- Amantissimi Redemtoris (Encyclical, On Priests and the Care of Souls), Pius IX, 1858
- Ad Catholici Sacerdotii (Encyclical, On the Catholic Priesthood), Pius XI, 1935
- Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia (Encyclical, On St. John Vianney), John XXIII, 1959
- Presbyterorum Ordinis (Decress on the Ministry and Life of Priests), Vatican II, Paul VI, 1965
- Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (On the Celibacy of the Priest), Paul VI, 1967
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Encyclicals on the Priesthood
Encyclicals on the Priesthood
Friday, May 8, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
April 24, 2009
Direction
Vocation and Exam
Continue preparing for exam and discernment. Meeting with Dr. Aaron on the 29th.
Circle
Prayer
There is a difference between mental prayer and vocal prayer. Vocal prayer is the kind of prayer that most of us is accustomed to, the Rosary, the Memorare, the Divine Mercy Chaplet. But mental prayer is conversation with God. We talk to God as if He is our friend, for He is indeed our friend, the geratest freiend we could ever have. Both of these forms of prayer should form important parts of our days.
Vocation and Exam
Continue preparing for exam and discernment. Meeting with Dr. Aaron on the 29th.
Circle
Prayer
There is a difference between mental prayer and vocal prayer. Vocal prayer is the kind of prayer that most of us is accustomed to, the Rosary, the Memorare, the Divine Mercy Chaplet. But mental prayer is conversation with God. We talk to God as if He is our friend, for He is indeed our friend, the geratest freiend we could ever have. Both of these forms of prayer should form important parts of our days.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Adore 2009 - Catholic Youth Conference
Dear All,
At this event 2 years ago, I felt a stronger tug on my heart, to think more about becoming a Roman Catholic priest. The Mass celebrated here, was the most beautiful Mass I had assisted at, until then, and perhaps still. There is something about this youth movement, though not "traditionalist", and even perhaps "Lifeteen-esque", they have certainly found a balance between the energetic aspects of the Lifeteen movement, with the traditional piety and the Latin liturgical restoration. They are a group that continues to impress me. A group filled with teens and young adults, who simply "get it".
May God continue to bless their efforts, in spite of venomous opposition to their efforts. Such is the Via Crucis.
AMDG.
Laurence Gonzaga
For more information: http://believe2009california.blogspot.com/
Watch video trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrSLQze3S10
Monday, April 20, 2009
Called to be Holy - Archbishop Timothy Dolan (OSV, 2005)
Excerpt from: Called to be Holy - Archbishop Timothy Dolan (OSV, 2005)
The years immediately following the council were climactic times: a lot of good, creative, vibrant, promising movement in the Church, all prompted by the genuine call for reform by the council; but also, unfortunately, a lot of doubt, error, hurt, confusion, and downright silliness. At the height of all this, Bishop Gottwald, a very effective but very plain country pastor who became an auxiliary bishop out of sheer obedience, was thrust into leadership.
One of his many crises was the state of the seminary. One-fourth of the priest faculty left the priesthood, the student body was decimated by departures, and the theology being taught was anything but of the Church. The priests who remained on the faculty announced they wanted to join an ecumenical theolo-gate, since, according to their interpretation of the council, it was useless to teach Catholic theology - since such a thing probably no longer existed.
They demanded the presence of the apostolic administrator at what was really a "campus demonstration" in the early spring of 1968, where they came to present him with their list of demands in front of the obligatory TV cameras.
Into this lion's den walked Bishop George Gottwald, shy, nervous, wishing he was still an unknown pastor in the Ozark hills of southern Missouri. The leader of the faculty and students informed the bishop that Kenrick Seminary might as well close, since the whole enterprise of priestly formation and Catholic theology was up for grabs. In response, the bishop offered the comment that, even with the legitimate questioning and probing of the council, there were still clear, consistent truths that had to be taught any future priest.
"Hah!" snickered the faculty spokesman. "I dare you to tell me what we can possibly teach our students now that has not changed, that will not change, that can be stated with any amount of conviction at all! I dare you to tell me!"
The bishop's mouth went dry, he recalls, as all eyes were on him, as the microphones clicked on and cameras whirled for a sound bite, as they waited for him to take the dare! And what did he answer?
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen."
The Apostles' Creed! A fundamental formula of faith expressed by the Church from near the beginning. This, my friends, was a man of 'faith: In the midst of doubt, ridicule, snickering, and confusion, he dared to state that there are certain truths that can always be counted upon because they come from God and not from us!
The years immediately following the council were climactic times: a lot of good, creative, vibrant, promising movement in the Church, all prompted by the genuine call for reform by the council; but also, unfortunately, a lot of doubt, error, hurt, confusion, and downright silliness. At the height of all this, Bishop Gottwald, a very effective but very plain country pastor who became an auxiliary bishop out of sheer obedience, was thrust into leadership.
One of his many crises was the state of the seminary. One-fourth of the priest faculty left the priesthood, the student body was decimated by departures, and the theology being taught was anything but of the Church. The priests who remained on the faculty announced they wanted to join an ecumenical theolo-gate, since, according to their interpretation of the council, it was useless to teach Catholic theology - since such a thing probably no longer existed.
