When I was working back in Ohio, I stayed with a diocesan priest a few times. He mentioned he was working on his doctorate, but it seemed like it was a long time in progress. I wished him luck and that was about all I could do.
Then about a month back I got an e-mail from a brother who worked with me asking if I wanted to go to his doctoral dissertation. Brother had stayed in touch much better than I. It was on an evening between two exams, so I figured I could make it.
The Angelicum (the pontifical university run by the Dominicans) seemed empty as we approached – the side entrance was even closed. We spent 5 minutes trying to find the right hall and slipped in as we were a little late.
He developed the theme: the priest as a spouse of the Church. That probably isn’t the first image most of us have when we think of the priesthood. It is something new but makes sense in how much the priest dedicates himself to the Church and how he takes on Christ who is the true spouse of the Church. A bunch of the questions the professors asked him related to this image with regard to Eastern Catholic priests who are also married to a wife. I got a little lost with a few questions as I have not read the doctorate.
Afterwards, we had a great dinner – I ended up speaking with the Dominican who directed his thesis about many themes regarding the Church and the Legion.
As I prepare for the priesthood, I can think of all the couples I have seen in their total self-giving love to each other and see an image of the ministry I need to carry out. But in reality both images of marriage are but a poor reflection of the marriage Christ consummated with us, his Church, on the cross.
