Friday, December 31, 2010

Fr. Mark Kirby's Morning Offering for Priests

The so-called Morning Offering is a simple way of freely choosing to "share in the sufferings of Christ through patience" -- that is, through the painful or costly things that may come upon us in the course of a day -- and of giving to those sufferings a supernatural worth. Thus do we begin to live in communion with Christ, Priest and Victim. This is why I pray, and invite others to pray each day:

The Morning Offering for Priests

Father most holy, *
I offer Thee the prayers, works,
joys, and sufferings of this day *
by placing them in the holy and venerable hands
of Jesus, the Eternal High Priest, *
and by saying, as He did upon entering the world, *
"Behold, I come to do Thy will" (Hebrews 10:9). *

For the sake of all His priests, *
[and in particular for Fathers N. and N.,]
I entreat Thy beloved Son to unite my offering
to the Sacrifice of the Cross,
renewed upon the altars of Thy Church *
from the rising of the sun to its setting (Malachy 1:11).

Most merciful Father, *
look upon these men chosen by Thy Son
to show forth His death until He comes (1 Cor 11:26); *
keep them from the Evil One (John 17:15) *
and sanctify them in the truth (John 17:17).

Bind them by a most tender love
to the Virgin Mary, their Mother *
that, by her intercession, *
they may be overshadowed by the power of the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:35)
in every act of their sacred ministry; *
thus may their priesthood reveal
the Face of Jesus and the merciful love of His Heart, *
for the fruitfulness of His spouse, the Church. *
and the praise of Thy glory. Amen.

~ Fr. Mark Kirby: excerpt from Share in the Passion of Christ Through Patience ~

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of al priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Prayer to Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament for Priests


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI Calls for Renewal: Truth, Reparation, Penance, Preparation

“We should accept this humiliation as an exhortation to the truth and a call towards renewal. Only the truth saves. We must ask ourselves what we can do to repair as much as possible the injustice that was committed. We must ask what was wrong with our message, our way of being a Christian, so that such a thing could have happened. We must face this with a new resolution of faith and goodness. We must be able to do penance. We should strive as much as possible in preparation for the priesthood so that something like this can not happen again.”

~ Pope Benedict XVI, speaking in reference to the sexual  abuse scandal in the Church ~


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of his Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen. 


Monday, December 27, 2010

Fr. Stefano Manelli: Helping Priests in Their Lofty Mission

And in particular, every time we see a priest at the altar, let us also pray to Our Lady, in the words of the Venerable Charles Giacinto, "O my dear Lady, lend your heart to that priest so that he can worthily celebrate the Mass." Let us also pray, as St. Thérèse did, so that priests at the altar may touch the most Holy Body of Jesus with the same purity and delicacy as Our Lady. Better yet, rather let us pray that every priest is able to imitate St. Cajetan, who used to prepare to celebrate Mass by uniting himself so closely to Mary Most Holy, that it was said of him, "He celebrates Mass as if he were her." And, indeed, as Our Lady welcomed Jesus into her arms at Bethlehem, similarly the priest receives Jesus in his hands at Holy Mass. As the Immaculate Offered Jesus the Victim on Calvary, similarly the priest offers the Divine Lamb that is sacrificed on the altar. As the Virgin Mother gave Jesus to mankind, similarly the priest gives us Jesus in Holy Communion. Thus St. Bonaventure rightly declares that every priest at the altar ought to be intimately identified with Our Lady; for, since "it was by her that this most Holy Body has been given to us, so by the priest's hands It must be offered." And St. Francis of Assisi said that for all priests Our Lady is the mirror reflecting the sanctity which should be theirs, precisely because of the close proximity between the Incarnation of the Word in Mary's womb and the consecration of the Eucharist in the priest's hands.

Let us also learn in the school of the saints to respect and to venerate priests, to pray for their sanctification and to help them in their very lofty mission.

~ Excerpt from Jesus Our Eucharistic Love by Fr. Stefano Manelli ~


franciscanfriars | December 25, 2010
Christmas Mass offered by Father Stefano in the ordinary form of the Mass, an example of hermeneutics of continuity.

Fr. Stefano Maria Manelli was born in Fiume/Rijeka (Hrvatska), Italy on May 1, 1933. His parents were Servent of God Settimio Manelli and Servent of God Licia Gualandris, spiritual children of St. Pio of Prietrelcina. He was the sixth of the twenty-one children.

He received his first communion from Padre Pio himself in 1938.

