The Color of the Unsaid (God Still Hears It All)
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Behind the Collar Lies a Beating Heart
When we hear the word “Father,” we picture homilies, blessings, and confession lines. We see white collars, raised hands at the altar, and voices that echo Scripture.
But how often do we pause and ask: Father, are you okay?
Priests are often viewed as spiritual superheroes. But beneath the vestments and behind every sermon is a human heart that also breaks, longs, doubts, and dreams.
They don’t get to post their struggles online. They don’t wear their pain on their sleeves.
Their only place of outpouring - The tabernacle.
We expect them to be available 24/7—celebrating every joy with us, mourning every loss beside us.
Yet we forget: they, too, grieve. They, too, miss home. They, too, feel the sting of loneliness.
But the collar they wear becomes their shield.
Their emotions—surrendered at the altar.
Some smile while silently screaming.
Some counsel others while carrying crosses no one sees.
And some—let’s be honest—feel unappreciated, unnoticed, and misunderstood.
We look at their duties but rarely at their hearts.
We critique their preaching, but not their pain.
We admire their vocation, but not their valleys.
And if they ever fall, we forget—they are human first.
Chosen by God, but not made immune to wounds.
They have no “off” days from being spiritual fathers.
They baptize babies while hiding their own tears.
They prepare couples for marriage while wondering if they’ll ever be fully understood.
They bury the dead—and then return to an empty rectory.
So today, let this not be another reflection on what priests do.
Let it be a reminder of who they are—men called to serve, yes,
but also called to feel, to bleed, to simply be.
Behind every Eucharist is a man who bleeds quietly—so we can heal boldly.
Dedicated to every priest who silently carries the weight of souls— and especially to the three gems of my parish:
Fr. Nitin D’Souza, Fr. Ramesh Bhoya, and Fr. Xavier Patil. Your quiet strength speaks volumes.
A poet, author, and faith writer who believes words can heal what silence hides. My poetry collections — Inked Emotions, Scattered Feelings Stitched in Ink, and Love Beyond Loss — were born out of seasons of grief, solitude, and deep reflection.
Here on Catholic365, I’ve been humbled to share reflections that have reached hundreds of readers. I write not from a place of perfection, but from a longing to make sense of love, loss, and the quiet ways God speaks into our lives.
Whether it’s a poem, a story, or a small reflection, my hope is that you feel seen, encouraged, and gently reminded that faith isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s found in the waiting, the falling, the starting again.
You can find more of my work at https://about.me/anniedcosta
