Tag Archives: priesthood

NEW BOOK: Heroism and Genius: How Catholic Priests Helped Build—and Can Help Rebuild—Western Civilization

I recently received a book by Fr. William J. Slattery which has been truly intrigued. Heroism and Genius: How Catholic Priests Helped Build—and Can Help Rebuild—Western Civilization US HERE – UK HERE What’s this about?   Our author says: With stubborn … Read More

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Priests and Priesthood, REVIEWS, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , ,
7 Comments

Liturgical worship… priestly vocations… Is what we are doing working or not?

I had mentioned that I was re-reading Robert Hugh Benson’s prophetic Lord of the World.  I finished it yesterday. US HERE – UK HERE Just as I finished it, I found these things. First, I want to preface with this: When you are on a journey … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , , , ,
11 Comments

How Pope John Paul II once saved a fallen priest from despair, homelessness and alcoholism

I have come to dread interviews with Popes.  I have from the beginning of the interviews decades ago.  I generally read them anyway because, well, I have to, don’t I. The recent book interview / conversation with Dominique Wolton released … Read More

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, Francis, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood, Semper Paratus | Tagged , ,
17 Comments

IN THE WILD: Prayer for Vocations in a parish bulletin

I sincerely believe that the Prayer for Vocations which I posted here, and which seems to be spreading across the lands, will bear great fruit. Today I received a note from a priest in Sacramento with a link to a … Read More

Posted in In The Wild, Just Too Cool, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged ,
10 Comments

New Book of Benedict XVI’s collected sermons on the priesthood

This has gone immediately on my wishlists. It seems to be slated for publication on 1 August. Some of his books include an appendices of sermons. It will be great to have them in one volume. Get copies as gifts … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, The Campus Telephone Pole | Tagged , ,
11 Comments

Your Good News

Do you have some good news to report?  We could use some. Here is some good news… well… it’s also bad news.  I guess it depends on your perspective. One Quarter of Ordinations in France Belong to the Tridentine Rite … Read More

Posted in Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , ,
16 Comments

ASK FATHER: How to support a seminarian assigned to our parish?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Our parish has received a terrific seminarian this summer. He comes from a great background and his older brother is a priest so he seems to have a strong support at home. My question is how … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged ,
7 Comments

UPDATED: A great Father’s Day note from a reader

UPDATE 19 June: Today I have received notes from readers saying that they have spotted this Prayer For Vocations in a couple other places as well.  A comment in the combox, below, speaks of one of them. To wit: [T]he … Read More

Posted in Just Too Cool, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , ,
4 Comments

ASK FATHER: Why do priests impose hands during ordinations?

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I attended the sacerdotal ordination of 5 priests for my diocese last Saturday. After the bishop imposed hands, other priests participating in the Mass also imposed hands on the candidates. Since priests lack the fullness of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged ,
13 Comments

“If modern feminists truly knew the fundamental values Catholic priests are called to embrace…”

The other day I read about another dreadfully misguided and spiritually dangerous fraud perpetrated in North Carolina, another fake “ordination” of a woman.   Women, of course, cannot every be ordained to any of the Holy Orders (that includes diaconate). … Read More

Posted in Liberals, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , ,
16 Comments

CATASTROPHIC: Pray for vocations to the priesthood

I’ve been writing with friends about vocation numbers. From one of my interlocutors today: Catastrophic (HERE): “The past few weeks have again seen a number of ordinations of new deacons and priests in the dioceses of northwestern Europe. 24 of … Read More

Posted in Hard-Identity Catholicism, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged ,
32 Comments

A priest writes about his 40 years of priesthood

Over at Catholic World Report there is a piece by Fr. Peter Stravinskas, who reflects on 40 years of priesthood… his own.  His 40th anniversary of ordination comes up on 27 May. This bit got my attention and sympathy. The college … Read More

Posted in Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , ,
33 Comments

Disaster. Vocations. Identity. Liturgy. Prayer. ACTION ITEM and Fr. Z rants.

A while back I wrote that people get the priests that they deserve.  Collectively, at least.  Priests don’t just spring full grown from the heads of… cabbage. Recently, a writer at hyper-liberal Commonweal suggested that vocations are down because his grand vision of … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, Semper Paratus, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices, Turn Towards The Lord | Tagged , , ,
31 Comments

Robert Mickens is exactly wrong about priestly vocations. Here’s why.

One of the worst of the hyper-liberal catholic publications, Commonweal, publishes a regular column by long-time Rome correspondent Robert Mickens. Many readers here will recall that Mickens loathes Benedict XVI.  He lost his job with The Tablet, the UK’s worst catholic … Read More

Posted in Liberals, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
18 Comments

ASK FATHER: Vocation to priesthood, but I want only the Traditional Mass

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I have been reading it for 4 years and it has greatly helped me as a Catholic and in discerning my vocation. I am 18 and strongly feel called to the priesthood. My question is, are … Read More

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, "How To..." - Practical Notes, ACTION ITEM!, Classic Posts, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged ,
25 Comments

A Forty Hours Devotion and Prayers for Priests. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

I am in Denver, preaching for a Forty Hours Devotion following, of course, the Clementine Instruction in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. On Thursday we had a Sung Mass, after which I exposed the Blessed Sacrament, we had … Read More

Posted in Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries | Tagged , , , ,
28 Comments

ASK FATHER: Book recommendations for young men discerning priesthood

From a reader… QUAERITUR: In reference to one of your latest posts, do you have any solid book recommendations for young men discerning priesthood. A lot of the stuff usually recommended is emotionally based and does little in the way … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box | Tagged , ,
14 Comments

Would the young Joseph Ratzinger – or I – have had the same reaction if….

As I often write, we are our rites. In the new interview book with Peter Seewald, Benedict XVI was asked how the son of a Bavarian policeman became a priest. I have a measure of sympathy with Benedict’s answer. I, too, … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Priests and Priesthood, Seminarians and Seminaries, The future and our choices, Turn Towards The Lord | Tagged , , , ,
24 Comments

ASK FATHER: People say Mass prayers together with the priest

From a reader… QUAERITUR: I’ve been attending daily mass when I can at a particular parish. When at Mass I often hear some people in the pews who whisper to themselves every single word the priest says at mass. I would like … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged , , ,
30 Comments

ASK FATHER: “Maximized” priest returns to duties after marriage and divorce

From a reader… QUAERITUR: Maximized priest returning to priestly duties Our new parochial vicar (NO parish) is a priest who was married, divorced, and is now “returning to priestly duty.” What exactly does this mean? Can he licitly confect the Eucharist? Can … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, ASK FATHER Question Box, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Priests and Priesthood | Tagged ,
12 Comments