Opus Bono Sacerdotii Calling All Catholics to Help Priests in Need

"My dear friends, be aware of the great gift that priests represent for the Church and the world. Through their ministry the Lord continues to save mankind, to make Himself present, to sanctify. Give thanks to God and above all remain close to your priests with prayer and support, especially in moments of difficulty”.

 

~ Pope Benedict XVI, May 5th, 2010 General Audience ~

 

 

~ True Stories of Priests in Need from Opus Bono Sacerdotii ~

 

Opus Bono Sacerdotii Prayer for Priests

 

O Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest and exemplar of priestly holiness and dignity, we are grateful to You for having chosen certain men for the ministerial priesthood by which You continue to instruct, admonish, forgive, nourish and strengthen Your Church. We are sorely awware of the great need of priests in our time to be confirmed in their sacred calling so that they may continue confidently in their ministry of mediating Your graces to men and of representing them before Your august majesty. Relying on the intercession of Holy Mary, Mother of priests, and of Saint Joseph, Her beloved spouse, we beg Your help for the priests who are the most troubled, tempted, discouraged and suffering. May the noble and sacred office of the priesthood, which has too often been reviled and scorned, regain its admirable stature in the sight of all men for Your greater honor and glory, and for the sanctification and salvation of Your people.

 

~ Fr. Byers of Holy Souls Hermitage encourages support of Opus Bono Sacerdotti ~

 

~ National Catholic Register 2007 interview of Joseph Maher of Opus Bono Sacerdotii ~  



 

 

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 Eucharistic adoration for priests.  Amen.

Fr. Gordon MacRae: The Scandal of False Accusations Against Priests

"In my review of David F. Pierre’s landmark book, Catholic Priests Falsely Accused, I pointed out the hard evidence raised by former Los Angeles prosecutor Donald Steier that a full fifty percent of the claims against Catholic priests have been false and tainted by the lure of money. This aspect of the scandal has been grossly overlooked by the entire Church, and a part of our sacrifice as a Church must not be to sacrifice justice for priests falsely accused. Someone might argue that I have a vested interest in taking that position. Perhaps that’s true, but no justice afforded to me now will give me back even one of the 6,361 days and nights taken from me in prison. Those are my sacrifice, and this Lent I offer that sacrifice for the Church, for the priesthood, and for the readers of These Stone Walls who come here from the city on a hill with a search for truth and justice in their hearts."

~ Fr. Gordon MacRae, excerpt from here ~

*EXCLUSIVE REPORT* Alarming New Evidence May Exonerate Imprisoned 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.

The Secret of Priestly Holiness and Supernatural Fruitfulness

If only souls knew the power to purify and to transform
that emanates from My tabernacles!
If only My priests knew this
they would hasten into My presence
and remain there,
waiting for Me to do in them
what, of themselves, they cannot do.

It is the simple prayer of adoration
that renders a priest fit for the sacred ministry
by giving him a pure heart
and by correcting all that is incompatible with My Divine Holiness
and with My Priestly Love in his life.
This way of holiness through adoration
is a secret revealed to My saints in ages past,
and it is a gift that I am offering My priests
in these times of impurity, persecution, and darkness.

For impurity,
I will give them a shining purity
that will blaze before the eyes of the world
as a testimony to Divine Love.
For persecution
I will give them a manly strength and a resoluteness of purpose
that will confound those who plot their downfall.
For darkness
I will give them a clear light by which to order their steps
and see what choices are pleasing to My Heart.

Time spent in My presence is not time wasted.
It is the ground and support
of every word spoken by My priests in the exercise of their ministry;
it is the secret of a priestly action that is supernaturally fruitful,
bearing fruit that will last.

~ Excerpt from 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.

Fr. Raymond Nobiletti, M.M.: Maryknoll Priest, 9/11 First Responder and Survivor

"...the phone rang and a neighboring parish priest asked if I could go immediately to the World Trade Center. Priests were needed to minister to the wounded. The office TV then revealed that this was no small plane crash."

"Stunned by the image of the towering inferno, I was in a daze while collecting the Holy Oils, stole, and prayer book needed to administer the Sacraments. This would not be the first time in 30 years of priesthood that I would walk into a disaster such as this. In 1972 in Hong Kong, I was waist deep in the mud of a landslide that took the lives of 72 people. I learned how important it was to be an instrument of God’s presence and am still humbled by that privilege. I knew that the presence of a priest would be important to both survivors and responders that morning at the World Trade Center."

