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Why Priests Are Called Father
Catholic Exchange ^ | February 5, 2015 | FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

Posted on 02/09/2015 2:55:55 PM PST by NYer

Q: A Baptist friend asked me, “Why do we call priests ‘Father’ when Jesus told us not to call anyone on earth ‘father?'” How would you answer this question?

This question refers to Jesus’s teaching found in the Gospel of St. Matthew, when He said, “Do not call anyone on earth your father. Only One is your Father, the One in heaven” (Mt 23:9). Taken literally, we would have to wonder why we do use this title “Father” when Jesus seems to forbid it. First, we must remember the context of the passage. Jesus is addressing the hypocrisy of the scribes and the Pharisees — the learned religious leaders of Judaism. Our Lord castigates them for not providing a good example; for creating onerous spiritual burdens for others with their various rules and regulations; for being haughty in exercising their office; and for promoting themselves by looking for places of honor, seeking marks of respect and wearing ostentatious symbols. Basically, the scribes and the Pharisees had forgotten that they were called to serve the Lord and those entrusted to their care with humility and a generous spirit.

Given that context, Jesus says not to call anyone on earth by the title “Rabbi,” “Father,” or “teacher,” in the sense of arrogating to oneself an authority which rests with God and of forgetting the responsibility of the title. No one must ever take the place, or usurp the privileges and respect that belongs to the heavenly Father. As Jesus said, only the heavenly Father is the true Father, and only the Messiah is the true teacher and rabbi. In a similar vein, Jesus said, “Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter, more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Mt 10:37). Because of the authority of the heavenly Father and the respect due to Him, Jesus freely referred to His heavenly Father as “Father,” and taught us to pray the “Our Father” (Mt 6:9-13).

Moreover, our Lord Himself used the title “father” for several characters in His parables: In the parable of the rich man and the beggar, Lazarus, the rich man, cries out from the depths of Hell, “Father Abraham, have pity on me,” and the usage of the title “father” occurs three times (cf. Lk 16:19-31). One has to wonder: if Jesus prohibited the use of the title “father,” why does He instruct the people with a parable in which the characters use the title? To do so seems to be contradictory and actually misleading to the audience. The same is true in the parable of the Prodigal Son: The young prodigal son, upon his return, says, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you” (cf. Lk 15:11-32). Given the way our Lord used the title “father” in so many teachings, including when repeating the fourth commandment, our Lord did not intend to prohibit calling a father by the title “father”; rather, He prohibited misusing the title.

We do use these titles in our common parlance: We call those who instruct us and others “teacher”; our male parent, “father”; and Jewish religious leaders, “rabbi.” Especially in a religious sense, those who serve the Lord and represent His authority, as a teacher, parent and especially a priest, must be mindful of exercising it diligently, humbly and courageously. To use this authority for self-aggrandizement is pure hypocrisy. Jesus said at the end of this passage, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Since the earliest times of our Church, we have used the title “Father” for religious leaders. Bishops, who are the shepherds of the local Church community and the authentic teachers of the faith, were given the title “Father.” Consequently, St. Peter may well have been addressed as “Father Peter,” in that sense of spiritual father. The likelihood of this address is supported by St. Paul who identifies himself as a spiritual father. In writing to the Corinthians, he said, “I am writing you in this way not to shame you but to admonish you as my beloved children. Granted you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you have only one father. It was I who begot you in Christ Jesus through my preaching of the Gospel. I beg you, then, be imitators of me. This is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful son in the Lord” (1 Cor 4:14-17).

Until about the year 400, a bishop was called “father” (“papa”); this title was then restricted solely to addressing the Bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter, and in English was rendered “pope.” In an early form of his rule, St. Benedict (d. c. 547) designated the title to spiritual confessors, since they were the guardians of souls. Moreover, the word “abbot,” denoting the leader in faith of the monastic community, is derived from the word abba, the Aramaic Hebrew word father, but in the very familiar sense of “daddy.” Later, in the Middle Ages, the term “father” was used to address the mendicant friars — like the Franciscans and Dominicans — since by their preaching, teaching and charitable works they cared for the spiritual and physical needs of all of God’s children. In more modern times, the heads of male religious communities or even those who participate in ecumenical councils, such as Vatican II, are given the title “father.” In the English-speaking world, addressing all priests as “Father” has become customary.

On a more personal note, the title for me is very humbling. As a priest, “Father” reminds me that I am entrusted with a grave responsibility by our Lord — His faithful people. Just as a father must nourish, instruct, challenge, correct, forgive, listen and sustain his children, so must a priest do so for his spiritual children. The priest must especially meet the spiritual needs of those entrusted to his care, providing them with the nourishment of our Lord through the sacraments. He must preach the Gospel with fervor and conviction in accord with the mind of the Church, challenging all to continue on that path of conversion which leads to holiness. He must correct those who have erred, but with mercy and compassion. In the same spirit as the father with his prodigal son, the priest must reconcile sinners who have gone astray but seek a way back to God. As a father listens to his child, so must a priest listen to his spiritual children, providing counsel and consolation. A priest must also be mindful of the “physical” needs of his flock — food, housing, clothing and education.

While priests may be celibate, the words of our Lord to His Apostles ring true: “I give you my word, there is not one who has given up home, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children or property, for me and for the Gospel who will not receive in this present age a hundred times as many homes, brothers and sisters, mothers, children and property — and persecution besides — and in the age to come, everlasting life” (Mk 10:29-30). Actually celibacy frees a priest to be a generous father for his spiritual children. All of us must pray for our priests, especially those who serve in our own parishes and those newly ordained for our diocese, that by God’s grace they may strive to fulfill the responsibility of being “Father.”


