A Father's Day poem for priests

In conjunction with today's priestly ordinations at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, as well as the secular observance of Fathers' Day this Sunday, we offer this poem of gratitude for priests.

I thank thee Father (gratitude for our priests)

The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: Thou art a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech." (Ps. 109:4;

Heb. 5:6)

I thank thee Father

for all

thou hast done:

for giving us

God’s only Son;

for all the Sacrifices

thou dost make;

for consecrating

the bread we take

I thank thee Father

for the sacraments:

Baptism,

Communion,

and Penance

for helping us

to sanctify

our souls’ hunger

to satisfy

I thank thee Father

for thine obedience

for being our shepherd

for thy guidance

for leading us

into pastures green

for lifting our hearts

to things unseen

I thank thee Father

for thy vocation

for spreading

the Gospel

to every nation

for giving thy life

that we might live

I thank thee Father

for all thou dost give

I thank thee Father

for thy selflessness

for all the ways

thou dost bless

our lives

amidst the world’s

wretchedness

for giving thine all

and nothing less

I thank thee Father

for thy guiding light

amidst a world

in dark of night

like our Lord

for shining bright

for being the King’s

trustworthy knight

I thank thee Father

for being there

in times of joy,

or in despair

for thy words

of counsel

and consolation

I thank thee Father

for thy vocation