When I went to church this morning, I was surprised to see about 20 priests on the altar. It was the first Mass for a young priest who was recently ordained. The congregation was full of family and friends as well. It was a beautiful celebration. The music really add to the holiness and reverence with a full choir, cantor, organ, piano, and various wind instruments. When it came.time for the Consecration, you could have heard a pin drop as all eyes were on the host and chalice. I imagined what it might have been like for the new priest to utter the words for the first time that transformed the bread and wine to the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. I thought how fitting it was that today was the feast of Corpus Christi. At the end of Mass, before the final blessing, the priest said a few words and had gifts for his family. For his 4 sisters, he had a framed picture of St Joan of Arc who – as the priest explained – was the epitome of strong feminity. He then made a presentation to his parents. He explained that when he was ordained, his hands were anointed with Holy Oil. He then clasped his hands and let it soak in. Afterwards, he dried his hands on a cloth called a manutergium. He gave that cloth to his mother. He presented his father with the purple stole that he wore when he heard his first Confession and talked about how he will extend mercy as his father did to him as he was growing up. The new priest then tearfully said that when his father and mother die, he will wrap their hands in the cloths and when they stand before Jesus and are asked, “What have you given me?” they will answer, “I gave you my son.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the church after that. The whole celebration was such a holy, joyful event that I didn’t even realize almost 2 hours had passed.

I Found God today in the celebration of the First Mass of a newly ordained priest.