J.R. Mathis > Quotes

“Father Tom,” the Archbishop said, “you need to remember that you represent the Church all the time.  Even if this interview has nothing to do with the Church or your activities as a priest, people will see you as a priest.  Anything you said, anything this reporter chooses to highlight, will be seen by people as being done by a priest of the Catholic Church.  I don’t mean to come across as hurtful, but no one will care that your wife was killed before you became a priest.”
― J.R. Mathis, The Penitent Priest

“ruefully.”
― J.R. Mathis, The Penitent Priest

“Loss isn’t something we get over. It’s how we learn to handle it. Some people suppress it, others replace it, and others allow their losses to consume them. It’s those last who have the hardest time.”
― J.R. Mathis, The Penitent Priest

“Father Greer, nice to meet you. I’m Father McCoy. Leonard McCoy. You’re not wearing clericals, and you two look like a couple, so I just assumed.”
― J.R. Mathis, The Penitent Priest

“The irony of a woman holding a gun on a priest speaking about prayer was not lost on me.”
― J.R. Mathis, The Penitent Priest

“You don’t escape from the world when you become a priest. You’re called to bring Christ to the world.  That’s how you serve our Lord.  You don’t run from the world no matter how bad it is.”
― J.R. Mathis, The Penitent Priest