Fr. Don’s Weekly Letter ~ 10 May 2026

Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

The apostles laid hands on believers while in Samaria to receive the Holy Spirit, on individuals to appoint or consecrate them for specific ministry roles, such as the setting apart of the seven deacons for service to the community and the commissioning of missionaries.

In Greek, this laying on of hands is called epiclesis, or the invocation of the Holy Spirit to sanctify, or consecrate. This laying on of hands is used in the:

• prayer over the waters used for ritual Baptism;
• prayer over the holy oil, chrism, which carries the Holy Spirit – as well as hands laid on each, or over all, for Confirmation and Holy Orders;
• prayer over the gifts in eucharistic prayers, - “make holy, therefore, these gifts, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
• prayer of absolution in Reconciliation: “He has poured out his Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins: through the ministry of the Church may God grant you pardon and peace…;”
• Marriage nuptial blessing – the miracle of two becoming one;
• prayer at the ordination, laying on of hands and oil for priests and deacons.

Jesus instructed believers to lay hands on the sick to initiate recovery, and a command followed by Paul and others (Acts 28:8, Mark 16:18) who used this act to set people apart for missionary work.

Consecration means to set aside someone or something for a sacred duty. It is more than just a blessing like we might bless rosaries, but similar – you bless a rosary and it is set aside for prayer, not to be worn as jewelry. Or the altar. Once consecrated, it is to be used only for the holy work of sanctifying.

Objects, places, or people are made holy, sanctified, or set apart for a sacred purpose through a solemn religious rite. It implies dedication to God or a divine purpose, can involve vows or blessing. It means being separated from common, secular use to a dedicated, sacred function.

You are already consecrated by baptism.

Last week we heard in Peter’s first letter: “Beloved: Come to him, [you,] a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

To be set aside for priesthood. The priesthood of the faithful. Through Baptism, YOU share Christ’s priesthood and become a “holy priesthood.” YOU offer spiritual sacrifices by living faith, hope, and charity, participating actively in the Church’s liturgy, and serving according to YOUR vocation in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king in witness of holy lives and practical charity.

It is a poverty of understanding that would delegate the priesthood only to priests and deacons. You live out the baptismal priesthood you received—not by replacing ordained ministry, but by participating in Christ’s mission in your own vocation and place in the world.

• PRIEST: by fully participating in the Mass, offering yourself with the gifts of bread and wine, by making of your whole life an offering of thanks to God;
• PROPHET: confessing, adhering to faith, deepening it, bearing witness to the world. Preaching the Gospel in your actions, even without words;
• KING: the greatest among you must become the servant of all, building the kingdom of truth and life, holiness and grace, justice, love and peace.

St. Peter continues: For it says in Scripture: Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame. Therefore, its value is clear for you who have faith, but for those without faith: The stone that the builders rejected, Jesus, has become the cornerstone, a stone that will make some people stumble... by disobeying the word, or by their indifference.

NO. WE are a chosen race, a royal priest-hood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that we may announce the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

The Lord be with you,