Author Topic: When A Physician Becomes A Priest  (Read 824 times)

Lorenzo

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When A Physician Becomes A Priest
« on: November 21, 2013, 04:19:47 PM »
MAPLEWOOD, N.J. -- When a new Roman Catholic priest celebrates his first Mass, there is great excitement in a church, and, afterward, for good luck, people line up to get a special blessing from him.

As the line formed at St. Joseph`s here the other day, Midge O`Brien looked at her youngest, 9-year-old Marty, who was running in church. ``Go get in line,`` she said. ``You can use a blessing.``

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Lorenzo

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Re: When A Physician Becomes A Priest
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2013, 04:20:27 PM »
O`Brien feels particular fondness for the new priest. He delivered Marty and her five other children.

``He delivered all four of my children,`` said Stella Caggiano, who waited half an hour to be blessed. ``I have two sisters, and he delivered all eight of their children.``

When Bess Zois finally got to the front of the line, she said: ``My baby`s going to be 26 in November. You delivered my last one.`` Then she bent down slightly and kissed the smallest priest at St. Joseph`s -- 74-year-old Father Paul, formerly James Flanagan, M.D. -- near the top of his head.

Five years ago, with 5,000 babies to his credit, Flanagan, walked into Newark Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in the heart of the inner city, and said to the abbot, ``I want to be a priest.``

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Lorenzo

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Re: When A Physician Becomes A Priest
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2013, 04:21:05 PM »
``You have to be a monk first,`` Abbot Melvin Valvano said.

``That`s OK,`` Flanagan said.

Because of Flanagan`s 40 years as a physician, the abbot waived the usual psychiatric screening for candidates, but even so, the abbot warned, it takes years to be a priest.

The doctor -- 68 at the time -- said he understood. ``They don`t want to get some screwball who walks around like this all the time,`` he said, looking upward and holding his hands like the monks do on the late-night movies. ``Those guys don`t make good priests.``

The doctor proved to be an obedient monk, Abbot Melvin said. He took the name Paul, and at the four prayer services each day, Abbot Melvin could often hear Brother Paul`s deep voice above the rest. His good humor was valued. When Brother Paul read the newspaper comics, the other monks gathered to watch. They liked the idea of a monk who so easily laughed out loud.

The new monk did not mind the grand silences that started in the evening, and continued to breakfast. He liked that the monks unplugged the telephone at night -- he had spent a lifetime being roused from bed to deliver babies.

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Lorenzo

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Re: When A Physician Becomes A Priest
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2013, 04:21:48 PM »
He did all his assigned chores, running the infirmary, sorting mail and ironing the altar cloths. ``In this abbey,`` Abbot Melvin said, ``people work their behinds off.``

Those looking for deep explanations for his joining the monastery were disappointed. Usually Flanagan told people, ``It didn`t seem like a big step.`` Or if they seem to need something else, he says, ``You learn more about God.`` He was never a gabby physician and he is not a gabby monk.

As for monastic life, he said, ``I`m not crazy about getting up at quarter after 5, but that`s the deal.``

When the abbot felt it was time, the monk`s two sons invited those who knew him as a doctor to watch him become a priest. When asked how he felt, Brother Paul said, ``I`m a little bit excited, probably.``

For two weeks he had traveled to St. Joseph`s and practiced in an empty church. On May 17, his 74th birthday, he was ordained. He remembered his deceased wife in his prayers and everything was going well, until he gave his first priestly blessing, to his baby grandson, William James. By the time he was back at the altar, the new priest had stopped crying.

Pentecost Sunday, at his first mass, he was easy to spot, a head shorter than all the priests and monsignors who came to honor him.

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Lorenzo

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Re: When A Physician Becomes A Priest
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2013, 04:22:14 PM »
The Rev. Declan Cunniff, his mentor, said the new priest did ``fine.`` Young priests sometimes showboat a little their first time, Father Declan said, but Father Paul played it straight. He kept the homily short and formal, suggesting people call on the Holy Spirit as often as the Father and the Son.

There were pastries, sandwiches, wine and two kinds of punch at the church reception. Hundreds attended. Mickey Alger, who worked as a nurse with him, flew in specially from Cape Cod. She said he was always a gentleman as a physician, and it was a privilege to attend his first Mass.

His sons -- Paul and James, both lawyers -- remembered the day five years ago, watching the late news with him. ``He said `Boys, I have something to tell you,` `` James recalled. While they were not exactly expecting their father to say he was going to a monastery, they were not shocked.

In 1929, he graduated from the prep school affiliated with the abbey. Most of his life, he attended church daily. When he stayed overnight at the hospital, the nurses gave him a 6 a.m. wake-up call for Mass. He was the gynecologist for many of the diocese`s nuns.

He was known for never missing a meal and loving a joke, particularly one of his own. This appears to be true still. Talking with a reporter, the abbot tried to stress the shortage of monks and the need for more to make the commitment. ``I don`t think you should call it a second career,`` Abbot Melvin said. ``It`s a relationship where you`ve fallen in love with God. But don`t call it a second career.``

``Call me anything,`` Father Paul put in, ``just don`t call me late for supper.``

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Lorenzo

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Re: When A Physician Becomes A Priest
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2013, 04:22:59 PM »
Dressed in his black monk`s robe, he stood at the front of the hall, listening to stories of babies delivered long ago and blessing everyone. It took an hour and a half. The sweat was pouring off him by the end and the church was nearly empty.

He looked pale as he sat and a volunteer came up to him. ``How about a sandwich, Father?`` she said.

``I`d like about four sandwiches,`` he said.

``You need a vacation,`` she said.

``Tell the abbot,`` the newest priest said, biting into his first sandwich.


http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-05-29/features/8602010910_1_monk-new-priest-roman-catholic-priest

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Lorenzo

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Re: When A Physician Becomes A Priest
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2013, 04:23:15 PM »
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Re: When A Physician Becomes A Priest
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2013, 05:28:27 PM »
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Lorenzo

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Re: When A Physician Becomes A Priest
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2013, 03:27:37 AM »
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