He entered the minor seminary of the Order of the Friars Minor Conventual in Cupertino (Lecce) on 18th of December of 1945 at the age of 12 years old.

He made his simple profession on October 4, 1949; his solemn profession on May 27 1954 and was ordained a priest on October 30 1955, the Solemnity of Christ, the King.

He became the Prefect of Studies of the Conventual Province of Naples.

In the beginning of 1965, Father Stefano Maria began a long rediscovery and meditation of the Franciscan sources and of the writings of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe.

At the summon of the Second Vatican Council to religious to return back to their sources and to adapt to the changing conditions of the time as principles of renewal of religious life, Fr. Stefano was inspired to live integrally the Franciscan life according to the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi according to the recent examples of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Franciscan model of our time.

On August 2, 1970, Feast of Our Lady of the Portiuncula, Fr. Stefano together with Fr. Gabriel Maria Pelletieri and with the permission and blessing of the major superiors, began to live an experience of a Franciscan life renewed according to the "Traccia" (A Marian Plan of Franciscan Life) in the first Casa Mariana (Marian House/Friary) in the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Frigento (AV), Italy.

Fr. Stefano Maria is the superior of the Marian Friary in Frigento from 1970 until 1973 and from 1979 until 1982. He became the Master of novices in the same Casa Marian of Frigento for 10 years, from 1972 until 1982. He was elected Minister Provincial in Naples for three consecutive terms (1982-1988)

In November 1, 1982, together with Fr. Gabriel, he founded the first community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate in Novaliches (Manila, Philippines) which developed under the care of Fr. Gabriel Maria Pelletieri, following the "Marian Traccia of Franciscan Life."

In 1988, he was elected rector of the theological College "San Francesco" in Benevento until 1990.

In June 23 1990, in the foundation of the Institute of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, he became its Minister General until the present time.


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Pope John Paul II: Walking in the Spirit of Nazareth

"May the Holy Family, icon and model of every human family, help each individual to walk in the spirit of Nazareth. May it help each family unit to grow in understanding of its particular mission in society and the Church by hearing the Word of God, by prayer and by a fraternal sharing of life. May Mary, Mother of "Fairest Love", and Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, accompany us all with their constant protection.

"With these sentiments I bless every family in the name of the Most Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

1994 - YEAR OF THE FAMILY
FROM POPE JOHN PAUL II


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

God Bless and Protect Our Military Men and Women at Christmas and Always!

Bishop Thomas Olmsted: Faithful to Jesus Christ and His Church

GOD BLESS BISHOP OLMSTED!


~ The above video found posted on Clerical Reform by Fr. S ~

News Conference at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, Dec. 21, 2010 from Diocese of Phoenix on Vimeo.

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.


Pope Benedict XVI: Allowing Ourselves to be Transformed

"The Saviour...comes to incapacitate the work of evil, the things that still keep us distant from God, restoring us to our ancient splendour and our original paternity. ... His coming, then, can have no other aim than that of teaching us to see and love events, the world and everything that surrounds us, with the eyes of God Himself. The Word, by becoming a Child, helps us to understand the way God acts, that we too may be capable of allowing ourselves to be transformed by His goodness and infinite mercy.

"In the night of the world, let us still allow ourselves to be surprised and illuminated by this coming, by the Star which, rising in the East, has inundated the universe with joy", the Pope added. "Let us purify our minds and our lives from everything that contrasts with this coming - thoughts, words, attitudes and actions - spurring ourselves on to do good and to help bring peace and justice to our world for all men and women, and thus to walk towards the Lord".


~ Pope Benedict XVI ~


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Pope Appoints Chinese Priest as Archbishop in Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Fr. Savio Hon Tai-Fai S.D.B., professor of theology at the seminary of Hong Kong, China, member of the International Theological Commission and academic ordinary at the Pontifical Academy of Theology, as secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, at the same time raising him to the dignity of archbishop. The archbishop-elect was born in Hong King in 1950 and ordained a priest in 1982. (from VIS)


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen. 

Monday, December 20, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI Entrusts All Priests to Saint Joseph

“To Saint Joseph, patron of the universal Church, I entrust all priests, urging them to offer to Christians and to the world the humility and everyday words and gestures of Christ.”

~ Pope Benedict XVI ~



Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.


Saturday, December 18, 2010

Fr. Greg Maturi: "Operation Redemption" in Youngstown, Ohio

"My biggest problem is not fear of being attacked by gangs;
my biggest problem is keeping people from falling into despair and becoming cynical."

~ Fr. Greg Maturi ~


Please pray for Fr. Maturi and all priests.

PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

O Jesus, our great High Priest,
hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priest, Father [N].
Give him a deep faith,
a bright and firm hope
and a burning love
which will ever increase
in the course of his priestly life.

In his loneliness, comfort him.
In his sorrows, strengthen him.
In his frustrations, point out to him
that it is through suffering that the soul is purified,
and show him that he is needed by the Church,
he is needed by souls,
he is needed for the work of redemption.

O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,
take to your heart your son who is close to you
because of his priestly ordination,
and because of the power which he has received
to carry on the work of Christ
in a world which needs him so much.
Be his comfort; be his joy; be his strength,
and especially help him
to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy. Amen.

John Joseph, Cardinal Carberry (+1998)
Archbishop of St. Louis 1968-1979

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.








Friday, December 17, 2010

Fr. Samuel Medley: The Important Witness of Wearing Religious Garb

"Wear the habit or collar. It might just shine Jesus to someone who needs him."

~ Fr. Samuel Medley ~


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.


Thursday, December 16, 2010

Saints Say to Pray for Priests Instead of Criticizing Them

We know that St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the angelic Carmelite nun, just before she died made her last Holy Communion for this sublime intention: to obtain the return of a stray priest who had renounced his vocation. And we know that this priest died repentant, invoking Jesus.

We know that there are more than a few souls, especially virginal souls, who have offered themselves as victims on behalf of priests. These souls are favored by Jesus in an absolutely singular way. Let us, then, also offer prayers and sacrifice for priests, for those in danger and for those who stand more firmly and securely, for those who are straying and for those who are already advanced in perfection. Unfortunately, people tend much too readily to criticize the defects of priests, while it is rather rare that someone will pray for them.

St. Nicholas of Flüe, a famous Swiss saint, father of a family, bluntly told anyone too ready to point out the faults of priests: "And you, how many times have you prayed for the sanctity of priests? Tell me: what have you done to obtain good vocations for the Church?"

One time, a spiritual daughter of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina accused herself in Confession of having criticized some priests for their less than worthy behavior and heard Padre Pio forcefully and decisively reply: "Instead of criticizing them, think of praying for them."

~ Excerpt from Jesus Our Eucharistic Love by Fr. Stefano Manelli, O.F.M. Conv.,S.T.D. ~

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Showing Appreciation for Our Priests

The overwhelming majority of Catholic priests and bishops lead tremendously spirit-filled lives, bringing the light of Christ to all those around them. Sometimes we forget that priests, in their humanity, can feel tired and lonely too, just as we do. These humble servants of Our Lord and His Church should receive our true gratitude and love. Today, priests can be greatly uplifted by a simple prayer or a gentle word of appreciation from us!
~ Excerpt from EncouragePriests.org ~

 Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Adoratio 2011: Major International Conference on Eucharistic Adoration

The Bishop of Fréjus-Toulon, France, Bishop Dominique Rey has announced a major International Conference on Eucharistic Adoration to take place in Rome from June 20-23, 2011.

Organised by the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist, a new community founded by Bishop Rey in 2007, the conference brings together a wide range of international speakers, including six prominent Cardinals. “The first condition for the new evangelisation is adoration”, Bishop Rey said. “We must regain the ability to adore Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist if we are to bring the men and women of the twenty-first century to faith in Jesus Christ. This is one of the key themes of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI”, he emphasised, “which is why we are taking this initiative.”

Adoratio 2011 will include fourteen conferences, workshops, the celebration of Mass in the new and older forms, all-night adoration and the divine office. Approximately 300 resident participants are expected, with more due to attend on a daily basis. Simultaneous translation services will be provided in the main languages.

The conference will conclude by joining with Pope Benedict in his celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran and the Eucharistic procession to the Basilica of St Mary Major that follows.

Fr Florian Racine, founder of the Missionaries of the Most Holy Eucharist and the principal organiser, stated: “We are confident that this conference will make an important contribution to the new springtime of Eucharistic adoration that is so dear to the heart of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict. We are humbled by the many people who have already given so much to make this conference something far better than we ever dared to hope it could be. Adoratio 2011 already promises to be an important international event in the life of the Church in 2011.”

The Conference is being held with the intention of promoting the desire of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church to see Perpetual Adoration spread to Parishes and Dioceses around the world.

~ Excerpts from Adoratio 2011 ~


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

 

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Prayer for the Church in China



Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Chinese Government Tries to Control the Catholic Church in China

Tensions continue to rise over the Chinese government's control over the Catholic Church in the region.

