A Message from Fr. Ben Keller, OP
You have an incredible story. I have only been a priest for a year and a half, and in that short time, one thing has really impacted me: your stories. This wasn’t something I thought of too much when I was in the seminary. I was excited about celebrating the sacraments and all of the things that priests do, but since becoming a priest, I have been significantly impacted and transformed by being invited into some of your stories.
Hearing someone’s story is a sacred thing. When we share our stories, we share a part of our hearts. We are opening ourselves up; any time we open ourselves up, it is a risk. It is a gift to the other. I have been on the receiving end of that gift so many times since becoming a priest, and every time someone opens up and shares their life, their story with me, it changes me. I just want to take a moment to remind you that you have an incredible story. You have a beautiful story, no matter how you judge it, whether it is filled with huge successes and traumas, or things you see are minor. It is beautiful. It is sacred.
This weekend as Marches for Life take place around the country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we remember and defend the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. In thinking of the sacredness of life, the one thing I have been struck by lately is the sacredness of each and every one of our lives. And not only our lives but the lives and stories of each person we encounter are sacred.
No matter what has happened to you, what you have been through, the successes you have had, the mistakes you have made, whether life has been difficult or easy, your life is a gift, you are a gift, and you have a beautiful story to share. And so does every person you encounter.
God Bless you,
Fr. Ben