I once heard a story of a priest who abandoned his assignment and left behind his priestly belongings, including his chalice. The chalice being left behind was perhaps the most piercing part of this sad tale, in part because, prior to hearing of this priest, I was speaking with a deacon who would be ordained to the priesthood in the coming months. His chalice would be arriving in the mail soon, and he was overjoyed. At the seminary he attended, all the deacons displayed their chalices, and their brother seminarians prayed for them as they prepared for priestly ordination.
This priest left behind his chalice, the very vessel he held while speaking the words of Christ, of consecration: "This is the chalice of my Blood, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins," - the very vessel which held the Precious Blood of our Lord.
This then turned my thoughts to The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander. Houselander describes what she calls “emptiness,” but it’s an emptiness that has a shape, a form ready to receive what it is meant to. Houselander invites the reader to sift through any debris in one’s life that may be filling this “emptiness,” and thus preventing it from being used for its intended purpose. She writes, “Our own effort will consist in sifting and sorting out everything that is not essential and that fills up space and silence in us and in discovering what sort of shape this emptiness in us is. From this we shall learn what sort of purpose God has for us. In what way are we to fulfil the work of giving Christ life in us?”
She goes on, “Are we chalices? Does he ask to be sacrificed in us?” And later, “Does he ask to be sacrificed, to be lifted up and to draw all men to himself?”
This priest had the faculties to confect the Eucharist—the Most Precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ—through which the Lord sought to draw all men to Himself. Rather than remaining when presumed challenges arose and allowing the painful yet fruitful gift of the Lord being sacrificed in the chalice of his heart, rather than repenting and taking refuge in the Most Precious Blood, this priest fled.
Certainly, there is much more to this story; however, after hearing it, I had the great privilege of visiting the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, founded by St. John Henry Newman, in Birmingham, UK. I was able to pray by Newman’s relics and visit a museum erected in his honor. Among the personal belongings on display was Newman’s chalice.
St. John Henry Newman leaves not just for priests but for all of us an example of fidelity amidst hardship. Newman, who certainly allowed our Lord to be sacrificed in the chalice of his heart, was an Anglican cleric who sought and found Truth in Catholicism. His conversion to the Church Christ founded left him despised by his Anglican colleagues and doubted by his newfound Catholic brothers and sisters. Newman’s vocation to the Catholic priesthood and witness to the Faith were far from easy, yet he remained.
After being gutted by the heart-wrenching story of a priest leaving his chalice behind, this simple witness of a priest remaining amidst deep suffering was consoling.
Newman wrote: “Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.”
I pass along to you the question Houselander asks of her readers: “Are we chalices? Does he ask to be sacrificed in us? Does he ask to be sacrificed, to be lifted up and to draw all men to himself?” In the midst of the sufferings we encounter, do we invite Christ in, allowing him to ultimately be lifted up, drawing others to himself?
Especially as we near the end of the month dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, join me in praying for the sanctification and protection of those ordained to the holy priesthood of Jesus Christ.
St. John Henry Newman, pray for us!
St. Jean Vianney, pray for us!
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.