Whom does the Lord call to the priesthood? Exceptionally active individuals, chosen for their great performance? In that case, he certainly did not choose the best ones. He ordained twelve of his disciples, and it is not known whether most of them ever served anywhere or what they accomplished.
It was different. The Lord entrusted the priesthood to several men who walked with him, clung to him, and remained faithful to him. They decided to share his life and understood each other only because each of them loved him with all their heart: "And you are those who have persevered with me."
(Father Jerome /1907–1985/, monk of the Trappist monastery in Sept-Fons,
text addressed to a fellow brother on the day of his priestly ordination, 1979)