According to Italian news agency AsiaNews, Catholic bishops have been forced against their will to Beijing to attend an assembly of representatives of Chinese Catholics.

The report said sources say many of the bishops have gone into hiding or declared themselves too ill to attend the meeting.



Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza: Strengthening the Priesthood

“In general, between priests there is a lot of dedication to duty and pastoral life. There is a strong awareness of their identity, the need for prayer, and that Church is guided by the Holy Spirit. We must make ourselves available to grow with the Lord. In other words, to have a smaller role, less feverish and with more confidence in the Lord.”


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Our Lady of Good Help: USA Apparitions Granted Full Church Approval

"I invite you to come to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, located in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin. For over 150 years, the faithful have come to this hallowed site seeking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In her we find a loving mother, who is ever willing to intercede for us, so that we may be drawn into a deeper love and union with her Son. For instance, at the wedding of Cana she did not hesitate to intercede for this newly married couple at their wedding feast. Whatever be the circumstances of your life, come to the Shrine to pray, seek Mary’s intercession, and strive to follow the will of her Son, Jesus. It is my hope and prayer that your pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help brings you a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ, through the intercession of his Mother."

~ Bishop David Ricken ~

In early October of 1859 Adele Brise received her first vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the following Sunday, October 9th, when the Blessed Mother appeared to Adele for the third time, she warned:

“If they do not convert and do penance, my Son will be obliged to punish them.”

We do not propose to pass judgment on the reasons for this catastrophe, but, one day short of 12 years after the Robinsonville apparition, on October 8, 1871, the great calamity fell and a tragedy begat a miracle. The Belgian colony which embraced a large part of the peninsula and included Robinsonville, was visited by the same whirlwind of fire and wind that devastated Peshtigo.

When the tornado of fire approached Robinsonville, Sister Adele and her companions were determined not to abandon the Chapel. Encircled by the inferno, the Sisters, the children, area farmers and their families fled to the Shrine for protection. The statue of Mary was raised reverently and was processed around the sanctuary. When wind and fire threatened suffocation, they turned in another direction to hope and pray, saying the rosary. Hours later, rains came in a downpour, extinguishing the fiery fury outside the Chapel. The Robinsonville area was destroyed and desolate…except for the convent, the school, the Chapel, and the five acres of land consecrated to the Virgin Mary. Though the fire singed the Chapel fence, it had not entered the Chapel grounds. Those assembled at the Chapel, realizing that they had witnessed a miracle, were asked by Sister Adele to retire to the Convent, where they were made as comfortable as possible for the rest of the night.

What’s more, the only livestock to survive the fire were the cattle brought to the Chapel grounds by farmers and their families who came to the Shrine seeking shelter from the firestorm. Though the Chapel well was only a few feet deep, it gave the cattle outside all the water they needed to survive the fire, while many deeper wells in the area went dry. Hence, the Chapel well has been sometimes referred to as the “miraculous well”.


Messages to Adele Brise:
“ ‘I am the Queen of Heaven, who prays for the conversion of sinners, and I wish you to do the same. You received Holy Communion this morning, and that is well. But you must do more. Make a general confession, and offer Communion for the conversion of sinners. If they do not convert and do penance, my Son will be obliged to punish them’

“ 'Adele, who is it?'' said one of the women. 'O why can't we see her as you do?' said another weeping.

“ ‘Kneel,’ said Adele, ‘the Lady says she is the Queen of Heaven.’ Our Blessed Lady turned, looked kindly at them, and said, ‘Blessed are they that believe without seeing. What are you doing here in idleness…while your companions are working in the vineyard of my Son?’

“ ‘What more can I do, dear Lady?’ said Adele, weeping.

“ ‘Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation’

“ ‘But how shall I teach them who know so little myself?’ replied Adele.

“ ‘Teach them,’ replied her radiant visitor, ‘their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross, and how to approach the sacraments; that is what I wish you to do. Go and fear nothing. I will help you.’ "

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Living the Liturgy: The Monks of Clear Creek Monastery

"If the world is a desert of meaningless noise and unrelenting motion,
then the monastery is an oasis of silence
where only God speaks and where man listens.
In the monastery, Christ, the Lord of History, makes time stand still.
For each day is much like the day before and the day after.
At each morning's altar, Christ gives Himself to His Father
as an acceptable offering on behalf of all the world,
even though that world is too distracted to pray.

~ Bishop Edward Slattery, excerpt from homily ~



"...what the monks do in a radical way is what we should all be doing,
but we need them to show us how."

