The beautiful hands of a priest

Our Catholic Church encourages the faithful to receive frequent Holy Communion. Since the pandemic especially during the full lock down, Holy Masses are offered without attendances and we can participate from home via live streaming without Holy Communion being received. We are asked to make an Act of Spiritual Communion originally written by St. Alphonsus de Liguori. Although it is a beautiful prayer, nothing can be compared to receiving the actual Host.
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Currently in Vancouver, the BC Local Health Authority has only started to re-open businesses in stages and so religious gathering is now yet allowed, although with seats limitation we can come to Mass again. There are new rules or regulations being applied at Church, and if we can attend Masses, we are happy to comply. I could not wait for the day when I could attend Mass.  When that day came, when that moment to receive Communion was upon me, I was full of joy walking towards the altar to receive once again in my hand the Holy Host.  

Moments before, during the Consecration, I was looking up at the altar and could not help but notice the hands of the priest holding the Host. That was the moment when I remembered this wonderful poem and I want to share it with everyone. Through the hands of a priest, one receives many blessings. Thank you, dear priests!
 
The Beautiful Hands of a Priest.
(Author: Unknown)
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We need them in life's early morning,
We need them again at its close;
We feel their warm clasp of true friendship,
We seek them while tasting life's woes.
When we come to this world, we are sinful,
The greatest as well as the least.
And the hands that make us pure as angels
Are the beautiful hands of a priest.
 
At the altar, each day we behold them,
And the hands of a king on his throne
Are not equal to them in their greatness
Their dignity stands alone.
For there in the stillness of morning
Ere the sun has emerged from the east,
There God rests between the pure fingers
Of the beautiful hands of a priest.
 
When we are tempted and wander
To pathways of shame and sin
'Tis the hand of a priest that will absolve us.
Not once but again and again.
And when we are taking life's partner
​Other hands may prepare us a feast
But the hands that will bless and unite us,
Are the beautiful hands of a priest.
 
God bless them and keep them all holy,
For the Host which their fingers caress,
What can a poor sinner do better
But to praise Thee who chose thee to bless
When the death dews on our eyes are falling,
May our courage and strength be increased
To see, raised above us in blessing
The beautiful hands of a priest.