They demanded the presence of the apostolic administrator at what was really a "campus demonstration" in the early spring of 1968, where they came to present him with their list of demands in front of the obligatory TV cameras.
Into this lion's den walked Bishop George Gottwald, shy, nervous, wishing he was still an unknown pastor in the Ozark hills of southern Missouri. The leader of the faculty and students informed the bishop that Kenrick Seminary might as well close, since the whole enterprise of priestly formation and Catholic theology was up for grabs. In response, the bishop offered the comment that, even with the legitimate questioning and probing of the council, there were still clear, consistent truths that had to be taught any future priest.
"Hah!" snickered the faculty spokesman. "I dare you to tell me what we can possibly teach our students now that has not changed, that will not change, that can be stated with any amount of conviction at all! I dare you to tell me!"
The bishop's mouth went dry, he recalls, as all eyes were on him, as the microphones clicked on and cameras whirled for a sound bite, as they waited for him to take the dare! And what did he answer?
"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen."
The Apostles' Creed! A fundamental formula of faith expressed by the Church from near the beginning. This, my friends, was a man of 'faith: In the midst of doubt, ridicule, snickering, and confusion, he dared to state that there are certain truths that can always be counted upon because they come from God and not from us!
The parish is where the action is at...
Dear Laurence:
Happy Easter!
Thanks for writing.
Your concerns about the diocesan seminary's deficiencies are well taken. At the same time, as you point out, the Church desperately needs diocesan priests. I appreciate your attraction to the extraordinary form and it is wonderful what our Holy Father Pope Benedict has done for the Church with Summorum Pontificum. Having said that, the parish is "where the action is," so to speak. It is the greatest nexus for meeting and serving souls, lots of souls. And now, thanks to the motu proprio, a parish priest can have the best of both worlds.
[Parish name] is a small, but potentially very large "barrio/ghetto" parish. It is small because our facilities are so inadequate, but large in terms of population (about 70,000 people live within the boundaries, more than half Catholic). The harvest is rich ...
I am very open to meeting with you and allowing you to get an "insider's" view of parish priesthood.
I will pray for you and ask you to pray for me. June 19 begins the "Year for Priests." These are crazy times in many ways, but the Lord has blessed the Church with the right pope for these times. I am already calling him, Benedict the Great!
All the best,
Father *********
Happy Easter!
Thanks for writing.
Your concerns about the diocesan seminary's deficiencies are well taken. At the same time, as you point out, the Church desperately needs diocesan priests. I appreciate your attraction to the extraordinary form and it is wonderful what our Holy Father Pope Benedict has done for the Church with Summorum Pontificum. Having said that, the parish is "where the action is," so to speak. It is the greatest nexus for meeting and serving souls, lots of souls. And now, thanks to the motu proprio, a parish priest can have the best of both worlds.
[Parish name] is a small, but potentially very large "barrio/ghetto" parish. It is small because our facilities are so inadequate, but large in terms of population (about 70,000 people live within the boundaries, more than half Catholic). The harvest is rich ...
I am very open to meeting with you and allowing you to get an "insider's" view of parish priesthood.
I will pray for you and ask you to pray for me. June 19 begins the "Year for Priests." These are crazy times in many ways, but the Lord has blessed the Church with the right pope for these times. I am already calling him, Benedict the Great!
All the best,
Father *********
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The pope on priestly vocations
“Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers”. This means that the harvest is ready, but God wishes to enlist helpers to bring it into the storehouse. God needs them. He needs people to say: yes, I am ready to become your harvest labourer; I am ready to offer help so that this harvest which is ripening in people’s hearts may truly be brought into the storehouses of eternity and become an enduring, divine communion of joy and love. “Pray the Lord of the harvest” also means that we cannot simply “produce” vocations; they must come from God. This is not like other professions, we cannot simply recruit people by using the right kind of publicity or the correct type of strategy. The call which comes from the heart of God must always finds its way into the heart of man. And yet, precisely so that it may reach into hearts, our cooperation is needed. To pray the Lord of the harvest means above all to ask him for this, to stir his heart and say: “Please do this! Rouse labourers! Enkindle in them enthusiasm and joy for the Gospel! Make them understand that this is a treasure greater than any other, and that whoever has discovered it, must hand it on!”
But our prayer to God does not consist of words alone; the words must lead to action so that from our praying heart a spark of our joy in God and in the Gospel may arise, enkindling in the hearts of others a readiness to say “yes”. As people of prayer, filled with his light, we reach out to others and bring them into our prayer and into the presence of God, who will not fail to do his part. In this sense we must continue to pray the Lord of the harvest, to stir his heart, and together with God touch the hearts of others through our prayer. And he, according to his purpose, will bring to maturity their “yes”, their readiness to respond; the constancy, in other words, through all this world’s perplexity, through the heat of the day and the darkness of the night, to persevere faithfully in his service.
Benedict XVI
Excerpt from:
APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO MÜNCHEN, ALTÖTTING AND
(SEPTEMBER 9-14, 2006)
MEETING WITH PRIESTS AND
PERMANENT DEACONS OF
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
Cathedral of St Mary and St Corbinian, Freising
Thursday, 14 September 2006
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