On Father’s Day, Grateful for a Priest Who Changed my Life
He patiently walked me through scriptures related to suffering, and provided books that explored the issue from every possible angle.
Most of all, he assured me that God was not punishing me with this disease, because, he insisted, God is merciful. As he put it, “He is always gazing at you with love.”
I was unschooled in my faith, having never studied Catholicism formally, and I had many confused snippets that I’d carried along from childhood.
He never belittled me about my beliefs, but carefully explained what actual Church teachings were. We explored suffering, sin, the incarnation and the resurrection, and then went on to moral issues.
This priest was a father in the best sense of the word, gently pointing me toward the light. And as the years went on, I wept less and laughed more in his presence.
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