Pastor's Points: "A Priest Forever"

Pastor's Points: A Priest Forever

Some of you may have read the story of Fr. Michael Los, FDP.  Fr. Los was diagnosed with terminal cancer in April while studying to be a priest for the Orionine Fathers. His only desire was to become a priest.  Pope Francis granted permission for Fr. Los to be ordained a deacon and a priest in the same ceremony, given his diagnosis and his heartfelt desire to become a priest. He was ordained on May 24 and died on June 17. You can read about Fr. Los in this article from the Catholic News Agency.

Fr. Los was a priest for all of 24 days before he died. Yet, from his hospital bed, he gave a profound witness to Christ, to faith in suffering, and to what it means to be a priest.  Facing death, Fr. Los did not blame God. Rather, he submitted himself to the Divine Will and had only the desire to be ordained a priest.  He never stood at an altar to offer Mass. Rather, he did so lying in his hospital bed. He offered the sacrifice of the Mass in imitation of Christ to whom he was configured in a unique way through ordination.

Fr. Los is an example for all of us as we face sickness, hardship, distress and, eventually, death. Knowing death was soon to claim his body, Fr. Los maintained his faith and his belief. I love the image above of Father holding the host as he celebrated Mass. There, in his hands, he held the Christ Who would soon call Father Los to himself. We can see in this image the hope of resurrected life where all hope to gaze upon the Christ and live with Him forever.

Say a prayer for the eternal repose of the soul of Fr. Michael Los.