"God’s presence was made visible in the Sacraments of the Church, the ministry of the priesthood, and the compassion shown toward the victims by the first responders. It was spontaneous and unexpected as are so many important and meaningful occasions of God’s presence in the face of evil. God’s grace led me down to the World Trade Center that day. The needs of the people and victims were more important than the risk of being there. I did think that I would see God face-to-face that morning."

"The recognizable presence of a priest who represents the compassion and forgiveness of God should never be underestimated, especially in the midst of sudden crisis or in the face of such evil. The presence of God and the grace of God was and still is tangible at Ground Zero.

What a gift and privilege it was to be an instrument of God’s grace and part of the team of people from all walks of life who made God so present to all on that day. In our own life journey everyday, we continue to experience God’s presence in these people and this place.

 

Father Raymond Nobiletti, M.M., excerpts from his remembrance of 9/11

Chinatown, New York City,

September 2011

Lord, give me comfort, give me strength, give me hope in the face of sorrow. Give me the knowledge that you are beside me today and every tomorrow. Let me be there for others who reach out to me in their time of need. Let me follow the path you set for me, no matter where it may lead.

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.

Interesting Facts About American Priests and World Youth Day

More than half of the priests who were ordained in the U.S. in 2011 were between the ages of 25 and 34. This according to a report released by the American Conference of Catholic Bishops. About 480 priests were ordained this year and roughly 20 percent of them attended World Youth Day at one time in their lives.

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.

A Catholic Eucharistic Flash Mob: "Come and Kneel Before Him Now"

A Eucharistic flash mob in the centre of Preston, organised by the Capuchin Franciscans on Ascension Thursday 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.

Bishop Rene Gracida: Golden Jubilee Homily

"As the date, May 23, 2009, approached I was under increasing pressure from friends to permit them to organize a big celebration in observance of the 50th Anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Believe it or not, I am a shy person. Actually, I am an introvert. My Myers-Briggs personality profile is INFJ. It is only by the grace of God, given to me by the Holy Spirit, that I am able to summon the courage to speak before large gatherings. I nearly died of stage fright when, at Cardinal Deardon’s invitation, I gave the homily at the Mass for Youth in 1976 before 10,000 people just a few years after my Episcopal ordination.

"So, in 2009 I resisted all efforts to make my Jubilee an occasion of some big public show such as a banquet or even a Mass. Yet, I did want to give thanks to God in a celebration of a public Mass. So, on Saturday, May 23, 2009, I called the Rector of Corpus Christi Cathedral and asked him if he would permit me to celebrate the regular 9:30 parish Mass the next morning. He readily agreed and so I did appear unannounced and celebrated that Mass as my Jubilee Mass. The YouTube video shows the homily of the Mass. I have written this so that you will understand the bewilderment of the congregation when I announced in my homily that it was my Jubilee Mass."

~ Bishop Gracida, from his blog ~

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.

Fr.George Byers Establishes Holy Souls Hermitage: A Priest Helping Priests

"My vocation has always been marked with a concern for the sanctification of priests, which is what led me to teach in seminaries right around the world.

"Holy Souls Hermitage is no different. Prayer and adoration and sacrifice is offered for the sake of the sanctification of bishops and priests in the purgatory of this life and the next."

~ Fr. George Byers, Father of Mercy, excerpt from Holy Souls Hermitage ~

 Thanks to  Spiritual Mothers of Priests for reporting information learned from Mulier Fortis about a Father of Mercy and his new way of life as a hermit.

Fathers of Mercy Vocations Video

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.

Fr. P. Josef Moreno: Discourse to Priests on Devotion to Saint Joseph

"To you I now turn, venerable Ministers of the Altar, Priests of the Most High, wise dispensers of the Blood of Jesus Christ, and entreat you to execute the command which God has given to you, by the mouth of a great king : 'Go to Joseph, and do all that he shall say to you'.(1) And, since one of the most illustrious Doctors who have flourished in the schools assures us that St. Joseph must be regarded as the exemplar of all those who held any considerable position in the Church, (2) you cannot excuse yourselves from choosing him as the object of your particular devotion. You, then, I conjure who so often touch the Body of Jesus Christ, love this saint, who was the first of all men who had the honour to receive the Saviour into his hands. You, who sacrifice Jesus on the altar during the Divine Mysteries, venerate this saint, who may glory in having offered to the Eternal Father the first-fruits of the Adorable Blood of the Incarnate Word in His Circumcision. Consider Jesus on the altar lying on the sacred corporal, as Joseph contemplated Him in the Crib wrapped in His poor swaddling-bands; bear this Man-God through the streets of our cities, and to the houses of the sick, but let it ever be with the same sentiments of piety with which St. Joseph was animated when he held Him in his arms during the journeys he made. Finally, distribute to the faithful this Divine Saviour hidden under the appearance of bread, but endeavour at the same time to do this with all the reverence wherewith St. Joseph presented Him to the shepherds who came to adore Him." (3)

