"You Are A Priest Forever"

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Seminarians from St. Mary`s National Seminary of Ggaba (Uganda)



Very moving.

(h/t Jeremy Garton FB)

Holy Thursday

" Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end."(John13:1)









Pope Benedict XVI Holy Thursday Homily (April 1, 2010)
(full text)

...We said that breaking the bread is an act of communion, an act of uniting through sharing. Thus, in the act itself, the intimate nature of the Eucharist is already indicated: it is agape, it is love made corporeal. In the word “agape”, the meanings of Eucharist and love intertwine. In Jesus’ act of breaking the bread, the love that is shared has attained its most radical form: Jesus allows himself to be broken as living bread. In the bread that is distributed, we recognize the mystery of the grain of wheat that dies, and so bears fruit. We recognize the new multiplication of the loaves, which derives from the dying of the grain of wheat and will continue until the end of the world. At the same time, we see that the Eucharist can never be just a liturgical action. It is complete only if the liturgical agape then becomes love in daily life. In Christian worship, the two things become one – experiencing the Lord’s love in the act of worship and fostering love for one’s neighbour. At this hour, we ask the Lord for the grace to learn to live the mystery of the Eucharist ever more deeply, in such a way that the transformation of the world can begin to take place...

600 Clergy Decry Notre Dame Obama Invite

LifeSiteNews:

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, a national association of 600 priests and deacons, has issued a statement urging the University of Notre Dame to rescind the invitation to President Obama to be the commencement speaker for this year's graduation and receive an honorary law degree May 17...

..."If need be, a Catholic University must have the courage to speak uncomfortable truths which do not please public opinion, but which are necessary to safeguard the authentic good of society," the Pope wrote in the 1990 document, going on to cite the "responsibility to try to communicate to society ... principles which give full meaning to human life" as "a specific priority" of Catholic schools.

"The decision ... to afford an openly pro-abortion politician the privilege of speaking to graduating seniors at the commencement violates every principle of Catholic education insofar as it violates both Divine and Natural Law," said the Confraternity. "We are therefore saddened and outraged that any Catholic institution, let alone a prestigious university like Notre Dame, would afford a public gesture of acceptance and endorsement to a politician who openly supports the so-called legal 'right' to 'choose death', i.e., the direct killing of an unborn human being."

The Confraternity called the reasoning that the invitation would foster "dialogue" with the President on life issues "a non sequitur." "Speaking at Commencement is not an open debate, it is a monologue," said the clergymen. "Parents did not pay tuition for celebrities to speak at their son or daughter's graduation, they paid it to ensure a Catholic education."...

Priests At Work For Life

"Reason, Faith And The Abortion Debate" apologetic by Fr. Scott McCaig CC

"Raise Your Hand" new video by 'Priests for Life'

Fr. Frank Pavone's Youtube channel.

The Scandal of Badly Formed Priests

Normally I do not like to criticize the clergy. I like to pray for them. However, when a priest puts on public display his dissident beliefs it does need to be pointed out.
Here is a recent example of a badly formed priest who is president and vice-chancellor of a purportedly Catholic university, who makes a statement that is scandalous. (Even an unbeliever would realize the scandal in Fr.Paul Rennick's statement!)

LifeSiteNews:

...LSN sought comment regarding the school's decision to invite Cokie Roberts, a pro-abortion Catholic news analyst who has criticized the Church for preaching against homosexuality and contraception, to address the school as part of the "Christian Culture" lecture series.

Fr. Rennick told LSN that he had "personally vetted" the selection of Roberts and chose her because she was "a woman of faith," a "well known Catholic" and "successful as an individual Christian."

LSN asked Fr. Rennick, "Do you think there is a possibility of scandal from the fact that she has professed very pro-abortion views and has criticized Catholic bishops for teaching Church doctrine on homosexuality and contraception?" The President of the Catholic University replied, "No, I don't."

Asked to elaborate, Fr. Rennick said: "If you look at the catholic population, you'll find a whole variety of positions on all of those topics. It seems to me that disagreement on a particular position doesn't disqualify one from being a Catholic. Unless, of course, that position is whether Jesus is the Christ."

"Abortion is not an infallible teaching. It never has been proclaimed infallibly," he said. "This attempt to put everything that the Church teaches in this one set of categories, it seems to me, is not a proper Catholic position, not according to the history of our church," he added.

LSN sought comment about Fr. Rennick's remarks from London Bishop Ronald Fabbro who is Chancellor of Assumption University. Mark Adkinson, Director of Communications for the diocese, told LifeSiteNews.com he would not be able to have the bishop comment. Asked if there would be a better time to contact the bishop, Adkinson replied, "No, because I don't view LifeSite as a legitimate news source."...

...Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) Assistant Director Lea Singh noted that the Catechism reads: "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every produced abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable." (CCC 2271).

"As an 'unchangeable' teaching, it does indeed seem to be an infallible teaching," said Singh. "Over the years the CCCB has repeatedly spoken out strongly against abortion." She quoted a 1990 CCCB document which stated: "Catholic teaching on abortion is clear and unequivocal. Abortion is a moral evil because it involves the destruction of human life. Direct killing of an unborn child is never justified." ...

The scandal is clear. Fr. Rennick is in desperate need of formation, and hopefully he will get it. It is disturbing to think that people send their college students to Assumption Univ., thinking that THEY will receive a good formation! I guess there is a reason why that university did not make the 'faithful to the Magisterium' list!!

(Our two eldest have attended Our Lady Seat Of Wisdom, which IS on the list, and we can personally recommend it!)

As an aside, Mark Adkinson would serve Bishop Fabbro better if he kept up to date with his communications contacts. (That's his job, right?!) LifeSiteNews has an international reputation amongst faithful Catholic lay persons,priests,Bishops,Cardinals and academics for producing a superior Catholic news service. (Unlike some other Canadian 'catholic' productions often found in the back of churches!)



PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

Most gracious Heavenly Father,

We thank you for our for our faithful priests and bishops, whose spiritual fatherhood and example of fidelity, self-sacrifice, and devotion is so vital to the faith of your people.

May our spiritual fathers be guided by the examples of Saints Peter and Paul, all the Apostles and their saintly successors. Give them valiant faith in the face of confusion and conflict, hope in time of trouble and sorrow, and steadfast love for you, for their families, and for all your people throughout the world. May the light of your Truth shine through their lives and their good works.

Assist all spiritual fathers, that through your Grace they may steadily grow in holiness and in knowledge and understanding of your Truth. May they generously impart this knowledge to those who rely on them.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(from Women For Faith and Family)

Good News

49 Legionairies of Christ ordained to the priesthood Dec. 20.

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Bishop Martino , Shepherd

Bishop Martino of Scranton's pastoral letter for Respect Life Sunday:

"My brothers and sisters in Christ,

The American Catholic bishops initiated Respect Life Sunday in 1972, the year before the Supreme Court legalized abortion in the United States. Since that time, Catholics across the country observe the month of October with devotions and pro-life activities in order to advance the culture of life. This October, our efforts have more significance than ever. Never have we seen such abusive criticism directed toward those who believe that life begins at conception and ends at natural death..."

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We must continue to pray for our Bishops and priests, that they may have the fortitude to persevere in doing God's Will, and support them in all their efforts, with love and patience.