Thursday, April 26, 2012

Beautiful Hands of a Priest

The approaching month of May begins the great season of ordinations. This is a bustling time for our embroidery shop as we prepare last-minute details for custom vestments and linens. I cannot think of a more rewarding project than preparing fabrics and floss for the altar!

The photos below were taken of a set of linens we embroidered in collaboration with Altarworthy for a priest who will be ordained in Texas in the next few weeks. Please pray for him and all new priests!

The Beautiful Hands of a Priest 
Unknown Author




  We need them in life's early morning,
            We need them again at its close;
            We feel their warm clasp of true friendship,
            We seek it while tasting life's woes.
  When we come to this world we are sinful,
            The greatest as well as the least.
            And the hands that make us pure as angels
            Are the beautiful hands of a priest.



  At the altar each day we behold them,
            And the hands of a king on his throne
            Are not equal to them in their greatness
            Their dignity stands alone.
  For there in the stillness of morning
            Ere the sun has emerged from the east,
            There God rests between the pure fingers
            Of the beautiful hands of a priest.



When we are tempted and wander
          To pathways of shame and sin
          'Tis the hand of a priest that absolve us.
          Not once but again and again.
And when we are taking life's spouse,
          Other hands may prepare us a feast
          But the hands that will bless and unite us,
          Are the beautiful hands of a priest.



God bless them and keep them all holy,
          For the Host which their fingers caress,
          What can a poor sinner do better
          Than to ask Him who chose them to bless
When the death dews on our lids are falling,
          May our courage and strength be increased
          By seeing raised o'er us in blessing
          The beautiful hands of a priest.


God bless,
Mary


O Lord, send us priest!
O Lord, send us many priests!
O Lord, send us many holy priests and religious vocations!





3 comments:

  1. What BEAUTIFUL work!!! I am always amazed at anything you do! And we must definitely pray for ALL Priests, especially our new ones that they may be GOOD priests and follow the perfect Will of God.

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