22nd Wednesday "Married Priests- No!"

     St. Peter and his wife lived in a town called Capernaum, which was near the Sea of Galilee, although it was about the size of a large lake. Capernaum was a little town. Peter’s mother-in-law was at home sick with a fever. He and the other apostles asked Jesus to heal his mother-in-law. Out of love for her, Jesus worked a miracle and healed her. Her fever immediately went away and she got better. In fact, she got up, and began to cook for Jesus and His apostles. Everyone was amazed Jesus healed her.

    Today, there is a movement in which some want priests the ability to get married. Some point to the fact St. Peter, the first pope, was married and so they use him as an example as to why they think priests should be married today. It is also believed St. Philip, one of the twelve apostles was married too. However, neither Peter nor Philip remained at home. They abandoned their wives, their families and their jobs and gave their lives as faithful followers of Jesus. Scripture tells us Peter, Andrew, James and John abandoned their fishing business. Eastern Catholic Churches have had married priests for many years, but never has western Catholics had married priests.

    If priests are not married-- they are freer to serve God’s people, with an undivided heart, whereas those who are married have to balance their time with their family and also the people to whom they serve. While it is true, Pope Francis could permit married priests, by far the majority of Catholic priests today would prefer to live celibate lives, so to be more effective witnesses to the Gospel in imitation of Jesus, who was celibate and also to be faithful to the tradition of living lives of chastity and abstinence for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.

    Today, let us pray for priests and religious, who have wholeheartedly devoted their lives in service of Jesus may they continue to be faithful witnesses of God’s kingdom.