Dear Holy Priests

Merridith Frediani shares a message of gratitude for the faith, dedication, and example of the priests she has known.

Dear Holy Priests Whom I Love, 

You know who you are. 

You are the men who have eaten dinner at my battered kitchen table with a slightly intrusive dog at your feet. 

You have thrown a football around, played flip the bottle, and joked with my children. You have shown them how cool a priest can be. 

You take time to be part of our lives whether we are your parishioners or not. 

You have absolved me of my worst sins—the ones I can only whisper. 

You have encouraged me when I was riddled with discouragement. 

You have answered arcane questions that I email you despite having many other emails to attend to. 

When you talk to me, you are fully present and make me feel like I am the only person in the world. I know you do that for the eighteen other people you encounter that day. 

You say the Mass so prayerfully that it brings me to tears. 

You tell the congregation that it is your honor to serve us. That we are your family, and you love us. We need to hear that.  

You have given your whole self to be a servant of Christ. And you are joyful about it. 

You are the face of Jesus in a time when it is ironically counter cultural to be faithful. 

You inspire me to be better. 

What you are doing is beautiful, holy, and necessary. And you are slowly changing the world. 

In your humility you radiate Jesus’ love. 

I am tremendously blessed to know you. I am praying for you. Thank you. 

Click to tweet:
Dear holy priest: You have given your whole self to be a servant of Christ. And you are joyful about it. #CatholicMom

Copyright 2023 Merridith Frediani
Images: copyright 2022 Holy Cross Family Ministries, all rights reserved.