“Christians are indistinguishable from other people; either by nationality, language or customs. Their teaching is not based upon dreams or wild ideas inspired by curiosity.

Christians love all human beings, but all persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. the world hates the Christians, not because they have done any wrong, but because they are opposed to what the world tells them to enjoy.

Christians love those who hate them. It is by the soul, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together.”

Wednesday was a normal day for me until I read this passage, as part of the Prayer of The Day. I found my memory jumping back to a Church history class in Maynooth. At that time I was doing a lot of thinking, and having serious unsettling doubts about Priesthood and Ordination. It was the enthusiasm of the “Old” Professor (about 65!) and how he was able to find inspiration to encourage us young men, that tipped the balance. Yes I would go on, and I would try to be a good priest, encouraging the young, listening to their parents, trying to give hope to the older people in times where there very little excitement in being a Christian, especially a Catholic. I could not see myself as a Holy Priest, but I would not refuse this call from the people of God to be their leader.