The Story of a Young Priest (II)

"Do not fear, am I not here, I who am your mother?" During my time outside the seminary I went to visit Mexico. I remember how as a child, sitting by my mother she would tell me the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. With great fervor I entered the Basilica and stood under the image of Our Lady. The words she spoke to Juan Diego came to my heart "Do not be afraid! Am I not here, I who am your mother? Are you not in my arms?" "My Mother" I told her "you know that I love the priesthood. I ask you please help me and bring me back to the seminary. I want to be your son's priest. I will come back one day to celebrate mass here." This experience of her embrace comforted me and consoled me and I was greatly fortified but only a year later would I truly understand this moment. I entered the seminary again in 2005 and in 2006 the bishop asked me to go to a parish so as to acquire pastoral experience. Then one day he called three of us aside and told us we were accepted to be ordained as deacons. I was assured of Mary's intercession. I was ordained a deacon July 22, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. The days passed by and finally the long awaited priestly ordination day arrived. As I prepared my suitcase to go to the retreat before ordination I found an envelope which I had forgotten about some time back. It was full of photos from my trip to Mexico... I started to look at them one by one. Amongst the photos taken at Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica there was one that caught my eye. A friend took a photo of me in front of the image of Our Lady. I looked closer and could not believe my eyes: in the print was the day and hour, July 22, 2002, 10:00 a.m. It was the same date and hour that I had been ordained a deacon! Was it just a coincidence? For many maybe yes but in my short years as a priest I have learned that we need to see things with eyes of faith, like Mary. This is why those called to the priesthood need to trust in her in a special way. Now, three years later and a parish priest I would like to express the immense joy I have experienced as a priest. I would not change it for the world. May I be a priest of Jesus forever with Mary as my mother. May Our Lady, Mother of the Eternal Priest, protect and guide all of her son's priests.