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Ministry/Outreach
KEYWORDS: catholic; catholicexchange; father; frwilliamsaunders; priest; priests
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1 posted on 02/09/2015 2:55:55 PM PST by NYer
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To: Tax-chick; GregB; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; Ronaldus Magnus; tiki; Salvation; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 02/09/2015 2:56:20 PM PST by NYer (Without justice - what else is the State but a great band of robbers? - St. Augustine)
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To: NYer

I never ever call or called anyone other than my late Father Father to do so would be highly disrespectful to him and no one else deserves that name not even my father in law


3 posted on 02/09/2015 2:59:08 PM PST by al baby (Hi Mom)
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To: NYer
"Matthew 23:6-9 reads, "They (the scribes and the Pharisees) love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven."

In other words, to me, Yeshua was saying call no man "Father of Creation" - so calling a priest father is just a form of respect as in Father Brown for instance ....

4 posted on 02/09/2015 3:01:39 PM PST by SkyDancer (I Was Told Nobody Is Perfect But Yet, Here I Am ...)
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To: NYer

Because it is against the Bible and the Roman church wanted to demand power over the people while denying them access to Scripture?


5 posted on 02/09/2015 3:13:09 PM PST by SkyPilot ("I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6)
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To: SkyDancer

Christ was addressing the deeds of the Pharisees. This has nothing to do with priests.


6 posted on 02/09/2015 3:16:10 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: al baby

Not even your grandfather? That applies too.


7 posted on 02/09/2015 3:17:04 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: NYer

A Pharisaic practice was to designate a rabbi as having the spiritual stature to dictate questions of religious practice with an authority equivalent to that of God (or which could even supersede God’s). The term in Aramaic didn’t just mean teacher, it mean great one.

Not so sure I’d take the parable of the rich man and the beggar as a proper use of the term “Father.” If the person is in hell, and this is the only specific biblical example we see of such a thing, the person should be expected to sin. In this case it seemed he was counting on Abraham being his ancestral father to justify him in spite of his uncharitable ways.


8 posted on 02/09/2015 3:18:57 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Salvation

Okay, but once I was challenged by a fundamental as to the reason she wouldn’t call her own dad “father” - I related that the word correctly translated should be “Creator” as in call no man Creator. But even still, as I said, it’s a title of respect to the priest as in Father Brown.


9 posted on 02/09/2015 3:19:25 PM PST by SkyDancer (I Was Told Nobody Is Perfect But Yet, Here I Am ...)
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To: NYer

Good article in that it explains whom Jesus was addressing and the true humility of priests.


10 posted on 02/09/2015 3:19:41 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: SkyDancer; NYer

Yep, a sign of respect, just like Reverend, Deacon, Elder, or doctor. I must admit I’ve wonder about whether or not some Protestant televangelists actually thought of themselves as needing to be worshiped as “father the creator” rather than being just another servant of Jesus and His Holy Father.

To me the more important question is why, in the US Marine Corps they call all the Chaplains, “Padre” whether the chaplain is Catholic or Protestant.


11 posted on 02/09/2015 3:22:20 PM PST by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: Salvation

Most evangelical ministers disclaim the appellation “Father” in a religious context, out of respect for this. They are brothers.


12 posted on 02/09/2015 3:22:25 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: GreyFriar

Some Protestant denominations have a Father title, e.g. the Anglican church. Maybe they should call the fundie chaplains “Hermano.”


13 posted on 02/09/2015 3:24:18 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: NYer

The book of the Acts of the Apostles, after the gospels but before the epistles, is real life history of the early church. No apostle was called “Father” or “priest” in the book of Acts. Moreover, after the day of Pentecost in which Mary was mentioned, no mention of her in the book of Acts.

Which goes to prove the entire Romish system is an unbiblical cult. No wonder they are so against sola scriptura.


14 posted on 02/09/2015 3:28:03 PM PST by sasportas
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To: SkyDancer; SkyPilot

Sorry, that should have gone to sky pilot.


15 posted on 02/09/2015 3:29:57 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: SkyDancer
"In other words, to me, Yeshua was saying call no man "Father of Creation" - so calling a priest father is just a form of respect as in Father Brown for instance .... "

In Italy, a priest is referred to as "Don" a title of respect; in France, "M." That is, "Monsieur" same thing.

16 posted on 02/09/2015 3:31:21 PM PST by Grateful2God (Faith alone, not good works? And Mother Teresa wasted all that time with both...)
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To: sasportas

The gospel of John was written as a directly evangelical book (its ending says so) and this was penned at a late date. Nothing more than this witness of John is being claimed as being needed for its purpose (and John still witnesses today through this book).


17 posted on 02/09/2015 3:32:33 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: SkyPilot
Because it is against the Bible and the Roman church wanted to demand power over the people while denying them access to Scripture?

... and don't forget the part where they wanted to to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.

18 posted on 02/09/2015 3:34:33 PM PST by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
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To: sasportas

And yet, Christendom ultimately rests not on doctrines but on the person and promise of the Lord. This is a difficult thing for evangelicals to grasp, but once they do they will have more respect for the Roman church even while disagreeing with the things it teaches.


19 posted on 02/09/2015 3:36:06 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Grateful2God

No problem.


20 posted on 02/09/2015 3:37:33 PM PST by SkyDancer (I Was Told Nobody Is Perfect But Yet, Here I Am ...)
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