Thursday, July 14, 2005

The power of Symbols


I saw an interesting interview with a Catholic priest on cable the other day. The interviewer was asking him about his vocation. The priest said "it's a little like your wedding ring." "Huh?" replied the intrepid interviewer. "Take your ring off...are you still married? Of course you are." You are always married whether or not you are wearing your ring. It's the same way with the priesthood. Whether or not you are wearing your clerical collar, you are always a priest. It's not something you put on and take off. It's who you are."

Interesting. Especially as I've been beginning to purchase clerical garb, preparing for my transition in vocation.

But it also makes me wonder about what we do with the laity. We talk a good game in regard to the priesthood of all believers. But we still do a pretty good job of creating a heirarchical system. I wonder if one of the reasons is that the laity, in particular the professional laity, lacks symbols to draw themselves into community, and to create signs of who they are.

What would it be like if there were ways of people identifying for themselves their own sense of call? How would we as a church do that? Is it necessary? It is wise?

I am processing...

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