“Your Holiness, I want to be a priest of Christ!” – VIDEO UPDATE

Okay, this made me weep, and I am no weeper.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Jul 30, 2013 / 02:54 pm (CNA).- Nathan de Brito brought Pope Francis to tears during one of his motorcades through the streets of Rio de Janeiro on Friday, when he broke past barriers to deliver an important message to the Pontiff.

“Your Holiness, I want to be a priest of Christ, a representative of Christ,” de Brito whispered in the ear of Pope Francis July 26, after jumping hurdles and making his way to the Popemobile in his Brazilian national soccer team jersey.

“I am going to pray for you, but I ask you to pray for me,” Pope Francis responded, moved to tears and embracing him.

“As of today, your vocation is set.”

Read the rest. It’s almost like one of those stories out of a saint’s hagiography; I mean Nathan’s not the pope’s. “At a young age Nathan ran to Pope Francis and declared, ‘I want to be a priest of Christ!'”

Pray for this young one, and for all who hear the small, still voice but are not sure what it is they’re experiencing.

And take note of that photograph; think about it. We’re crossing a rubicon, as a church.

UPDATE:
Wow. Thanks to Kate O’Hare who sent me this video, which shows the moment. At 1:25, we see Nathan being handed off the popemobile, reluctantly. It’s a beautiful moment.