~ Bishop Edward Slattery, quote from video ~

~ Our Lady of the Annunciation Monastery of Clear Creek website

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Archbishop Thomas Rodi, Priests and Seminarians Discuss the Priesthood


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: A Fruitful Vineyard of Vocations

"How fruitful a vineyard of vocations is the sacristy. 
To see a priest making his meditation before Mass
does more for an altar boy's vocation
than a thousand pieces of inspirational literature."

~ Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, The Priest Is Not His Own ~

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Friday, December 3, 2010

St. Francis Xavier; The Need for Missionaries

“The native Christians have no priests. They know only that they are Christians. There is nobody to say Mass for them; nobody to teach them the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Commandments of God’s Law...The older children would not let me say my Office or eat or sleep until I taught them one prayer or another. Then I began to understand: ‘The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these’...Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians. Again and again I have thought of going round the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and everywhere crying out like a madman, riveting the attention of those with more learning than charity."

~ St. Francis Xavier ~



Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priests, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio: Vocation Nurtured by Eucharistic Adoration

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, explains his call to the priesthood:


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Forty English and Welsh Martyrs


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Monday, November 29, 2010

"There Be Dragons": New Film About St. Josemaria Escriva

"To be a Christian, and in particular to be a priest
—bearing in mind, too, that all of us who are baptized share in Christ’s priesthood —
is to be at all times on the Cross."

"Pray for the priests of today,
and for those who are to come,
that they may really love their fellow men,
every day more and without distinction,
 and that they may know also how to make themselves loved by them."

~ St. Josemaria Escriva:   The Forge 882, 964 ~


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

"The Unseen World": John Henry Newman Movie to Focus on the Priesthood

"A cloud of incense was rising on high; the people suddenly all bowed low; what could it mean? The truth flashed on him, fearfully yet sweetly; it was the Blessed Sacrament — it was the Lord Incarnate who was on the altar, who had come to visit and bless his people. It was the Great Presence, which makes a Catholic Church different from every other place in the world; which makes it, as no other place can be — holy."
~ John Henry Cardinal Newman:  excerpt from  Loss and Gain: The Story of a Convert ~

Liana Marabini,  Director of “The Unseen World”:
“Well it's a film that I dreamt about because I love so much Newman, I would like to share him with other people, with laypeople but also with priests. Because Newman was above all, a wonderful priest.”


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI Recalls St Catherine of Siena's Reverence for the Clergy

"though aware of the human failings of the clergy, always had the greatest reverence for them, because through the Sacraments and the Word they dispense the salvific power of the Blood of Christ. The saint invited holy ministers, even the Pope whom which called 'sweet Christ on earth', to remain faithful to their responsibilities, moved always and only by her profound and constant love for the Church".

~ Pope Benedict XVI: excerpt from VIS, Vatican Information Service ~


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Blessed Miguel Pro: Heroic Jesuit Martyr


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

The Church Founded by Christ the King Cannot be Subject to Any External Power

31. When we pay honor to the princely dignity of Christ, men will doubtless be reminded that the Church, founded by Christ as a perfect society, has a natural and inalienable right to perfect freedom and immunity from the power of the state; and that in fulfilling the task committed to her by God of teaching, ruling, and guiding to eternal bliss those who belong to the kingdom of Christ, she cannot be subject to any external power. The State is bound to extend similar freedom to the orders and communities of religious of either sex, who give most valuable help to the Bishops of the Church by laboring for the extension and the establishment of the kingdom of Christ. By their sacred vows they fight against the threefold concupiscence of the world; by making profession of a more perfect life they render the holiness which her divine Founder willed should be a mark and characteristic of his Church more striking and more conspicuous in the eyes of all.

~  Pius XI, excerpt from Quas Primas (11/12/1925) ~


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Pope Benedict XV: True Authority in the Church is in Serving Christ's Faithful


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI and the College of Cardinals Meet for Prayer and Reflection


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI: The Church is Experiencing a Eucharistic Springtime

"Joyfully I wish to affirm that there is a 'Eucharistic springtime' in the Church today", said the Holy Father. "How many people remain in silence before the Tabernacle sustaining a dialogue of love with Jesus! It is consoling to know that many groups of young people have rediscovered the beauty of prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. I pray that this 'Eucharistic springtime' may become increasingly widespread in parishes, and especially in Belgium, homeland of St. Juliana".

