Religion holds a very important part in the society. It enforces discipline and order towards all its adherents. Religion shapes them on who they are and teaches them the basic instructions on living a life that is moral and acceptable to the divine. Religion gives us hope in times of great anxiety as we connect ourselves with the divine.
In a religion, we are obliged to attend religious gatherings, called rituals or divine services with purpose of reaffirming our common beliefs and reinforcing our social solidarity. Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI said in his apostolic letter "Summorum Pontificum" that "In this way the sacred liturgy enriched not only the faith and piety but also the culture of many peoples."
The liturgy is the heart of the Church. All of Catholic doctrine is explained in the liturgy. Unity is seen in the with the people participating with what is happening in the liturgy, not only in our own parishes but also in countries where there is Catholic presence. Without the liturgy, our Christian life will slowly fade like a withering plant.
No one else will lead a liturgical service except a minister.The priest is the only one who can say Mass. In spite of his tardiness on his Mass schedule, we are very happy to see our priest celebrating Mass and giving comfort to all who afflicted, spiritually and physically. That is why we have this thought that a priest represents Christ. An alter christus. He is the center of the Mass. He is the one who commences and culminates the celebration of the Mystery of Christ who is the Beginning and the End of all things. And we, lay people, look up to our Fathers and give a well-deserved respect to our Pastors.
But in the recent years after the Second Vatican Council we are very fed up with reports coming from priests who committed horrible crimes such as pedophilia and embezzlement of Church funds. We had enough of priests who merely act like "drama-queens", "clowns", "opportunists", "political experts", "communist jerks" rather than focusing their mission of saying Mass and saving souls from the eternal torments of Hell with grace and dignity proper to their office and disposition. Helping the poor and marginalized is a Christian virtue. But by doing odd by saying "solidarity with the poor and exerting social justice" but replacing the crucifix with Che Guevara extending his arms carrying a Communist Manifesto in his right hand and an AK-47 in his left is very unacceptable. One priest said that today "the Church looks after welfare of the poor but the poor needed Jesus Christ." Look at South America. Most of those who converted to Evangelicalism came from the slums.
That is why humanity, especially the youth, are very disappointed of what is happening now in the Church. They ran away from the Church. They opted to attend emotional and noisy Evangelical gatherings rather than sitting for an hour listening to boring homilies and doing the Mass gestures all over again. Some became atheists because their priest, who is supposed to be their model, has failed them. My brother was very disappointed when he saw a priest riding his "fancy" car and smoking cigarettes and lost faith.
I have seen, and heard the worst of the "vices" these priests committed, yet I never lost faith in God. It is a mistake for us, lay people to expect too much on them, yet we do not realize the purpose on why they became priests. It is God, who called them to be one. In their years of study and work during their seminary formation it is by the grace of God that made them persevere in spite of hardships and temptations to face. On the moment of their ordination, God has sanctified them and the office they are now holding through the Holy Spirit to preach to us and be with us in this earthly journey of ours as reminder of Christ's love for us and comfort to those who are afflicted.
I know it is very hard to believe on everything that I've said, but what is important is to be very prudent in everything when it deals with our pastors. We must pray for them and offer them comfort if they themselves are afflicted. Lastly, as vocations to the priesthood are dwindling, we must pray that many would consider the priestly life and persevere on their desire to become one.
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