1 Gen. xli. 55.    2 Albert the Great, in Lucam, cap. i.    3  Fr. P. Josef Moreno, Diicurso viii.

 ~ Fr. P. Josef Moreno ~ 

Excerpt from The Life and Glories of Saint Joseph by Edward Healy Thompson, M.A.

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.

Falsely Accused Priests: Diabolical Attacks Against Jesus Christ and His Church

“When people wish to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest,

 because where there is no longer any priest there is no sacrifice,

and where there is no longer any sacrifice there is no religion.”

~ St. Jean Vianney, Patron Saint of  Priests ~

"An accusation leveled at a priest is a horrible thing, because it is nearly impossible today for a priest to have a fair hearing. There is no perfect justice or charity in this world, but these days falsely-accused priests don’t get anything like even the world’s “justice”. But even when priests are guilty of that by which they are accused, it doesn’t surprise me that priests are sinners or in the worst cases commit bad crimes. Yes, priests and bishops should be held to high standards. After all, even the devil holds them to high standards. The devil hates priests and works tirelessly to trip them. Holy Orders doesn’t make a man less human. Should I be surprised that priests are sinners? I am a sinner.

"The bottom line is that you cannot depend on the personal holiness of priests or bishops for your own personal holiness. The only true Holy One is the Lord."

~ Fr. John Zuhlsdorf , excerpt from here ~

~ Father Corapi,  A Call for Prayer ~

~ Father Corapi:  Convicted Already? Updated! ~

"As God is my witness, I swear as I swore on a Bible before the diocesan officials, these allegations are totally and completely untrue. My mind and my soul are bruised, beaten and trampled down. My parishioners are most supportive but I am not permitted to visit them and I cannot afford to call them by telephone. My health is not good and I had avoided many appointments with my doctors. This past Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were the worst emotionally devastating events I have ever had to endure. I was close to suicide. I suffer panic attacks, acute anxiety and severe depression. Worst of all, there is nobody that can really understand or share this onerous burden that I bear."

~ Father 'John' (not true identity), excerpt from Was Priest Falsely Accused? ~

~ Media Coverage of Opus Bono Sacerdotii ~

~ When Priests are Falsely Accused by Fr. Gordon MacRae ~

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.

Saint John Eudes: Characteristics of a Worthy Priest

"The worthy priest is an angel of purity in mind and body,

a cherub of light and knowledge,

a seraph of love and Charity,

an apostle of zeal in work and sanctity,

 a little god on earth in power and authority, in patience and benignity.

He is the living image of Christ in this world,

of Christ watching, praying, preaching, catechizing, working, weeping,

going from town to town, from village to village,

suffering, agonizing,

sacrificing Himself and dying for the souls created to His image and likeness...

He is the light of those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

 He is the destroyer of error, schisms and heresies,

 the converter of sinners,

the sanctifier of the just,

 the strength of the weak,

the consolation of the afflicted,

the treasure of the poor.

He is the confusion of hell,

the glory of heaven,

 the terror of demons,

the joy of angels,

the ruin of Satan's kingdom,

the establishment of Christ's empire,

the ornament of the Church..."

~ Saint John Eudes ~

~ Saint John Eudes, pray for priests and pray for the souls entrusted to their care. ~

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.

 

Celebrating Catholic Priests

“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.

~ St. Jean Vianney ~ 

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: Answering Christ's Call to Priesthood

“Do not be afraid to give your life to Christ!

Nothing will ever replace the ministry of priests at the heart of the Church!

Nothing will ever replace a Mass for the salvation of the world!

Dear young and not so young who are listening to me,

do not leave Christ's call unanswered.”

~ 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.

Msgr. Morgan Rowsome: A Healing at Lourdes, Priesthood, A Grotto in Texas

After a serious illness in 1961 which hospitalized me for three months and after having been told by doctors that I would not live very long and would never be healthy enough to become a priest, some friends gave my mother and I the gift of tickets to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. Like so many pilgrims, I took the bath in the holy water which started flowing when Mary appeared to Bernadette in 1858. I believe I had a healing which gave me back my health and allowed me to study of the priesthood, and the rest is history.

