Thus is a priest supposed to be, another Christ, alter Christi. However, when shackled by diocesan politics this seems to become a very difficult thing to be. It is, of course, not the priest’s fault. It is his bishop’s or his ordinary’s.

Anyways, I thought that it would be appropriate to share with you an experience I happened to see once in a Rochester parish. I’ll leave it to your imagination to guess which one. I could see that the nun was all dressed for some preaching, and all was on track for Mass to begin. About five minutes before Mass, the priest, who is retired, entered the sacristy and noted the nun’s attire. Again, I leave it to your imagination to guess what the attire was. He looked at her and said, “Sister, what are you doing today?” She responded, “Why, J___, I’m giving the homily.”

“No, you’re not. You never asked my permission. And if you had, I would not have given it to you.”

“You’re forgetting I’m your boss now.”

“Not out there.” (The sanctuary)

This priest truly acted as he ought to have, being another Christ and, at the same time, a defender for Him as well. God Bless. Fr. J___ for his unflinching attitude towards what Liturgy should be.

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