FATHER WALTER COVENS CELEBRATES HIS 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRIESTHOOD
I was ordained a deacon and a priest less than 24 hours apart (August 27 at 3.30pm, and August 28 at 10.00am), whereas canon law requires at least six months!… There are exceptions, of course. And in that sense, I am therefore exceptional. 🤣
Yet it wasn’t I who asked for the exception. It was my bishop, Mgr Henri Schwery. And I note that this didn’t prevent him from being created a cardinal afterwards. 🤣
I’m convinced that it wasn’t per chance but thanks to Providence who chose the dates, and the saints celebrated on those days: Saint Monica and Saint Augustine. When people ask me who my favorite saints are, I answer: they’re the ones who chose me! And Saint Monica and Saint Augustine are among them.
Yes, the Lord has done wonders for me. But I didn’t become a priest for myself, but for you. “The priest is not a priest for himself, he is for you”, said the holy Curé d’Ars. And so, you can say: the Lord has done wonders for us.
The Virgin Mary did not become Mother of God for herself. She became Mother to give Jesus to the world.
The comparison is not pretentious. John Paul II taught that the first thing that is required of a priest is that he believe in his own mystery. Between the Virgin Mary and the priest, there is no equivalence, but rather resemblance, complementarity and complicity.
Go and confess your sins to the Blessed Virgin or to an angel,” said the Holy Curé. Will they absolve you? Will they give you the body and blood of our Lord? No, the Blessed Virgin cannot make her divine Son descend into the host. If you had two hundred angels there, they couldn’t absolve you. A priest, however simple, can. He can say to you: Go in peace, I forgive you.”
So I invite you, dear reader, to give thanks to God with and for me, and to pray with me and for me, that the gift received through the laying on of hands may be fruitful.
Pray for vocations! Some time ago, I had the joy of learning of the presbyteral ordination of a young man whose parents had asked me to baptize 28 years ago, but also the pain of learning of the death of a priest friend, and the defection of several others.
The harvest is plentiful, and the laborers few. ASK THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND WORKERS INTO HIS HARVEST.
