Nicole A. Best, PsyD

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As is the case with the United States’ military, the Special Operations Unit in God’s army, the Priestly Force, is the most highly trained unit for protecting us from threats and engaging in small-scaled and detailed missions. It is tasked to furnish the Lay Infantry with the needed intel and sacramental equipment for engaging in large-scale, close-range spiritual combat in their homes, places of work, and the public square. In turn, these baptized laity are the backbone of the Lord’s military and are commissioned to not only destroy enemy forces and recapture God’s territory, but also support His Special Ops. The Lord’s troops differ from the secular ones in that their engagement is never violent, their armament is spiritual, their adversary is not human, and their battalions are small and weak by design (e.g. see the story of Gideon in Jgs 6-7).

But why do God’s priests need back-up? To put it bluntly, they are a bigger prize to the opponent. No priests means: no baptism, no Eucharist, no confession, no handing on of the one true faith through Apostolic Succession.

Although attacks mounted against our priests can be purely diabolic in nature and come directly from the enemy, more often, the attacks come through you and me without our awareness. We launch missiles that aren’t usually mortal blows but can weaken, discourage, and tire our priests, increasing their vulnerability to attacks from the true foe. Such missiles include:

Harassment and threats (by the news media, non-Catholics, and even parishioners) for faithfully preaching Catholic teaching

Criticism from parishioners for: praying the words of consecration too slowly and devoutly; taking too long to purify the sacred vessels after Communion; preaching too long; not responding to emails; not immediately complying with requests to start a new parish project; spending “too much” time at other parishes in the Family; not being like their previous priest

Blame for changes resulting from the Beacons of Light initiative

Unrealistic expectations (e.g. regarding their time or capacity to solve certain problems)

So, if we can unknowingly weaken our priests by our behavior, how can we start to intentionally strengthen them?

A Proposed Battle Plan as a Personal Examen

The following prompts us to consider our relationship, or lack thereof, with our priest(s) and how we can help him so he can help us. 

1. Protection of our priest’s time:

Do I contact my priest regarding unimportant matters or those that other parish staff can handle?

Have I considered what talents God specifically blessed me with that I could offer periodically in service to my priests?

Do I over-stay allotted appointment times with my priest? Do I expect him to converse with me extensively after Mass while he is greeting everyone? Have I grabbed him right before Mass when I could wait until after Mass?

Do I expect my priest to attend every social event or meeting?

2. Protection of our priest’s feelings and good name:

Do I criticize or spread rumors about my priest for trivial matters?

Do I have my priest’s back? If a parishioner complains to me about one of our priests, do I try to shut it down immediately? Remember priests are people, too.

Do I hug my priest without knowing if he is comfortable with this?

Do I dress modestly at church, and otherwise show respect for God, my priest, my fellow parishioners, and myself by how I dress? Does my dress reflect that the Mass is the re-presentation of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the Cross and that when we attend Mass, we are at Calvary, joined by all the saints and angels in Heaven?

3. Protection of our priest from stress overload and burnout:

Do I show my priest appreciation? After Mass, do I tell him when I liked his homily (specifically, the part I found helpful)? Has my parish organized a priest appreciation day/week (such as a dinner for him or notes about how he positively impacted my life)?

Have I ever upbraided my priest for changes at the parish (e.g. Mass or confession times)? Am I aware that the Beacons of Light initiative was developed, in part, to ensure that the lay faithful would continue to have their spiritual needs met; that the ones most impacted by this initiative are the priests themselves; that some of these men are responsible for up to 8 parishes; and that others are required to drive 50 miles between parishes?

Do I have realistic expectations? Am I patient and merciful with my priest? When we see a priest falter, is our first reaction one of rebuke or compassion?

4. Have our priest’s back spiritually:

Do I remember to pray for my priests daily and offer up little sacrifices for them?

Could I establish the “Seven Sisters” prayer ministry at my parish? In this worldwide apostolate, seven women agree to pray a Holy Hour for one of their priests on a different day of the week. (For help in establishing a Seven Sisters group see www.sevensistersapostolate.org or contact Julie VanHoose of the Cincinnati Serra Club at 740-352-1984 or [email protected].)

Could my parish consider organizing a “priest-care squad,” whereby interested parishioners would volunteer as a group for acts of service that our priest would find helpful (e.g. cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, repair work, blood pressure checks, etc.)?

Wrap-up

Every Christian has an “office” in the Church; it is bestowed on them by God and through it they are called to serve others. The lay office is lived in the world and directed toward transforming it so that Christ’s love may touch every heart, His truth may enliven every mind, and His will may permeate every institution. The priestly office exists for the laity’s sake, to empower them to respond to their call. Without the Lord’s Special Ops, the Infantry cannot complete their mission. The opponent knows this—he knows that if he takes out God’s Priestly Force, he will eliminate the entire legion. Let us take up our positions and leverage our strengths so that God’s Tier 1 Unit may enjoy more recruits, remain solid in the fight, and help us in our campaign to win back the world for Christ!

This article appeared in the January 2026 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.