Saints LightWhy Call Priests "Father"?
Jesus was warning against pride, not banning a word; Paul called himself a spiritual father, and Catholics call priests Father because they give and nourish the life of grace.
What this lesson teaches
- In Matthew 23 Jesus warns against prideful titles, not against the word father itself.
- St Paul calls himself a father to the Corinthians and Timothy his son.
- Human fatherhood shares in God's fatherhood rather than competing with it.
- Priests are spiritual fathers who give, feed and heal the life of grace.
Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites
- CCC 239
- CCC 1548-1549
- CCC 2214
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Scripture read in this lesson: 1 Corinthians 4:15; Acts 7:2; Matthew 23:9.
A sample question from this lesson
What is Jesus' main point in Matthew 23:8-10?
- No one may ever use the word father
- Only priests may be called father
- A warning against the pride of loving titles, since God alone is the source of all truth and fatherhood
- Children should not honor their parents
Show the answer
A warning against the pride of loving titles, since God alone is the source of all truth and fatherhood. Jesus also forbids calling anyone teacher, showing that his target is pride, not vocabulary.
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"Why Call Priests "Father"?" is lesson 9 of Answers to Hard Questions. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.
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Related lessons
- I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth (The Creed, free)
- Why Does the Church Have Priests? (The Sacraments)
- The Fourth Commandment: Honor Your Father and Mother (The Commandments)