The Shepherd and His Flock After the Holy Mass

It has become a sort of pious tradition in our Parish that after the Mass the parishioners are not rushing out of the Church but they fall in line again or they encircle the priest to ask for his blessing or pay their respect. The children are doing the 'Mano', the sick requests prayer healing, some even kiss the hand of the priest and some others even kiss him on the cheeck especially those who are already close friend and are active in parish ministries.

In my early months of priesthood I was hesitant to give my hand to be kissed, was reluctant to let my hand be kissed because I don't want to be accused of pride and presumpion. But my Confessor immediately reminded me: "Your hands are anointed by Christ through the Bishop. They are consecrated and blessed. Therefore use it for the benefit of the people. It is not you that they kiss but the presence and the office of Christ that you represent." Since then I never hesitated to let my hand be touched, be kissed and put them on the head of the faithful.

The hand of the priest is also a sacramental. I have read in one of the testimonies of a well-known exorcist that putting the hand of the priest on the head of a possessed brings intense pain to the Devil. It is like a burning coal that tortures the evil spirits. Thus, it is a manifestation of the authority of the Church and the spiritual graces handed on by the Lord Jesus to the Ministers of His Church.

It is a great blessing that our parishioners developed this wonderful piety. It bears a lot of good fruit.

1. It fosters love and respect of the Parish Priest and in all priests of the Church.

2. It provides the priest the opportunity to know and communicate with the parishioners. The presence of each other is becoming concrete and deeper..

3. The babies are blessed at an early age, the sick are being prayed over and the people could feel the warm arising from the Shepherd and vice versa.

Another tradition that must be promoted is the Asperges or the Sprinkling of the Holy Water on the faithful expecially the exorcized water. It is a powerful weapon against the presence of the evil spirits. These weapons must not be deprived to our flock.

Usually, if I only have one Mass or have arrived in a Church or Chapel early I situate myself at the main door of the Church in order to greet the coming parishioners. Then they can greet their priest, pay their respect earlier, he can inquire their name and point to their residence and others. It will facilitate wonderful relationship between the priests and the people.

I saw it on a very old movie and have seen old priest doing exactly the same. The people appreciate it a lot and they learn to love their priest because of that.