"Recalling St. Juliana of Cornillon, let us too renew our faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. ... Faithfully encountering the Eucharistic Christ at Sunday Mass is essential for our journey of faith, but let us also seek to visit the Lord frequently, before His presence in the Tabernacle. ... By gazing at Him in adoration the Lord draws us to Him, to His mystery, in order to transform us as He transforms the bread and wine".

(Excerpt from VIS, Vatican Information Service--complete news article follows the video)

 ST. JULIANA OF CORNILLON HELPED TO INSTITUTE CORPUS CHRISTI

VATICAN CITY, 17 NOV 2010 (VIS) - In today's general audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square, the Pope focused his attention on St. Juliana of Cornillon who contributed to instituting the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Born in the Belgian city of Liege towards the end of the twelfth century, Juliana was orphaned at the age of five "and entrusted to the care of the Augustinian nuns of the convent-lazaretto of Mont-Cornillon". Later she also took the Augustinian habit and went on to became prioress of the convent.

The Pope explained how the Belgian saint "possessed great culture, ... and a profound sense of the presence of Christ, which she experienced particularly intensely in the Sacrament of the Eucharist".

At the age of sixteen she had a vision which convinced her of the need to establish a liturgical feast for Corpus Christi "in which believers would be able to adore the Eucharist so as to augment their faith, increase the practice of virtue and mend the wrongs done to the Blessed Sacrament", said the Holy Father.

Juliana "confided [her revelation] to two other fervent adorers of the Eucharist " and the three together "formed a kind of 'spiritual alliance' with the intention of glorifying the Blessed Sacrament".

"It was", Pope Benedict continued his catechesis, "Bishop Robert Thourotte of Liege who, following some initial hesitation, accepted the proposal made by Juliana and her two companions and instituted, for the first time, the Solemnity of Corpus Domini in his diocese. Other bishops later imitated him and established the same feast in the areas under their pastoral care".

Juliana, said the Pope, "had to suffer the harsh opposition of certain members of the clergy, including the superior upon whom her convent depended. She therefore chose to leave Mont-Cornillon with a number of companions and for ten years, between 1248 and 1258, was accommodated in various houses of Cistercian nuns". At the same time "she zealously continued to spread Eucharistic devotion. She died at Fosses-La-Ville in Belgium in 1258".

The Holy Father recalled how "in 1264 Urban IV chose to institute the Solemnity of Corpus Domini as a feast for the Universal Church on the Thursday following Pentecost" and, by way of personal example, "himself celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Domini in Orvieto, the city in which he was then residing". And the cathedral of Orvieto still houses "the famous corporal with traces of the Eucharistic miracle which had befallen at Bolsena the preceding year, 1263".

"Urban IV asked one of the greats theologians in history, St. Thomas Aquinas who was with the Pope at that time in Orvieto, to write the texts for the liturgical office of this great feast, ... as an expression of praise and gratitude to the Blessed Sacrament".

"Although following the death of Urban IV the celebration of Corpus Domini was restricted to certain regions of France, Germany, Hungary and northern Italy, in 1317 Pope John XXII reintroduced it for the whole Church".

"Joyfully I wish to affirm that there is a 'Eucharistic springtime' in the Church today", said the Holy Father. "How many people remain in silence before the Tabernacle sustaining a dialogue of love with Jesus! It is consoling to know that many groups of young people have rediscovered the beauty of prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. I pray that this 'Eucharistic springtime' may become increasingly widespread in parishes, and especially in Belgium, homeland of St, Juliana".

"Recalling St. Juliana of Cornillon, let us too renew our faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. ... Faithfully encountering the Eucharistic Christ at Sunday Mass is essential for our journey of faith, but let us also seek to visit the Lord frequently, before His presence in the Tabernacle. ... By gazing at Him in adoration the Lord draws us to Him, to His mystery, in order to transform us as He transforms the bread and wine".

Published by VIS - Holy See Press Office - Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Mary, Mother of JesusChrist, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The "Messiah" at Macy's: The King of Kings and Lord of All Shall Reign Forever!

On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers.


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest. Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Fr. Samuel Medley: In Defense of the Holy Father and Priests

"Are you sick and tired of the silence of the Media about the truth
and plain facts about the misrepresentation on the Sexual Abuse Scandal?
Me too."

~ Fr. Samuel Medley ~

Audio of  Fr. Medley's homily: In Defense of the Holy Father and Priests

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Fr. Samuel Medley: Shepherds After the Heart of Jesus

Fr. Medley's homily on the Priesthood on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
Shepherds After My Own Heart

Fr. Medley's excellent homilies and links to his other sites are at Magnificat Anima Mea Domino.

