In his book An American Conversion, friend of the Chicks Deal Hudson tells a story about visiting Carmelite nuns in a monastery.  He used the phrase “smacked in the face by holiness” to describe his experience.  The phrase really struck me as I, too, could relate.  I was also smacked in the face by holiness.

It happened on a silent retreat which began my journey into the Church.  While I have met many pastors, ministers and laypeople who were wonderful and godly men and women, I was stunned the first time I met a Catholic priest.  I will never forget that meeting – I was startled at the gentleness, holiness and purity that radiated from this priest.  And, I realized that all the attributes he exhibited were due to the depth and level of intimacy of his relationship with Christ.

Several hours after meeting him, I found myself trying to describe the encounter to the spiritual director at the retreat:

“I just met Father and he was so um, so um …”

“Holy” she said, immediately completing my sentence.

“Yes – that’s the word – holy.”

A total donation of his life to Christ – he sacrificed all his personal dreams and goals – wife, family, kids and career to answer Christ’s call to further the kingdom here on earth, to feed the sheep, to shepherd the flock.  I am grateful to all who are courageous enough to answer this call, for I am a beneficiary of their sacrifice.

Even though I know that a priest is a mere human and falls short of the glory of God as we all do, that day a tiny corner of the veil was lifted.  I caught a glimpse of the radiance of Christ in one of his priests, and it was amazing!  What Hudson says in his book is so true – “the beauty of holiness answers all questions by placing the goal of desire before our eyes.”

It was a smack in the face.