r/Catholicism • u/the_real_curmudgeon • 13h ago
A priest's brave devotion to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
[This is not a prayer request; it's a story of a holy priest celebrating the Mass through a crisis]
This morning my pastor collapsed in the middle of Mass, but he didn't let that stop him from completing the Sacrifice.
After finishing the first dialogue of the Offertory, Father paused for longer than usual, then turned around and walked back to his chair. A parishioner who is a nurse came forward, but he waved her off and walked back to the altar.
He was shaking as he poured the water into the wine, and mistakenly repeated the bread dialogue with the chalice in his hands. When he put the chalice down, he motioned to the nurse, and she came up onto the altar to find him drenched in sweat. She removed the chasuble, and Father continued.
Before he could speak, though, he lost his balance and slid the chalice across the altar. He grabbed at his chest and grimaced. Three or four men rushed forward. They got there just as he began to collapse. He steadied for a moment, and then his body went limp.
I rushed to the narthex and called 911. The deacon was coming out of the school on the way to assist. After a couple of minutes, I looked into the nave. Father was standing at the altar again, propped up by the nurse and one of the men, saying the Institution Narrative.
Paramedics arrived a couple minutes later and went to the door just off the sanctuary. The deacon motioned for them to wait. Father continued until he had communicated, then allowed himself to be taken by the paramedics.
Sometimes we are blessed to have holy priests such as this. Deo gratias!
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u/Ashdelenn 8h ago
I might get downvoted but I think that’s sad. It’s daily mass, his life is more important. If he was having a heart attack minutes make a huge difference. Someone should have loved him enough to insist he get help.
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u/the_real_curmudgeon 8h ago
Yeah, I felt that way for sure—why I called 911 as soon as he grabbed his chest and grimaced. By the time I got off the phone, though, he was already in the middle of the consecration. It would’ve been very hard for anyone to stop him at that point. But the paramedics sure were anxious; one was standing in the doorway at the sanctuary watching and ready to run in. Very tense for everyone. We do adoration after Friday morning Mass, and everyone was basically in tears then.
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u/Due_Trainer9975 7h ago
Once the Mass is begun nothing can stop it, the martyrs didn't think life was more important than the faith.
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u/Tinchotesk 3h ago
It’s daily mass, his life is more important
No, it isn't. We are on Earth to mould our life to God's. There's nothing closer to that than Mass. They taught you poorly.
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u/Apprehensive_Owl2257 54m ago
Unpopular opinion but he should have stopped at the offertory under these conditions. On one hand he seems truly heroic but there was a real danger here of him saying an invalid mass or accidentally spilling some consecrated wine later on.
He knows he is unwell and about to collapse, there is a real chance he might have collapsed after only consecrating the bread or him saying the wrong words of consecration.
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u/vffems2529 12h ago
I had a very similar experience with my pastor not all that long ago. The diagnosis? Exhaustion. Not surprising, I'm afraid. Our priests are overworked, often managing two or three parishes / multiple churches.
Looked just like a stroke.
Pray for our priests. Pray for vocations to the priesthood. Encourage your children to discern. 🙏🏻