A priest is a gift of god to man and of man to god

1 SUMMARY OF “DEAR FATHER’ BY CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY

ASSIGNMENT BY: TAHIR S. JOHN

SUMMARY This book is a tribute and salute to the Priests by celebrated authoress Catherine de Hueck Doherty. She alike her other publications has shared her deep and inspiring sentiments about the Priests to the world. She is known for her simple language and deep meanings of writings. This book (as the cover says) is a “Message of Love to Priests” not

by Catherine only but by the entire laity.

This book is meant to be letters by laity written to priests in order to motivate them and to laud their sanctiful acts. The book is composed on thirteen different topics related to each other and yet each of its own significance. Each topic is a thought that arises in one’s mind.

The priest is a vessel of atonement provided by God through the Roman Catholic Church.

Jesus Christ- the ultimate and everlasting Savior gave command to His disciples to Renounce the Good News, Corporal Wishes and to denounce the evil of society.

The priests are the vessels of spirituality. Priests are ordained to be the Fathers of the laity and nourishe their souls through the sacraments of the Church.

2 SUMMARY OF “DEAR FATHER’ BY CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY

ASSIGNMENT BY: TAHIR S. JOHN

This book covers a variety of aspects related to the spirituality and corporal deeds of priests. It describes the need of Priests in society and demands of Priests. As to best describe the contents of this book below is a detail of each topic followed by its main idea.

The First Chapter “Don’t Dessert us” It talks about the priest as the intermediatiary between man and God. It proves how a priest becomes one with the Christ. This chapter elaborates the unity of man with God through Christ.

The Second Chapter” Sharing Christ’s Loneliness” It teaches how man shares the burden of cross carried by Christ. It tells that man should never forsake the sufferings of Christ and should always be in pursuit to show his love to Him.

The Third Chapter “Re-crucified” The main idea of this chapter is vivid and clear through its name. As requested/advised in the preceding chapter to share burdens of the Christ, this demands elimination of acts from our lives that hurt Christ in any manner.

3 SUMMARY OF “DEAR FATHER’ BY CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY

ASSIGNMENT BY: TAHIR S. JOHN

The Fourth Chapter “A Joy to the world” This chapter depicts one of the most essential side of a Priest. It says that a Priest is revered as a sign of Hope by the society. He is light of hope. For sinners he intercedes, for sick he asks atonement and for the hopeless he is the path to happiness.

The Fifth Chapter “Holocausts of Love” This chapter explains how a Priest is not complete without sense and acts of love. Love for Christ is his first priority but love for neighbor is his corporal responsibility and spiritual necessity.

The Sixth Chapter “Father, I want to beget children” This chapter discusses the grave issue that has been a topic of discussion since the Priesthood was formed. Every man (either laity or non-laity) is a temple of the Spirit of God, imagine the sanctity of a priest. Often, a priest wishes to marry and beget children to care, love and nourishe. It is not bad but it should be remembered that he has dedicated his life to Christ and has taken the vow of chastity. (Ergo) Chastity is the chain of discipleship.

The Seventh Chapter “Give us God” Priest are the masters of theology, philosophy and metaphysics. It occurs that priests don’t explain/answer the questions of laity and confuse them with their knowledge facts.

4 SUMMARY OF “DEAR FATHER’ BY CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY

ASSIGNMENT BY: TAHIR S. JOHN

This chapter asks the priests to lead the laity as they are the shepherd and the laity is the flock that follows their command in the name of God.

The Eight Chapter “Cry to the Lord for His Church” As mentioned in the inceptive lines, the ecclesia is a flock of sheep that requires a tangible entity to lead and guide them to their Father’s house (Paradise). As a nation cannot flourish without a leader similarly the Church cannot survive without priests.

The Ninth Chapter “Dear Priest of Tomorrow” This chapter is a letter for the newly ordained Priests. It says that as the world has advanced so has the methodology of preaching and catechizing. The authoress hopes and implores the intercession of Mother Mary to guide and protect her sons (Priests) for she is their mother too.

