Hence Holy Church calls out for priests who will be, first of all, meek and humble of heart; secondly, who will ever be conscious of the dignity to which God has raised them; and, finally, who will recognize the immense strength and love of their Master, Who assures them He never will fail them.
Now, it is most noteworthy that these same three ideas are embodied in the Magnificat of Our Blessed Lady. "He hath put down the proud and hath exalted the humble," she sings. Notwithstanding the "great things" done to her, you will search in vain for a breath of pride in Mary. She remained all the time the "handmaid of the Lord," abandoning herself unreservedly into His hands, existing only for one single purpose, to be used by Him as pleased Him. She never sought for notoriety; she lived in immense contentment in the midst of the obscurity of Nazareth; that was what God wanted from His handmaid and nothing else mattered.
Is it difficult to catch the echo of her prayer in what the Church puts on the lips of the priest? Mary, indeed, had no trace of sin, but she excelled in the humility that befits us sinners. "O God, wash away all stain of sin from my soul . . . Who hast willed that I, though a sinner, should minister at Thine altar ... refuse me not the pardon of my sins . . . Magnificat. Certainly every priest can sing it with Mary.
And when he recalls the duties and dignities and privileges of his high office, can he refrain from uniting himself with Mary? For to her, too, God did great things _ her Immaculate Conception and divine Maternity and glorious Assumption, to name some of them. Her hymn reverberates with the note of gratitude, and the prayer for the priest does the same.
Finally, Mary shows him how to cast all his care upon God, for God hath care of His priest. "His mercy," declares this sweet singer of Israel, "is from generation to generation to those that fear Him." The priest needs that mercy, pleads for that mercy, and is immensely comforted by the loving assurance of his Mother that it will never be withheld.
To doubt of this mercy would be the beginning of the despair that ties the hands of even an omnipotent Lover. Mary needed tremendous trust for her exalted mission; Mary's priest needs it too. She is very conscious of his need and she will beg it for him; and if she does, it is certain she will be heard.
Mary, Mother of priests, teach us to pray for them and to model our prayer on your sublime canticle. In them, too, God hath exalted the humble; to them He hath done great things; for them, as for thee, His mercy endureth forever. Jesus, through Mary, give Your Church the priests she sorely needs in these days of trial _ saintly priests, humble priests, priests who esteem their priesthood, priests who are learned, who, conscious of their own weakness and the danger. surrounding them, cast all their care upon You.