Failed Again!

 

Shocked!  I was shocked!  Here I've been talking to my granddaughters about religion for around ten years now, and I never realized that they didn't know that we Catholics call our priests, "Fathers."

What a failure I am!  Something as simple as that.

We were at La Salette Shrine, looking at their magnificent display of Christmas lights when a priest walked by.

"Good evening."

"Good evening, Father"  Both girls heads spun around.  "You called him Father?? Why???

Because that's a title we give to priests.

Lazarus calls out, Father Abraham have pity...

The Prodigal Son says, "Father I have sinned against God and against you."

It is just customary since a priest takes care of his people's spiritual needs as a parent takes care of his family's physical needs.  

How could I have ever neglected to teach them something as simple as calling a priest, Father!  Failed Again.

What Are You Doing!

From the Mirror of Love by St. Aelred:

...It was not enough to pray for them: he wanted also to make excuses for them.  Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.  They are great sinners, yes, but they have little judgment; therefor, Father, forgive them.  They are nailing me to the cross: if they had known, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory; therefore, Father, forgive them.  They think it is a lawbreaker, an imposter claiming to be God, a seducer of the people.  I have hidden my face from them, and they do not recognize my glory; therefore, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

I've often thought the same.  God's power and majesty was hidden.  I probably would be no different than the people thinking Jesus was just a "nut."