My dear friend in Christ,

Jesus was a teacher, rabbi, Abba. So, if we call our priests "Father', it does not in any way diminish either our Earthly father, whom we must respect, nor God our Father, to whom we must devote our life's work, and live by his Word. Our dear Mother, Mary, does not "compete" with her Son for attention, nor is she offended by the focus and devotion to her, as she may intercede on our behalf with her Son, for their shared values of Peace, Love, and Christian Service, to name a few. Thank you for your words regarding the New Testament and the offering of prayer and confession directly to the Lord. As Catholics, we offer prayer and confession directly to Christ each week in Mass, and perhaps daily, in our own prayer, I know I do. When I seek a priests counsel, it is to recieve the gift of Reconciliation, that is, to speak my sins to another human being whom I can trust, to "own" my sins to another, and to reconcile myself to the past, and embrace the future in Christ. Certainly I can do this directly to the Lord, but why would I miss the opportunity to do so in the loving presence of another, anointed and promised to serve me in His name. I have, in my lifetime, been transformed during just such an encounter with a priest. I wish the same for you, my friend, I welcome you back.

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