Call no man ‘Father’?

Q) The Bible says, “Call no man Father.” Why then do Catholics call their priests “father?”

A) Jesus also tells us that if our right eye causes us to sin, we need to pluck it out. Mercifully, we do not take the Lord literally here! What is more, St. Paul in his letters refers to himself as a spiritual father. Surely the great apostle knew of the Lord’s admonition against titles! And so, it seems that the Lord’s proscription is not so much about words, but about our loyalties and a sure knowledge of the ultimate authority that is God’s alone. Jesus had a real problem with those who claimed for themselves spiritual authority but did not live up to the holiness of their position. Jesus is reminding us in this passage to always remember that our earthly fathers, whether they be our pastor, an important teacher or our own biological dad, are human beings, and they derive their own authority from the Father of all. Respect and due deference are important to show to earthly authority, but God is God and no one can take his place. We call priests “father” as a sign of their spiritual role in our lives and as one who is often given charge over a parish family. It is a sign of affection, but it also reminds the priest himself of his duties and obligations.

Q) The Bible says not to pray in “vain repetition,” so why do Catholics pray the same prayers over and over?

A) If our prayers do not involve the heart, they are indeed just wasted breath. God is not moved by words alone, as if he could be manipulated or deceived. Rather, it is the heart that matters to him. Spontaneous prayer, said without a script and full of emotion and meaning, can be beautiful and important, but should not be confused as better than “rote” prayers, which are often said repeatedly. Indeed, many of those rote prayers that Catholics say come from sacred Scripture itself, most notably the Our Father and the Hail Mary. As we pray these words, we strive to make them our own, and to shape our hearts according to the passage of the text. For example, the very beautiful and simple prayer “Jesus, I trust in you” can be recited, over and over again, not only as a sign of our interior disposition of loving abandonment to the Lord, but can also help us to actively grow in trust of that same Lord. There can indeed be a temptation at times to confuse heartless repetition with piety, and the Lord’s words against vain repetition are a caution against this mindset.

Father Erickson is pastor of Transfiguration in Oakdale. Send your questions to [email protected] with “Why Do Catholics Do That?” in the subject line.