Intercession

In "Mulan," the title heroine prays at her family shrine and asks her ancestor's intercession that she be able to carry out the course of action upon which she has decided. The scene reflects a deep awareness that Asian cultures have of their connection to those who have gone before, and of those ancestors' intercessory power in our lives as well. This idea is also an integral part of our Christian faith, as we profess belief in "the Communion of saints." We all know of the deeply Catholic tradition of praying through the saints' intercession - and even through the intercession of those who are not named as saints (do you hear that, Pop-Pop?).

Intercession here on earth is also the duty of every Christian, and it is central to the role of the priest. "Pray for me, Father," I hear time and again. "Please remember my sister in your prayers, Father." I take those requests very seriously - not only as a fellow Christian but especially as a priest. It is not that we pray any better than anyone else - or that we have the "red phone to God." Rather, it is that as men conformed to Christ the High Priest, who sits at the right hand of the Father, it is part of our very being now to intercede for the People of God - just as Moses and Aaron, just as the high priests of old in the Temple.

As I mentioned, yesterday, we as an Archdiocese said farewell to a good and energetic young priest, Fr. Kevin Brooksbank. I spent a year with Fr. Kevin as he started his priestly ministry in Annapolis, MD, and we had a wonderful year of fun, fraternity, and prayer. He was a good priest - correction: he is a good priest. Even better now that he has gone before us marked with that sign of faith. He is a priest forever, and thus his task of intercession continues forever. Archbishop O'Brien reminded his family and us of this fact at the end of Mass. United ever more closely with the Divine Priest, he prays for us in our weakness.

Kevin was passionate about celebrating the Liturgy, and he was passionate about his vocation and those he wished to inspire. Today, I am asking him to intercede for us in this world, that God inspire many more young, energetic men to pursue that call to serve him at His altar - and to intercede for His People.