The Tenth Chapter “Pastoral Theology” Pastoral Theology refers to the methodology to preach and catechize the Catholic teachings. Just as the title reflects this chapter explores the depth and height of Pastoral acts.

5 SUMMARY OF “DEAR FATHER’ BY CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY

ASSIGNMENT BY: TAHIR S. JOHN

The Eleventh Chapter “Are Priest Relevant?”

The title of this is a question; to think and answer and I’d like only to answer the question and not explain the answer because you yourself know the answer.

Of course, Priests are relevant.

The Twelfth Chapter “A talk to Priests” In this chapter the authoress shares her spiritual experiences with the Priests. Experiences are moralistic, informative and inspirational. Some reflect simplicity and some empowerment of Priests in society.

The Thirteen Chapter “The Heart of a Madonna House Priest” This chapter is particularly dedicated to a priest that came to the authoress Madonna House for a retreat and opens his heart to her. The priest shares the benefits of being a priest and on the contrary he also explains how a priest cannot resist to face temptations for the benefits of many souls.

6 SUMMARY OF “DEAR FATHER’ BY CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY

ASSIGNMENT BY: TAHIR S. JOHN

As per the grounds of summary, I would like to share a story of a Jesuit who was a priest but had never felt the joy of helping someone. This story is an extract from the captioned book and written on Page 38-41.

The authoress had personal encounter with this Jesuit priest. It goes like this “The priest had some health problem and the doctor had prescribed him to walk daily for 3 Miles. He thinks of it as a bad idea and wonders to ignore it. But the authoress insists him to go for it and she tells him a better idea.

She says “Dear father, you don’t want to go for a 3-Mile walk daily but I know you can go to experience Christ in a new way, not known to you before. You can go and share your meals with the people in the slums living not far from here. The non-believers there will throw stones at you but don’t worry they will throw it on your feet.

The priest agrees and started to share his meals with the people and pray for the ones that asked him.

After many days, while was distributing the meals a lady comes to him and kisses his hand in honor and says: “Father, You prayed for for my daughter and she is cured now.

Thanks for interceding and Thanks to your God.” The priest had never encountered such an incident before nor ever seen any believer like her before. He was stunned and blessed her with a cross on the forehead and gave her a ring of Holy Rosary.”

7 SUMMARY OF “DEAR FATHER’ BY CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY

ASSIGNMENT BY: TAHIR S. JOHN

The moral of this story is that priests should never hesitate to go with the flow of their life because, they never know what it will result to. They learn to love God and then teach others to love God. A priest is a bringer of joy to the hopeless and he is a candle of atonement for the sinners.

A PRIEST IS AN ENTITY OF DISCIPLESHIP, A PRIEST IS AN EXAMPLE OF OBEDIENCE, A PRIEST IS A CHALICE OF LOVE BY GOD FOR THE MAN; A PRIEST IS THE GATE TO ONE’S SPIRITUAL ENDEAVORS, A PRIEST IS

CHRIST FOR OTHERS.

The heart of a priest is pierced, like Christ’s with the lance of love.

I would like to conclude this summary with the prayful thoughts of Catherine de Hueck Doherty ascribed to a young priest on his retreat “...This hopeless world of ours might

once more arise and walk, even as the paralytic, in faith, hope and charity, toward the wounded heart of her Son and there be made whole again. Alleluia!

8 SUMMARY OF “DEAR FATHER’ BY CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY

ASSIGNMENT BY: TAHIR S. JOHN

WORDS ABOUT THE AUTHORESS

Catherine de Hueck Doherty was born in a wealthy Russian family. In her early thirties she founded a Friendship House in Toronto, dedicated to the care of the poor and to obtaining social justice.

She has authored many articles and a growing number of books. She died on December 14, 1985 leaving behind a great spiritual legacy.

9 SUMMARY OF “DEAR FATHER’ BY CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY

ASSIGNMENT BY: TAHIR S. JOHN