Archbishop: Priests allowed to kiss

During his homily at the Archdiocese of Port of Spain’s Chrism Mass held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Monday evening, chief celebrant Archbishop Jason Gordon told the congregation that priests are lovers and that they are allowed to kiss.

But arch eyebrows came down as fast as they went up when Gordon spoke of the five occasions on which priests were allowed to kiss.

He said: “I know when I say that the priest is a lover... he looks at the priests behind him mischievously....(the congregations laughs), surely he took a vow of celibacy and there are certain these things he can’t do but priests have been allowed by special dispensation to kiss. Serious! One priest in the back say, ‘My god I didn’t know that!’ Yes, we are allowed to kiss, and what we kiss is so important, because that is the act of a lover.

“Lovers aren’t always perfect but their intention of loving and their actions of love demonstrate their commitment to love even in the midst of imperfection. Even in the midst of all the shortcomings that people have and that is what the priest is, a lover.

“When we come up to the altar and kiss the altar, it is a sign of reverence and love for God because this is the only place that we have where we do what we are called to do. The transformation of the bread and wine from the body and blood of Christ because it is where we experience the closest bonds with Christ Himself.”

The Archbishop said priests were also allowed to kiss the book of gospels as a sign of our love and devotion to that precious word of God, and as a sign of connection with Christ, as well as being allowed to kiss the people of God as a sign of peace.

He said that act allows them to bring peace where there is division, and it is a peace they remember when they were ordained for the sake of people of God, to encounter the incredible and unstoppable love of God.

“Priests are also called to kiss the feet of those whose feet we wash on Holy Thursday, as Jesus did with his disciples. That act of incredible humility is a humble service to the people of God. In that giving, we are called to imitate Christ.”

Gordon then said that he would again wash and kiss the feet of prisoners on Holy Thursday.

Priests also kiss the cross on Good Friday.

“When we kiss the cross we remember that this is the word of the cross upon which hung Christ Jesus, where he was crucified. It is in the cross we will find salvation. We live in a difficult time but it is in these difficult times we are called to be priests, and it is in these difficult times that we are tested, but it is in these difficult times we offer ourselves to God again.”

He said: “We do not have the solutions for everything that may happen but what we have is a love of Christ. Let us not be discouraged, let us recognise we have given ourselves to Him, and even as imperfect as we are, God still has a purpose for each and everyone of us. Let us give ourselves generously to Him, and allow Him to do with us, as what He wants, likes, and as he pleases.”

Gordon referred to a passion reading from Luke where Jesus talked to St Peter and said, "Satan has tested you all, but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail. And when you recover, you will strengthen your brothers."

Stating earlier that all present had gathered to celebrate the sacred mysteries and all priests in the archdiocese were there to renew their vocation as priests, Archbishop Gordon next called on all priests to stand and renew their vows after which came the blessing of the oils of catechumens and sick, and consecration of the chrism.

After communion, the oils were distributed to parish representatives.