What do the parents of priests receive after their sons are ordained? Father John Grim and Father Jonah Beckham, the two newest priests ordained for the archdiocese, both presented gifts to their parents during their Masses of Thanksgiving following their ordinations, but what were they?
When a priest is ordained his hands are anointed with oil by the archbishop and his hands are later cleaned with a towel called a “maniturgium.” The oil that is used on the hands of the priest is blessed, and so the maniturgium cannot be thrown in the trash. Typically, these towels are saved by the newly ordained priests and presented to their mothers to be buried with after they pass away.
According to the tradition, the mothers will then be able to present the towel to Christ so that when He says to the woman – “I have given you life, what have you given to me?’” She can hand him the maniturgium and respond, “I have given you my son as a priest.”
A new tradition has begun in recent years where the newly ordained priest presents the stole they wore when they heard their first confession after ordination to their father.
Both of these traditions are a beautiful way to honor sacrifices many parents make to raise faithful children who decide to offer their lives in service to Christ and the Church in a radical way. Pray for the two newest priests in the archdiocese, their parents and all the parents of children who are discerning a call to the priesthood.
