Please Pray for Seminarian Philip Johnson: His Inspiring and Powerful Witness

"On October 15, 2008, after two years as an officer in the Navy, my life changed when I was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Putting my concerns in the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary and my trust in Our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that I may be faithful to the Holy Catholic Faith and serve the Church for the rest of my life."

~ Philip Johnson  ~

~ Prayers requested for Philip Johnson:  Vocare Blog ~

~ Philip Gerard Johnson's blog:  In Caritate Non Ficta ~

~ Novena prayer for Philip Johnson ~

~ Video found at Roman Catholic Vocations ~

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.

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

LETTER TO FAMILIES

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.

What Child Is This? This Is Christ the King of Kings!

Blessed Christmas to All God's Children!

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

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.

Jesus Christ You Are My Life

O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priests. Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of their priestly life.

In their loneliness, comfort them. In their sorrows, strengthen them. In their frustrations, point out to them that it is through suffering that the soul is purified, and show them that they are needed by the Church; they are needed by souls; they are needed for the work of redemption.

O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your sons who are close to you because of their priestly ordination and because of the power which they have received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs them so much. Be their comfort, be their joy, be their strength, and especially help them to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.

~ By J. Cardinal Carberry ~

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.

Universal Call to Holiness

The words that Fr S addresses to brother priests in the excerpts below can just as well be applied to the non-ordained. We are all called to the heights of holiness--to sainthood. Can we honestly say that we are living for God and His glory more than for ourselves? Are His priorities our priorities? Do we want to please Him in all that we think, say and do? Do we love Him more than anyone else or anything that the world has to offer?

The Holy Father has been inspired to ask for a year of special prayer and sacrifice for priests. His request echoes the sentiments of Jesus when He said to Venerable Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, "...I want souls who are dedicated with fervor, with determination and without looking for rest, to plead day and night for My priests."

The Year for Priests is quickly drawing to a close. Have we been more attentive during this year to the obligation to spiritually support our Catholic priests? Do we pray for priests, sacrifice and mortify ourselves for them? Never? Seldom? Frequently? Every Day? Could we do more? Should we do more? What does Jesus want us to do? Have we tried to satisfy the thirst of Jesus for holy priests and holy people?

Fr S has written a thought provoking post:

"...Our Holy Father tries to be holy; no one can doubt that. But priests need to try to be holy, too! So long as we pass the buck to others and give ourselves a pass we will never have the success that we could.

"If we look through history, there have been times of great religious fervor and great religious torpor. Right now it seems that we are in the latter. We are all waiting around, wondering who the next saints will be to lift us out of this mire. Why is it that we cannot be those ones? Why do we not pray for the charismatic gifts? Why do we not pray to share in the Cross? Why do we not ask huge things of Our Lord? Why do we not seek holiness and holiness alone? What other solution can there be?

"The sad state of things in so many places is that when one priest tries to live out a holy life, he is branded as extreme. He looks at what saints did in earlier days and is drawn to mortification and simplicity, all the while being thought of as crazy by the brethren. This has got to stop. No matter how holy the Holy Father is or a few bishops are, they need our help. They need our sacrifice, our mortification, our intercession. We have all of the tools we need, but we have to put them into practice. Holiness alone! Sola sanctitas! We have got to draw the line here and give not even an inch. "

~ Excerpts from Sola Sanctitas by Fr. S at Clerical Reform ~

~ AN APPEAL FOR ONE HOUR OF EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR PRIESTS ~

(The poll counter has gone haywire the last couple of months and is counting backwards. Don't let that stop you from making a commitment to offer a Holy Hour for priests. What is important is the commitment--not the number. Only 71 days left in this Year 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.

The Priesthood is for Real Men

TRAILER for The Award Winning Documentary on the Catholic Priesthood - Fishers of Men by Grassroots Films

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.

Lord, Take My Life

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.

::Chorus::
Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.

Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord I pour
at Your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
(Lyrics by Chris Tomlin)

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.

Here I Am, Lord: Dedication to Jesus Prayer

DEDICATION TO JESUS

Lord Jesus Christ,

take all my freedom, my memory, my understanding, and my will.

All that I have and cherish you have given me.

I surrender it all to be guided by your will.

Your love and your grace are wealth enough for me.

Give me these, Lord Jesus, and I ask for nothing more.

Amen.

~ St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) ~

*

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.

Consecrated Hands of Priests

"O venerable sanctity of the hands! O happy function of the priest!

He that created me (if I may say so) gave me the power to create Him;

and He that created me without me is Himself created by me."

~St. Augustine ~

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.