Monsignor John Cihak joins WCAT Show Host Dr. Mary Anne Urlakis in Episode 25 of “Vows, Vocations, and Promises: Discerning the Call of Love,” to present the first of two of his chapters recently published in the comprehensive new book: Spiritual Husbands- Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century, edited by Bishop Felipe Estevez and Bishop Andrew Cozzens. In this episode, Monsignor Cihak relates his personal vocational call to the ministerial priesthood of Jesus Christ and discusses the first of his contributions to the book, Chapter 2, entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary’s Role in the Celibate Priest’s Spousal and Paternal Love.” Monsignor will return to the show in two weeks to expound on his subsequent chapter: “More than Just Friends: Reflections on the Priest as the Friend of the Bridegroom.”

Monsignor John Cihak is the Pastor of Christ the King Parish and School and the Director of Continuing Education for Clergy in the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon. Monsignor earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Notre Dame University, as well as a Licentiate in Fundamental Theology and a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He has served as a Director of Human Formation and Professor of Theology at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon and taught Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. For several years, Monsignor Cihak served as an Official in the Congregation for Bishops and as a Papal Master of Ceremonies for Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. Monsignor Cihak is the author of Balthasar and Anxiety, the co-author of The Catholic Guide to Depression, and the editor of Charles Borromeo: Selected Orations, Homilies, and Other Writings, as well as numerous articles on theology and priestly formation.

In this interview, Monsignor Cihak details his honest and spiritually profound reflection on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the fulfillment of the celibate priest’s spousal and paternal love. Monsignor Cihak shares that in penning this beautiful addition to the book, he spent more time and effort “on his knees than in his desk.” This chapter is the result of fruitful prayer and research. In this interview, Monsignor shares with Dr. Urlakis his understanding of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s role in drawing out of the priest a celibate agape, assisting him to flourish as a husband to the Church and a strong spiritual father- even amid his own weakness. Monsignor describes that Our Lady achieves this mysterious and yet fundamental role at the Cross by drawing the priest out of his own pain to offer pure masculine love in the midst of her pure feminine love. Reflecting on Pope Benedict’s first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, Monsignor Cihak offers valuable insight to those who hope to provide meaningful formation for future priests.

Monsignor Cihak’s chapter, entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary’s Role in the Celibate Priest’s Spousal and Paternal Love” is published in Spiritual Husbands- Spiritual Fathers: Priestly Formation for the 21st Century, edited by Bishop Felipe Estevez and Bishop Andrew Cozzens, published by Holy Apostles College and Seminary’s En Route Books and Media, which is available at: https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/spiritualhusbands/.