Priesthood Ordination

To live in the midst of the world without wishing its pleasures; To be a member of each family, yet belonging to none; To share all suffering; to penetrate all secrets; To heal all wounds; to go from men to God and offer Him their prayers; To return from God to men to bring pardon and hope; To have a heart of fire for Charity, and a heart of bronze for Chastity To teach and to pardon, console and bless always. My God, what a life; and it is yours, O priest of Jesus Christ.

Henri Lacordaire

In the minutes leading up to their ordination to the diaconate, Rev. Mr. Brent Durschmidt '23 (Portland in Oregon), Rev. Mr. Joseph Lapeyrouse '23 (Houma-Thibodaux), and Rev. Mr. Taylor Colwell '23 (Washington) pray in the sacristy chapel of St. Peter's Basilica.

“What A Life”

REV. JOSEPH FERME IV ’22, ARCHDIOCESE OF BOSTON

My God, what a life, and it is yours, O Priest of Jesus Christ!” Thus ends Lacordaire’s well-known poem detailing the blessings which belong to the life of a priest. It remains somewhat surreal as I reflect that this blessed life is now my own. I was ordained a priest on May 21st of this year for the Archdiocese of Boston by Seán Cardinal O’Malley. That joyous day came after six wonderful years of formation. The journey began when I surrendered to the growing desire in my own heart for the priesthood—a desire placed there by God.

A common response of family and friends when I told them about the six-year path to the priesthood was one of shock: “It takes six years?!” I was proud of the answer I finally came up with: “I need six years.” As ordination day drew near, I looked back and marveled at what God had done in my life. At the same time, I could also recognize that I remained imperfect. Precisely at this time, aided by helpful counsel from my spiritual director, I was able to surrender. By recognizing and accepting my imperfection, I was also able to see more clearly how the priesthood is pure gift. The vocation was never about me becoming worthy of the call, but about allowing God to accomplish His work in and through me. Seeing my own shortcomings in clearer relief allowed me to be more thankful for the gift. Indeed, I am a priest – but always a priest of Jesus Christ.

On that Saturday in May, I surrendered myself to the Archbishop of Boston, promising obedience to him and his successors. In lying on the marble floor, I surrendered my whole life to the service of God’s holy people. This past summer, I experienced that service during my time as parochial vicar at three parishes in the Archdiocese. During my short stay, I celebrated many Masses and funerals, sat for hours in the confessional, baptized, anointed, blessed, and visited. Indeed, what a life it is! In the words of Lacordaire, I went “from men to God to offer Him their prayers” and returned “from God to men to bring them His pardon and hope.” I also learned to surrender expectations (not to mention a daily schedule!). There was no planning where and for whom God would use me. The summer was filled with many beautiful encounters and moments of grace, and each day could have ended with an exclamation of gratitude: “My God, what a life!” One such encounter came in the midst of an already busy day—an unexpected call to anoint someone. It was only my second anointing. So, between celebrating a funeral and a Saturday evening Mass, I went to the bedside of a woman who was conscious, but likely not fully aware of her surroundings, and was surrounded by her family. As I stood among them, she asked if she could hold my hand. She did not know me, but she knew a priest was at her side. I anointed her and fed her with the Bread of Life, which became food for the journey as she passed the following day. I was privileged to be able to celebrate her funeral. These, and other such encounters, support Lacordaire’s claim.

Yes, what a life it is. There is no telling what it will look like in the years to come, but I have no reason to doubt the words of the poem: the life of the priest is “to bless and be blest forever.” Though I have much to learn and many ways to grow, it is all God’s work to bring to fulfillment—I have only to cooperate with him. In the meantime, I am grateful for this life, the life of a priest of Jesus Christ. n

During the Mass of his priestly ordination, Rev. Joseph Ferme IV, '22 (Boston) places his hands in those of His Eminence Seán Cardinal O'Malley OFM (Boston) and makes his promise of obedience.