Booklet for the Mass
Many priests observe the anniversary of their ordination at this time of year. It is a common time for ordinations, probably because Ember Days were common times for ordinations and Ember Days fall during the Pentecost Octave.
It is my anniversary of ordination today, 33 years ago, by St. John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica. That might make me a 2nd class relic.
When this date rolls around, I usually say to myself:
“Well… I made it this far.”
And so begins the 34th year. I’ve now been a priest longer than the earthly Jesus (depending on ancient counting practices).
On 26 May 1991, the Feast of St. Philip Neri, it was also Trinity Sunday, just like this year!
It is a wonderful synchronicity that the parish in Rome to which I am so attached, is both the place of St. Philip Neri’s great work and also in honor of the Most Holy Trinity.
It was a perfect Roman May day.
I got up that morning, ate breakfast, said my prayers, and walked alone across town to the basilica, where I entered through the main doors with the rest of the crowd. After that, however, I went to the right, to the nave near the Pietà, where we ordinands vested and waited for the Holy Father. My family members came separately from a different part of town. They had special tickets which brought them very close to the altar. St. Theresa of Calcutta was there, just in front of where my folks sat.
Since we were 60 in number, and from many countries, the basilica was absolutely jammed with people from all over the world who had come for the ordinations, probably some 50k.
You have not experienced the Litany of Saints until you have heard it sung by that many people in a space like that.
I arranged for my grandmother, a convert to Catholicism in her 80’s, to receive Communion from the Holy Father, St. John Paul.
I often wonder what happened to the other men with whom I was ordained. I only knew a few of them personally, since I had been at the Lateran University with them.
It was the first year that the Iron Curtain was raised a bit. A few men were permitted out Romania to come to Rome to be ordained by the Pope. There were some Opus Dei guys ordained with us. Another of the group was John Corapi of the SOLT group, though I didn’t know him at the time. Pray for him. One priest was ordained for the Archdiocese of Southwark in England. I know that one fellow is now a bishop in Haiti. Last February he was injured in an explosion but is recovering.
This day, especially when I review some of these videos and think about what has happened between then and now, underscores the fact that God doesn’t choose men who are worthy. He chooses those whom it pleases Him to choose.
I ask for your prayers today and in an ongoing way for my cares, my health, and my future. Pray for canceled priests.
And please, in a special way, pray for the mother of a priest, my own.
The sermon from the Mass. The sermon is in Italian and the text is HERE.
I really miss him.
Here are some excerpts from the broadcast of the ordination, which was on national television in Italy. We have the interrogation, litany and the prayer (form).
Imposition of hands.
Loading ...
Thanks for sharing what your ordination day was like. Interesting. Thanks so much for your work. Ad Multos Annos.
Happy anniversary, Reverend Father! Ad multos annos!
You have been a blessing in my life and in the lives of so many others. I thank God for your openness to conversion to the Faith and for your ministry. May Our Lord continue to bless you and Our Lady keep you safe under her mantle. You will be the intention for our family’s Rosary tonight!
Happy Anniversary, Father! Thank you for your continued prayers, witness, and ministry. You are in my thoughts and prayers, especially today, as is your mother. Here is to many more years to come!
P.S. I miss St. John Paul II as well and I barely knew him. Videos of him speaking have a soothing effect for me and I absolutely enjoy reading about him.
Ad multos annos! Thank you for continuing your work on this site, especially in light of the obstacles thrown in your path.
God bless you and keep you, Father Z.
May Our Lord continue to bless your work, your vocation, and your future, whatever it holds.
And…vry 73 de wb0yle
Congratulations, Father, and thank you for your priesthood. Your blog-ministry is invaluable to keep us rabble in line.
May 26 is a significant date in my family. It falls 13 days after Fátima (dust off your Novus Ordos for that one…)
This week I was musing and speculating on women vs. the priesthood and I came up with some outlandish ways it could develop within the next 500 years. I’ll withhold the actual ideas, because they are clearly insane and unthinkable. Well I hope so. Let’s not sully this article’s combox with a debate on Father’s special day.
I want to say that I’m so thankful for all clergy and religious. Because in my youth they were a rock, an anchor in the storm of my life. Refuge was found in school, in the parish church at Mass and donuts too. Priests (and religious) respect me, uphold my dignity; they’re not given to lies or exploiting my vulnerability.
I recently completed 16 stable years as a disciple of one pastor only, and this experience transformed my soul profoundly. I learned what true sonship is like. True fatherhood was demonstrated in my presence. Perhaps now I know what it means to love one another. Perhaps I am, after all, capable of giving love to neighbor, brother, sister. And all I needed to do was dedicate myself to Mary and the Eucharist. Everything else is commentary.
Happy anniversary, Fr. Z, and many more. God bless!
OK, probably a dollar short, too, but
my warmest congratulations on your anniversary, Father.
Thank you for what you do. Thanks be to God for what you do.
God Bless you Father Z, and for many many years to come. I am guessing that you have been a Priest longer than you having not been a Priest.
Your website is my sanity in a crazy world. During Covid, your Mass was a refuge and strength for us..
Maybe Monsignor this year?
Happy and blessed anniversary, Father, and many more. Keep persevering.
You have done much good with your conversion, priesthood, and this blog. Thank you for all you do. Glad to know you!
Very warmest blessings, Father, on the anniversary of your Holy Ordination!
I agree with you – I miss St. John Paul dreadfully. In fact, I am watching an excellent film on his life as I write, which was aired on EWTN.
Many forget that St. John Paul was continually criticized worldwide over many of his words and actions (i.e., the Koran incident, for instance). He never responded with indignity or impatience.
He also never failed to uphold and defend the teaching of the Holy Catholic Church – even at risk of his own life. He lived in a world of frightening oppression and terrorism – Nazis, Communists, and crazy people with guns, like Mehmet Ali Agca. But he lived the words, “Be Not Afraid”, every day of his life, even when he was imprisoned by his own body by Parkinson’s.
And he had an unbreakable trust and love of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Our Lady, and the Church, and he did not care who knew it. He was ready to shout it out from the rooftops! And we, the people he shepherded, loved him all the more for it.
He showed mercy, dignity, and kindness to everyone, even those who attacked him – which was highlighted in his visit to Mehmet Ali Agca in prison. He was a Catholic gentleman, who did not take himself too seriously. He was interested in everyone from everywhere, and he wanted to bring Jesus to all of them.
Yes, I miss our good St. John Paul very much. All the more reason for all of us to pray – daily and fervently – for our parish priests, bishops, and Pope. Whether we like them or not. And pray all the harder if we do not like them, for whatever reason, so we and they may become pleasing to God.
God bless and protect all here!