A Physiological Reflection on the Priesthood

Lessons of the love of God, and His life giving nature, are woven into our bodies, which He created male and female. Marriage is also a reflection of Christ and his bride, the Church.

In previous articles, I delved into the woman’s reproductive physiology, and the beautiful symphony that occurs with the harmonizing cycle of hormones and bodily changes designed to bring forth new life. On average, one egg is prepared for release each month, and that very egg was present in the woman at the time of her birth. There is a finite number of eggs available, starting with about 2-3 million at birth, and declining until menopause.

In contrast, men make millions of sperm, with an average ejaculate in a healthy male containing about 100 million sperm! The contrast, and seemingly overabundance of life potential, is astounding. Why males are designed this way is a mystery. It is interesting, however, to reflect on this overabundant, fruitful nature of the male, in the context of spiritual life., and specifically, the amazing life giving spiritual capacity of the priesthood—especially when acting in persona Christi while administering the sacraments.

Men are not born with all the sperm they will produce, but continue to produce sperm from puberty to death. The process takes about two months for the full maturation of sperm. Since sperm are always being created, it’s practically an endless supply in healthy men. Biologically, it just seems crazy, but spiritually, it reflects that Christ has so much more life giving love than we could ever need. We should never doubt that he will take care of his church.

However, it is obvious, that for new life to occur, the sperm and egg must meet, and the new life must be welcomed, nurtured, and protected. We must open our hearts to the life giving love Christ provides, often manifested to us through the actions of our priests. Ephesians commands—husbands, love your wives, and wives, respect your husbands. So too is each priest called to lay down his life for love of the bride of Christ, and so too is each of us called to show love and respect to holy priests who dedicate their lives so we might be made holy and without blemish for Christ.

A woman’s fertile window lasts about five to six days a month, and conception can occur up to five days after intercourse, during which time the sperm is being nurtured in the woman’s body, awaiting the release of the egg. This newly conceived life then matures in the nurturing haven of the mother’s womb for a full nine months. So too, can spiritual seeds take time to flourish. So, priests, don’t be disappointed if your amazing homilies and loving counsel do not evoke people jumping in their seats – it may be that your message of life giving love has to simmer a bit in our hearts before the spark happens, and the new life may not show outwardly for a while.

Sometimes the life giving spirit never reaches fruition. We know that contraception blocks the fruitfulness of marital union, and that our actions impact others Similarly, have we put up barriers that prevent us from welcoming the potential of life changing grace? Imagine a contracepting Christ that blocked his life giving grace to us? A sad thought, and fortunately not true, but do we have faith in God’s limitless love and mercy, or are we afraid to truly be open to God’s life giving love?

In this current crisis, we need holy priests, healthy in body and soul, who remain faithful and sacrifice for the sake of the bride. Likewise, the bride needs to continually take care of priests, with frequent reminders of our love, respect, and appreciation for their sacrifice. Together, let our life giving love change the world.