- The Catholic Thing - https://www.thecatholicthing.org -

A Priest

To live in the midst of the world
without wishing its pleasures;

To be a member of each family,
yet belonging to none;

To share all suffering;
to penetrate all secrets;

To heal all wounds;
to go from men to God
and offer Him their prayers;

To return from God to men
to bring pardon and hope;

To have a heart of fire for Charity,
and a heart of bronze for Chastity

To teach and to pardon,
console and bless always.

My God, what a life;
and it is yours,
O priest of Jesus Christ.