A priest is ordained for three tasks: to serve the world by confecting Sacraments as “priest,” delivering the Word of God as “prophet,” and governing the Church as “king.” We priests lament, and our parishioners complain, about how much time priests spend on “governing,” that is, administrative work. Both Peter and Paul, the acknowledged pillars of the Church, died in prophetic witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A singular blessing of my priesthood is to have been ordained the same day as Joseph Ratzinger, and on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Today I am 28 years ordained, and Pope Benedict is 68 years ordained.
