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To Be a Priest

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As my first blog post, it is only proper I give an introduction and who I really am. My name is Father Gregg Drebenstedt, and I am a priest in the National Catholic Apostolic Church in the United States, and I'm the pastor of the Church of the Incarnation in Lake Helen, Florida.


To be a priest is a wonderful thing, I wouldn't change it for the world but there are some things that make it difficult to bear. To be a priest first means to follow Christ, because the priesthood is Christ's. Following Christ means to deny yourself, and take up your cross He gives you to bear. This is already a tall order. I am just a man. I'm reminded of what Saint Peter said in Acts 10:26, "Stand up; I am only a mortal." People often ask what made me want to be a priest or why did I become a priest. My short answer to that question is, "well I didn't really want to, God asked it of me." That's sort of a cop-out answer though. I really started the process in 2016, when I was exposed to non-Papal Catholicism in general. Since I learned about the whole movement, in which existed valid sacraments, I was completed enthralled with it. I used to stay up late some nights just repeating, "Lord not me... not me... Let it be anyone else, but not me." What arrogance I had to deny the call of Christ! I decided the next thing to do was really seek out the process of the priesthood and what that meant. Firstly, it involves education. I have a degree in Leadership and Ministry and I'm continuing my theological studies in a graduate program. Secondly, it involved deep spiritual formation. To enter into the priesthood is like entering into a marriage, you don't really know what it's like until you're in it. People tell you what it's like and how to follow the path more closely, but no one can ever explain what it feels like after your soul has been changed by the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Its a holy thing, an awesome thing, but a terrible thing too.


To be a priest is giving over your whole self to Christ and to His Church. Not just parts of yourself, or acting like a priest when you feel like it, no. When Christ calls someone He calls their entire person, with all their talents and flaws. So when someone says, "Oh you're a priest!" I often correct them and say, "No, just a priest. That's it. Only a priest." The priesthood is not mine, rather I belong to it. I am not holy, Christ alone is holy. I can perform holy things through Christ, but not on my own power. See, everything must rest on Christ as the foundation, especially the Church. I try to rest the foundation of my life on Christ as much as I know how to. This world today makes distraction from Christ incredibly easy. To focus on Christ is hard, to be His priest is even harder.


We are just humans, mere mortals as Saint Peter put it. Pray for us, pray for your priests that we might be able to live lives in accordance with Christ and uphold Church teaching the best we can. Pray that we might be a friendly face to those who need it, a helping hand for those that reach for it, and a good confessor for those who need to ease their burdens.


I hope this was a good introduction for everyone on my insight for what it is like to be a priest. More of my posts in the future will cover a variety of topics, mostly focusing on pursuing inner purity and oneness with God.


Peace be with you my friends ✝️

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Mdreb83175
Sep 19, 2024

I have just discovered we could leave a comment. This is amazing insight for those of us that want to continue our journey with you! You are a man your mother is proud of. May God continue to bless you in every way!

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enriquejhc1305
May 16, 2024

Beautiful!!!!👏🏽

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121016kwgd
May 14, 2024

Wonderfully written!

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