Sermon by Most Rev. Dr. Philip Boyce, Bishop of Raphoe.

at the Ordination of

Revv. Rory Brady,  Brian O Fearraigh and Martin Timoney 

Cathedral of Sts Eunan and Colmcille, Letterkenny.

1 July, 2001 

           The sight of three young men stepping forward and presenting themselves for priestly ordination is truly a cause of gratitude and joy.  This is a gift which the Church and, in particular, the Diocese of Raphoe receives from God.  No doubt it is also a divine response both to the generosity of their youthful hearts and to the many prayers and hours of silent adoration in our Diocese imploring good labourers for the harvest of souls. 

            As a community of faith we extend a very warm welcome to our three brothers, now about to become priests of Christ: Martin Timoney (parish of Glenties);  Brian Ó Fearraigh (Gortahork); and Rory Brady (Frosses).  We share in their gratitude and joy.  This ceremony fills us all with hope for the future.   

            I also wish to mention another ceremony that is taking place at this very moment in the parish church of Drumoghill.  There, Sr. Mary Barron of the Missionaries of Our Lady of the Apostles is making her Final Vows.  She is being consecrated for a life of complete dedication to Christ in poverty, chastity and obedience, to bringing the message of the Gospel to the lands of mission.  May this day be for her and for our three candidates here, the beginning of a life that will bring fulfilment and happiness in the footsteps of Christ who never ceases to give the invitation to his chosen ones:  “Come, follow me”. 

            Dear Brian, Rory and Martin,  the readings you have chosen for this ordination ceremony show us that you regard your priestly vocation as a service of Christ and his people, and as a ministry of mercy.  The first Reading repeated the words of the prophet Isaiah, which Christ, our High Priest, applied to himself:  the Spirit of the Lord anointed him and anoints you to bring the good news of salvation to those who are afflicted, to heal the broken-hearted, to bring freedom and to comfort those in sorrow (cf.  Is.61:1-3).  The Gospel of Christ which you will preach by your life and by your words, and the Sacraments you administer, are the most precious things in the service you give to your people.  That work is indeed a ministry of mercy (guiding, forgiving, consoling, nourishing) and St. Paul reminded you in the Second Reading that you “who do such works of mercy should do them cheerfully” (cf. Rom 12:12). 

            As priests you are asked to avoid two extremes:  the one of disregarding the gifts you are given as priests; the other, of using your sacred authority to lord it over others. 

            First of all your gifts or spiritual authority.  By virtue of the anointing as priests at your ordination, your life is marked and moulded by the Holy Spirit, in such a way that you represent Christ,  the Head and Shepherd of his Church.  You are given sacred powers to forgive sins and change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.  Never forget then that you are to be priests of Christ:  “chosen from among men and appointed to act on their behalf in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Heb 5:1).  Your very life is a reminder of God for those who see you.  You are to preach Him and his message of salvation at all times by your very life and at times also by your words (as St. Francis said).  You are his ambassadors, twenty four hours out of twenty four each day.  Your life is Christ and with Him you will spend your days doing good and spreading the truth. 

            This spiritual authority and sacred power are not meant to make you exaggerate your importance or lord it over others.  It is significant that St. Luke, in the Gospel passage we heard, after the institution of the holy Eucharist and the ordination of the first priests, warns his apostles not to aspire to be considered the first and the greatest, but to take the place of the servant.  “The greatest among you must behave as if he were the youngest, the leader as if he were the one who serves” (Lk 22:26). 

            Christ gave us the example.  He is the head of his Church, but He is the one who serves.  His authority coincides with his service.  It attains its fullest expression on Calvary, where He offers himself in obedience and love, even to death on the Cross.  It was a total gift of himself on behalf of us all.  This saving gesture of Christ is renewed every day by the priest when he celebrates the holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  Christ on the Cross was a Priest and a Victim.  “It is a primary duty of the priest to be at the same time the one who sacrifices and the one who is offered in sacrifice” (M. Julia).  In this way, he becomes a victim for the salvation of many souls.  A priest should not go to heaven alone at the end of his days:  he should draw with him a multitude for whom he had been a channel of grace and mercy in his pastoral ministry. 

            ‘The spiritual exercise of every priest receives its life and inspiration from exactly this type of authority, namely, his service of the Church, just as Christ, who, although Lord of lords, did not disdain to make himself our servant” (cf. PDV 21).  St. Peter, who learned from the example of Jesus his Master, tells you:  “Tend the flock of God that is in your charge; watch over it not simply as a duty but gladly,  not for sordid money but because you are eager to do it.  Do not lord it over the group that is in your charge, but be an example for the flock” (1 Pet 5:2-3). 

            Your authority as priests then has to be tempered and enlivened by love and by the generous gift of your own life.  Love for Christ and for souls has to be the driving force of your pastoral activity.  Before Christ gave Peter the Apostle charge over his Church, He asked for a triple affirmation of love.  “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (cf. Jn 21:15-17).  “The confession of love must precede the bestowing of authority, for authority without love is tyranny” (F. Sheen).  Thus, all authority in the Church is an exercise of love and a ministry of mercy. 

            The sacred powers given to you today will enable you to guide your people to holiness of life. This is the most precious service you could give them.  In this way you imitate Christ who although He was ‘given all power in heaven and on earth’ (cf. Mt 28:18), nevertheless loved the Church to the point of sacrificing his life for her.  The same must be true for every priest.  His pastoral ministry is what St. Augustine calls an “amoris officium”, a task or duty of love,  as a result of which the Church and souls become his first interest.  He has given his life as a gift to Christ, and like the Master, he spends his days and often his nights in helping to save others and in leading them to experience God’s merciful love. 

            As St. Thérèse said, whose Relics we venerated a month ago in our diocese: “To love is to give everything, and to give oneself.”  There you have the secret of a happy and fulfilled life for every priest.   

            Finally, where do you get the power and perseverance both for this inner gift of yourself as a Victim with Christ and for your constant love for souls?  I mention two sources very briefly.  One is the Eucharist.  You will get strength in plenty from the worthy celebration of the Mass every day and from times of silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.  These have to be the centre of your priestly life.  They will give strength when you are weary,  light when troubled, consolation in times of trial.  While the busy world is occupied with things of passing interest,  here in the abiding presence of Christ and of his saving Sacrifice, you will find the Master whose word is truth and whose presence is life. 

            The second source of strength comes from devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  She was the Mother of Christ, our High Priest.  She is the spiritual mother of all priests.  I exhort each one of you to have confidence in her intercession.  Above all, imitate her virtues.  “Priests, who are among the favoured disciples of Jesus, crucified and risen, should welcome Mary as their Mother in their own life, turning to her with constant prayer and attention.  The Blessed Virgin then becomes the Mother who leads them to Christ, who makes them sincerely love the Church, who intercedes for them and who guides them towards the Kingdom of heaven” (Directory No. 68).

            Rory, Brian and Martin, with these thoughts on the priestly ministry you are about to receive and on how to exercise it, we accompany you at these solemn moments.  We ask you to spare a prayer too on this special day for the seminarians who come after you on the journey to the altar, and to ask the Lord of the harvest to fill the empty choir stalls you leave behind you in St. Patrick’s College.  May your years in the priesthood be fulfilling and sanctifying and lead you ever deeper into the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Amen.

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