read the daily thought Just as the Father sent me… Among the divine words Jesus uttered, there is one that makes us dizzy when we think it was pronounced by God, and helps us to understand the privilege of election. It is a paradoxical comparison, while at the same time true and deeply mysterious. Christ directs these words to those who over the centuries were to be his priests: “Just as the Father sent me, I send you.” Who then, is a priest? A person chosen by Christ to continue his presence in time.  Unfortunately priests are often not like this. But if on the other hand, they are not Christ, they are very little indeed. Their sermons are empty words and their churches are deserted. For the word that Christ gave was He himself.  If the priest first of all lives what he preaches and then speaks, his word will be Christ and he too will be another Christ. His talks will attract the crowds and the churches will be full to the brim.What makes a priest is not knowledge, but the charism brought to life with love.  Chiara Lubich, Il celibato sacerdotale, Città Nuova  14 (1970/3),  9   Traslation from: Come il Padre ha amato me… 365 pensieri per l’anno sacerdotale, Città nuova 2009 http://editrice.cittanuova.it/notizia.asp