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter: Life at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary

About the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
Established in 1988 by Pope John Paul II, the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter is a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right. The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter strives to serve the Catholic Church by means of its own particular and specific role or objective, i.e. the sanctification of priests through the faithful celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Through the spiritual riches of the Church's ancient Roman liturgy, the priests of the Fraternity seek to sanctify those entrusted to their care. The Priestly Fraternity instructs and trains its priests to preserve, promote, and protect the Catholic Church's authentic liturgical and spiritual traditions in over 16 countries worldwide. The Fraternity has over 200 priests and 125 seminarians studying in its two international seminaries in Bavaria, Germany and Denton, Nebraska. For more information, please go to www.fssp.org.


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Fr. Corapi: God is Still Calling Men to the Priesthood, Waiting for Their "Yes"!

"Answer the call, young man.
God is knocking at the door.
Will you answer?
Will you open?
Only you can open."

~ Fr. John Corapi ~


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to ofer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Bishop Alexander Sample: Encourage, Thank and Pray for Priests

"We priests are not perfect. Sometimes we disappoint you. Sadly, sometimes we even scandalize you. For our faults, failings and sins we are humbly sorry. We are endowed with the great and awesome dignity of the holy priesthood, but we remain mortal men who, like all of us, labor under the effects of original sin.

"When I am overcome with my own weakness, unworthiness and sinfulness, I am comforted by considering who Jesus chose to be his first apostles and priests. They were often weak and seemed not to understand what Jesus was trying to teach them. He chose one, St. Peter, who would three times deny even knowing Jesus at his greatest hour of need. He even chose one, Judas, who would betray him and hand him over to be crucified.

"But filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he sent them forth to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God and to build up the Church in faith, hope and love. Jesus continues this saving work among us in a special way through the ministry of our bishops and priests. The Holy Spirit guides and sanctifies the Church, even in spite of our human weakness and failings. All of the children of God, not just priests, are in constant need of repentance and renewal.

"My dear people, sometimes our priests (and bishop) get discouraged at what seems to be a lack of results from all of our priestly labors. We often do not get to see the good results of the work that we do. Sometimes people are very quick to complain or criticize. I hope that you will take a moment from time to time to encourage and thank your priests for the life of service they have given to Christ and his Church. Most of all please pray for your priests as they do for you."

~ Bishop Alexander Sample: Excerpt from here. ~

Heaven knows that our good Bishops are under fire for standing up for our Catholic Faith nowadays. What can we do about it? Support them with our prayers!

Rosary for the Bishop is a campaign that aims to support Catholic Bishops through prayer of the Rosary. Please take a few minutes to join in praying for your Bishop.


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Litany of Jesus Christ Priest and Victim


~ Written Litany found here. ~

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Catholic Priests: Men With a Mission

"When I was sixteen I had no idea I wanted to be a priest,
and then someone asked me to be a priest;
and the question, once its been asked,
if you don't explore the question,
you'll never know."

~ A Catholic Priest ~


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests. Amen.

New Book on Pope Benedict XVI's Views on Sex Abuse, Celibacy and Resignation

After sitting down with Benedict XVI in a week long, one on one interview, Peter Seewald is coming out with a new book about his discussions with the Pope.

The two have held similar meetings before Benedict became Pope, which later became the best-sellers "Salt of the Earth" and "God and the World".


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Pope Benedict XVI: Mass for Deceased Cardinals and Bishops

"The great family of the Church finds in these days a time of grace and lives them, in accordance with her vocation, gathered closely around the Lord in prayer and offering his redeeming Sacrifice for the repose of the deceased faithful. Today, we offer it especially for the Cardinals and Bishops who have departed from us in this past year."

"Those who place themselves at the Lord's service and spend their lives in the ecclesial ministry are not exempt from trials; on the contrary, the trials are even more insidious, as the experience of the saints shows."

"... while we thank God for all the benefits that he has bestowed upon our deceased Brothers, let us offer for them the merits of the passion and death of Christ, so that they may fill the gaps due to human frailty."

~  Pope Benedict XVI:  Homily at Mass for Deceased Cardinals and Bishops, 2005 ~


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Fr. Edgardo Arellano on Ordination of Women


Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Brother Immacolato Giuseppe di Gesu: A Victim for the Sanctification of Priests

If you are not in the habit of following Fr. Mark Kirby's blog, don't miss his inspiring post about Brother Immacolato Giuseppe di Gesu.  An excerpt follows:

On 20 August 1943, certain of having at last found his path, and knowing that divine inspiration is confirmed by the ratification of the authority of the Church, he wrote to a priest friend, "Pray, Father, that I may obtain my confessor's permission to offer myself as a victim for the sanctification of priests."

