a friendship with Jesus must be a daily effort.
-As priests who are preachers of the Word, we must preach the virtue of Hope—not human optimism, but Hope. Hope is God’s grace; optimism is only human effort. Grace is an unmerited gift won for us in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
-I went to Confession for the first time in almost four years.
-Suffering is a part of the human experience, thus it is fulfilled in Christ’s passion and death. By Faith alone, we unite our suffering with Christ’s suffering for the salvation of the world.
-Whenever we experience the Real Presence (Grace) of Christ in the Eucharist we hear him say: “I love you;” “I am with you;” “Be not afraid.”
-The grace of Christ initiates, sustains and completes every act of Faith, Hope and Charity as well as every moral virtue in the Christian life. The grace to desire and to follow Christ is a grace that is already present in us!