Needless to say, I am grateful to Our Lady of Lourdes and have returned to the Grotto many times. In 2001, I led a pilgrimage of over 30 people from our parish to Ireland and Lourdes. While celebrating Mass close to where Mary appeared to Bernadette, I seemed to hear a “small voice” saying: “Not everyone can come to Lourdes – why don’t you bring Lourdes to the people?”

~ Msgr. Morgan Rowsome; excerpt from his parish website ~

Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes



O ever Immaculate Virgin Mother of mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comfort of the afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my suffering, deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests. Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory. Amen.  (Source)

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.

Jesuit Martyrs of Virginia

In 2002, the Diocese of Richmond opened the cause for the canonization of the Spanish Jesuit Martyrs of Virginia. This has renewed interest in the fascinating, almost fantastic, tale of a lost Spanish colony in Virginia and the men who died trying to convert the Ajacan Indians. In 1571, Fr. Segura and his seven companions were killed by hostile tribesmen at the St. Mary's mission sited on Virginia's Lower Peninsula, near the Chesapeake Bay. This was close to the spot where the English would permanently settle just thirty years later. Fr. Russell E. Smith is the postulator for the martyrs' canonization and a judge with the diocesan tribunal. Fr. Smith learned about the Jesuit settlement while growing up in historic Williamsburg, Virginia and as a priest he took up the matter with the postulator general for the Society of Jesus, in Rome. The Virginia Historical Society and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities have also lent their scholarly support for evidence of the Spanish mission. Meanwhile, the Richmond diocese has designated St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in New Kent County as the new Shrine of the Jesuit Martyrs.

~ Matthew M. Anger:  excerpt from Spanish Martyrs for Virginia ~

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.

Fr. Nelson Baker Declared Venerable

~ More information about Venerable Fr. Nelson Baker ~

~ Related post about Fr. Baker ~

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.

Mother Teresa Casini: A League of Priests to Make Amends for Unfaithful Priests

"I will make the priestly spirit blossom in those dioceses where there is a small nucleus of priests to console my heart, to satisfy the justice of my divine Father, and to make amends for the harm done to souls by their unfaithful shepherds. According to their fervor I will unite them to my heart, filling them with charity and apostolic zeal; I will bless their undertakings and give them the grace to penetrate souls with the unction of their words and lead their brothers back to my heart. I will be their support in life, in temptation, and in spiritual conflict, and I will be near at the time of death; I will comfort them and unite them to my infinite love."

"I desire a League of Priests united in the single purpose of charity to offer themselves with Me as victims of expiation to My Divine Father, for those of the clergy unfaithful to their sublime vocation."

~ Jesus to Mother Maria Teresa Casini, Foundress of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart ~

"On December 8, 1884 the Divine Redeemer manifested Himself again to me. He showed me His pierced Heart and asked me to share in His suffering so that I might console Him. Then He added '... this pain is inflicted on my Heart by those priests who, forgetful of their sacred character, offend my heavenly Father with their infidelity.'"

"These desires of the Heart of Jesus remained impressed on my heart, nor could time erase them. I understand clearly that every priest, "ex officio" is a victim with Christ; but I have always felt that a league of priests who, over and above the call of duty, could become Victims of Expiation in union with the Heart of Christ for their unfortunate brother priests, would be most compatible with their priestly character of victimhood; the Heart of Christ would be satisfied; and He would pour into these priestly souls His merciful graces. Many times these graces are held back precisely because such graces are not granted except at the high cost of sacrifices of expiation. If only there were a small group of such priests in every diocese according to the desire of the Heart of Christ, certainly priests would return to their former fervor and persevere. In my heart there was the constant conviction that the desires of the Divine Redeemer would be fulfilled. How? When? By whom? I do not know, nor do I desire to know. " (Source of quotes)

~ Mother Maria Teresa Casini ~

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 John Paul II: The Desire to See Jesus In His Priests

"The world looks to the priest, because it looks to Jesus!

No one can see Christ; but everyone sees the priest,

and through him they wish to catch a glimpse of the Lord!

Immense is the grandeur of the Lord!

Immense is the grandeur and dignity of the priest!"

~ Pope John Paul II, Rome, Italy, October 13, 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.

 

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. 

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.