On 6 January 1944, with the blessing of his spiritual director, he makes a magnificent Act of Offering. Aldo was twenty-two years old at the time. The Act of Offering that he wrote is a marvel of poetic harmony, prayer, and doctrine:

In the Name of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Spirit , in the Name of Mary most Sorrowful, I beseech the Most Holy Trinity to accept me as a victim of immolation, expiation, intercession, and reparation to the Divine Justice on behalf of all priests, and of each one in particular.

Receive, O my God, this all-encompassing and irrevocable offering, this total and unconditional act of abandonment, that by Thy mercy, I make to Thee of all that I am. . . . I want only to help and to merit for the world a priesthood worthy of Thy sublime designs. O Eternal God, for the needs of Thy priests, for the sanctification of priests, I accept and I love the sacrifice of my life. . .

I accept whatever sort of suffering that may torment my body. I accept to be calumniated, despised, humiliated, dishonoured, vilified, outraged, forgotten, and trodden underfoot like a grain of sand, so that Thy priests may be loved, honoured, known, respected, and appreciated. If Thy hand must strike, let it strike me and not them. . . . I accept to feel impotent, useless, miserable, and abandoned by Thee, as one lifeless at Thy feet, happy if, by my immolation, I may increase Thy glory albeit by one degree, however small, and contribute to give Thee one more holy priest.

Infinite Divine Heart of my God, if Thou hast need of more martyrs for the defence and sanctification of Thy priests, I offer Thee all the blood of my veins. Make of me, O sweet Jesus, a host immolated for the sake of Thy priests. Be Thou, Thyself, my sovereign Priest, O Jesus. O my Jesus crucified, in union with Thee, I offer myself as a victim to the Divine Justice. . . . I want to live and die crucified for Thy priests, so that they may be priests according to Thy Heart. . . .

Virgin of Sorrows, victim of love, make of me, with thee, a living host, holy and acceptable to God, for the sanctification of priests. And Thou, O compassionate God, accept and bless this my poor offering; deign to consume this little host slowly, drop by drop, in the ardent flames of Thy most pure love, for the sanctification of the priesthood, so that the abyss of Thy mercies may deploy themselves in the abyss of my miseries. Amen.

Lord Jesus, Immaculate Lamb,
immolated upon the altar of the Cross
for the salvation of every human being,
I humbly pray that Thou wouldst deign to glorify,
even on this earth, Thy servant,
Brother Immacolato, who loved Thee so much,
and, confident in his help, I ask for this grace.
(Mention your intention.)
Grant me this, I pray Thee,
through the intercession of Brother Immacolato,
who, whilst living among us, offered himself as a victim
for the sanctification of priests
and for the redemption of those enslaved by sin.

Three Gloria Patri.


~ Excerpts from Fr. Kirby's excellent post on  Vultus Christi ~

Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.








Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Jesus Wants Prayers and Suffrages for Deceased Priests

"I do not want to exclude priests who have died.
They also need prayers and suffrages
so that they may return to my arms from purgatory to heaven.
Even there, the mission of faithful souls lasts,
to free priests from that place of purification,
to gain for Me the joy of seeing them finally in the bosom of My glory.
This will be an act of charity for them
and a joy they will give Me."

~ Jesus to Venerable Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, from To My Priests ~

My Jesus,
by the sorrows Thou didst suffer in Thine Agony in the Garden,
in Thy Scourging and Crowning with thorns,
in the Way to Calvary,
in Thy Crucifixion and Death,
have mercy on the souls of priests in Purgatory,
especially those most forgotten and who have no one else to pray for them.
I wish to remember all those priests who ministered to me,
the priests my heart has never forgotten,
and those I no longer recall due to my frailty of memory.
Do Thou deliver them from the dire torments they endure;
call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace in Paradise.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them!
Amen.

O God, Thou didst raise Thy servant, N.,
to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ,
according to the Order of Melchisedech,
giving him the sublime power to offer the Eternal Sacrifice,
to bring the Body and Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ down upon the altar,
and to absolve the sins of men in Thine own Holy Name.
We beseech Thee to reward his faithfulness and to forget his faults,
admitting him speedily into Thy Holy Presence,
there to enjoy forever the recompense of his labors.
This we ask through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord.