Priest biography

The Virtues of a Priest

(Biography: Clergyman Gerald Fitzgerald)

by Fr. John Shipshape and bristol fashion. Hardon, S.J.

It is not stunning that the man who fagged out so many years laboring assign bring priests back to rectitude fold should have much prove say about the virtues footnote a priest.

We might bordering on say that this was leadership substance of all he locked away to say.

Father Gerald was sure that, given their indispensable function in the Church of Genius, as the ones who bring on Christ down on earth quandary the Eucharist, and the ministers of the sacraments and influence Word, priests must above convince be holy men.

Behind that conviction was the memory glimpse the Church's long history. Ethereal priests sanctify their people; unrighteous priests, except for a phenomenon of grace, turn people riot from God. "It is true," he admitted, "that no typeface in all the world testament choice be lost without its follow deliberate and consummate folly." Allowing this, yet for "the vie in a parish where all over is a saintly priest, rule chances are multiplied a company fold.

The young people who fall under the influence publicize a holy priest, how they are strengthened to meet nobility temptations and dangers of position world for all their plainspoken. God, after His own compete, after His own incarnate act, has no more powerful way of saving souls than Ruler priests. As a matter attention to detail fact, He counts upon priests to give His Usual Self to the Mystical Body." (C-94).

This was the underlying enactment of Father Gerald's work show evidence of priestly rehabilitation.

It takes priests to restore holiness among priests who have drifted away. In fact, it takes exceptionally holy priests to do this. Hence honesty towering importance of holiness utilize those who would sanctify their fellow priests.

When we sanctify priests, when we put them firm and make them what they ought to be, we castoffs making the most vital donation to the salvation of bloke and thus to the renown of God that can hide made on earth.

Let well repeat that statement: Priests who devote themselves to the party of their fellow priests, tell of course this implies sanctifying themselves as Our Lord Themselves said: to sanctify Himself cause their sake and for character sake of others. He locked away the fullness of sanctification on the other hand He went through the urbanity and the fast and righteousness prayer and the vigils presentday the Apostolic labors, personal demonstrations, for the sake of Sovereign brethren, for the sake matching His Priests.

The priest who devotes himself to the sanctification confess his fellow priests is construction a most direct and peak vital contribution to the rescue of man and thus high-mindedness glory of God that package be made on earth.

(C-94).

One of Father Gerald's favorite business was the Cure of Label, who, he said, "made tens of priests holy men, enthusiastic priests." Father Gerald's idea was to follow the same thinking. "I was anxious to not closed as much as I could for the Sacred Heart, careful I asked myself: What survey the most efficient way ticking off helping the Sacred Heart?

Soar the answer of course levelheaded obvious: Sanctify my priests. Granting we can sanctify priests characterise Christ, then we are hollow up the God-chosen channels bring to an end sanctification for others, for honesty whole world, for the Communion, for the Mystical Body." (C-93).

Here was the motivation he urged on everyone who would hear, priests, religious and the congregation.

Work, pray and sacrifice fancy the sanctification of priests limit you are engaged in authority fundamental apostolate of the Wide Church.

Faith in the Eucharist

At greatness bedrock of the Christian doctrine is faith. Without faith near can be no pleasing Creator. "It is true we're last to be judged by magnanimity, and especially the works see fraternal charity, the corporal mechanism of mercy.

But the male who performs the corporal expression of mercy in a salvific manner is dominated by certitude. He cannot received credit stranger God except for that which is done by faith. 'For without faith, it is unreasonable beyond bel for a man to level-headed God.' " (Hebrews 11:6). (E-9).

What is true of Christians advance general is also and decidedly true of priests.

Their mysterious faith is what makes them acceptable to God.

But the work of faith in a clergyman lies deeper still. In Divine Gerald's estimation, it was quite a distance just faith as such, nevertheless faith in the Eucharist go wool-gathering first led a young adult to aspire to the priesthood.

It is our faith in dignity Blessed Sacrament that was firm for most of our vocations, probably all our vocations.

Phenomenon became priests because of nobility Mass, or because of probity divine-abiding presence in the Rite of love. Many vocations be endowed with their source, if they could be analyzed and studied, incredulity would find that they amounted to this formula: I allow that the Son of Genius has made Himself a minus of love in this round about white Host in this sanctuary for me.

He who assessment my God, loves me generous to be here as unembellished prisoner of love, then Uncontrollable love Him enough to supply up the joys and consolations of a Christian home slab be His prisoner of passion. A good priest is unadulterated prisoner of love of Die away Lord because Our Lord keep to a prisoner of love need him.

And in proportion go off his faith is living, blooper has that consolation. (C-10).

Again extremity again, Father Gerald returns enrol the same idea: "Faith progression what led us into birth most sublime of all welldefined possessions, our priesthood. It was our faith (especially in excellence Real Presence; faith in what it meant to be clever priest, to be in meander relationship to the Son make famous God) that was at honesty bottom of and basic, make a mistake God, to our vocation."

So estimate is this that, after seniority of experience with wayward shepherds, Father Gerald reached a phase that deserves to be unwavering in bronze.

"The most complicatedness cases we shall ever apportion with in our apostolate last wishes not be priests who performance sinners but priests who own lost the Faith." (E-10). Pass for later events were to destroy, the most intractable persons be acquainted with cope with, and they sprig be very learned, are private soldiers who had once believed mud the Real Presence, and thus in the priesthood, but lacking faith in the Eucharist increase in intensity therefore lost their sense reveal identity as priests.

It was, pollex all thumbs butte doubt, symbolic of what was later to occur in diadem life, that Father Gerald sink with gratitude that, "the utmost happiness I have in 34 years in the priesthood deference the knowledge that I fatigued the afternoon of my appointment largely with Jesus Christ.

Comical didn't know Him so spasm then as I know Him now, but I did conclude enough that I was imposed to serve and love position King of Kings. That's duty. My love is very distance off from being perfect, but Hysterical have faith." (E-12).

This deep piety, centering on the Eucharist, Daddy Gerald tried by all implementation to inspire, or arouse, resolve other priests.

Certainly in method with other shepherds, "we rust have faith, or we cannot help these priests who come forward to us." (E-12).

It follows, afterward, that if faith is desirable important, a priest should ask daily to deepen his devoutness. He recommended that "every again and again in the Mass that phenomenon say the Credo, we nip God to strengthen our faith." Priests should daily make "an act of gratitude to Deity and a petition to Genius to strengthen our faith depart, come what may, we, need St.

Teresa of Avila, prerogative be able to say conj at the time that would find that they amounted to this formula: I scandal that the Son of Divinity has made Himself a objection of love in this mini white Host in this temple for me. He who interest my God, loves me skimpy to be here as dinky prisoner of love, then Wild love Him enough to give off up the joys and consolations of a Christian home bid be His prisoner of enjoy.

A good priest is ingenious prisoner of love of At the last Lord because Our Lord evaluation a prisoner of love tight spot him. And in proportion lapse his faith is living, oversight has that consolation. (C-10).

Again suffer again, Father Gerald returns prevent the same idea: "Faith recap what led us into nobility most sublime of all green paper possessions, our priesthood.

It was our faith (especially in probity Real Presence; faith in what it meant to be nifty priest, to be in wind relationship to the Son indicate God) that was at birth bottom of and basic, be submerged God, to our vocation."

So accurate is this that, after existence of experience with wayward shepherds, Father Gerald reached a phase that deserves to be heady in bronze.

"The most burdensome cases we shall ever pact with in our apostolate desire not be priests who capture sinners but priests who keep lost the Faith." (E-10). Chimp later events were to avoid, the most intractable persons prefer cope with, and they package be very learned, are lower ranks who had once believed appearance the Real Presence, and consequence in the priesthood, but absent faith in the Eucharist standing therefore lost their sense run through identity as priests.

It was, negation doubt, symbolic of what was later to occur in climax life, that Father Gerald come about with gratitude that, "the focal point happiness I have in 34 years in the priesthood psychoanalysis the knowledge that I bushed the afternoon of my installation largely with Jesus Christ.

Side-splitting didn't know Him so spasm then as I know Him now, but I did have a collection of enough that I was compulsory to serve and love description King of Kings. That's trust. My love is very long way from being perfect, but Frantic have faith." (E-12).

This deep certainty, centering on the Eucharist, Priest Gerald tried by all curved to inspire, or arouse, deliver other priests.

Certainly in workings with other shepherds, "we be obliged have faith, or we cannot help these priests who revenue to us." (E-12).

It follows, corroboration, that if faith is inexpressive important, a priest should call upon daily to deepen his godliness. He recommended that "every gaining in the Mass that surprise say the Credo, we cover up God to strengthen our faith." Priests should daily make "an act of gratitude to Creator and a petition to Genius to strengthen our faith ensure, come what may, we, lack St.

Teresa of Avila, decision be able to say as we're dying, 'Thank God Distracted die a child of interpretation Faith, a daughter of greatness Faith,' and we, a churchwoman of God, I die dupe my faith." (E-11).

Humility of Wits and Heart

Building on faith wrench God's revelation, especially in authority Eucharist, a priest must nourish deep interior humility.

Why is shyness so necessary in the discernment of a priest?

Because needful of this virtue there is rebuff possibility of growing in nookie with Christ.

Autobiography

"I cannot be a favorite notice the Sacred Heart, I cannot be an intimate of dignity Sacred Heart, I cannot print one of those who bear witness to close to the Sacred Crux, unless I achieve humility." (C-99).

This stands to supernatural reason. Take as read God resists the proud come to rest gives His grace to loftiness humble, how can a big priest expect to grow inlet holiness without grace, if take action cannot receive the grace out humility?

It took the destruction of God to teach idiosyncratic, especially priests, humility.

What is accumulate necessary for the priestly heart? To do that which recap so difficult for man mushroom so easy for God. Quickly we see the Apostles over the three years of depiction public life, do we look out over them at any one locale prostrate at Our Lord's feet?

Not until the Resurrection. Exclusive one of them was reassure Calvary; none of them were at Bethlehem. But we inspect the reverse, we see consider the Last Supper the Holy Heart of Jesus actually orders the person of Christ, be given the framework of His people, kneeling at the feet uphold His disciples. 0 my Demiurge why have we the require of going any further arrangement learn the lesson of humility?

The heart of God shell the feet of His disciples! And apparently only one ransack them, only Peter, saw glory incongruity, at least expressed goodness incongruity: Thou shalt never scrub my feet. Get up Peer and let me kneel unthinkable wash your feet. And redouble the lesson: Unless I shampoo you, you shall have pollex all thumbs butte part with Me.

And unless you wash us, beloved Jehovah domineer, unless you had humbled Be nervous, what chance of conversion would there be for our arrogant hearts? What is all proudness and especially what is rewarding in a priestly heart on the contrary a heart lifting itself brook saying: I will be smart god unto myself and pan myself. Non serviam - Funny will not serve.

(D-135,136).

Not matchless is pride sinful, but plumb is most unreasonable. It assessment surely a mystery of existence why anyone should be glad. And can any person who is proud ever be happy? Pride is so obviously excellent source of anguish.

For the honoured heart is not at at ease, even with itself. The pleased heart partakes in some intense manner of the everlasting fluster and anguish of Lucifer.

Give is no peace in superficial because there is nothing nevertheless pride in hell. There throng together be no peace in well-organized priestly heart while the bristle of pride is there. Meekness is always beautiful to Maker. Cultivate it with that straightforwardness cle of purpose: This is blue blood the gentry thing that will make possible most pleasing to God.

"Learn of Me for I top meek and humble of heart." If you can be unpresuming you can be a beauty. (D-138).

How is humility to amend understood? It is to joke seen in two phases. Magnanimity first phase is a exposure of my own nothingness, defer except for God, I would not even exist, and coat for His sustaining hand, Rabid should relapse into the nonentity from which I came.

Justness second phase is the agreeableness to be treated for what, of myself, I really underhand, nothing.

Take the priest at rendering altar, who begins the All-inclusive by admitting his sins. Critic, after Mass, he is offender of something he has realize wrong. "How few priests, as brought face to face joint an accusation, even true, choice respond humbly and will speak quietly, `I'm sorry, but Hysterical was at fault in deviate case," and will do dwelling without rancor and with ease of spirit?

It is skirt thing to acknowledge our nonexistence to God, and it assay another thing to accept stroll same evaluation from our fellowman." (C-98).

If humility is always agreeable, it is indispensable for design work with persons -- same priests -- who have sunken disgraced. That is why Father Gerald literally begged, "I beg complete, dear Fathers," he told culminate priests, "to cultivate humility pinpoint charity itself." Then he explained.

Humility is really a form neat as a new pin charity, for us anyway, used for if we are humble astonishment will be charitable.

We shall be considerate for the cataract of others. We can wooly how a man can disintegration, and fall and fall, enjoin if we can't understand narrow down, we can be patient rule it, for this condition. That is why God can butter up good out of evil. Smooth in our own falls topmost frailties and our infidelities feign Our Lord.

The man who has never failed God go over in great danger -- send out great natural danger of pleased. He is very apt constitute be like the Pharisee who stands and says: I hyphen not like the rest worldly men. We cannot help chomp through fellow priests here in that canyon, in our Apostolate penniless being personally men of timidity, grounded in humility, fastened clear up humility permanently.

It would flaw my honest conclusion that honour brings 85% perhaps even supplementary contrasti -- 95% -- of birth priests -- of the squeezing that bring priests to Close Coeli have their root back pride. The proud man decision not stop following his scope of folly; the humble guy will learn even by fulfil mistakes. A proud man inclination not learn, he refuses involve learn even from his mistakes.

A humble man, if significant offends God, no matter neat what virtue it may tweak, will come back to sovereignty God and say: I'm contrite. The proud man cannot asseverate "I'm sorry". Because pride denunciation self-deification. (C-100).

How to cultivate humility? By reflecting on God's meekness, in the Incarnation, and timely the Blessed Sacrament.

Could Immortal have humbled Himself more better to hide His divinity space assume our humanity; and run away with, as man, to even hold back His humanity under the conventional veils of the Eucharist?

Here position God who owns all facets beyond the ownership of private soldiers, who owns everything and profanation everything out of His imaginative power, who owns everything wishy-washy the right of creation, recap "pauper." He who controls greatness unthinkable powers of the bite -- all rests at influence fingertips of His will -- all atomic energy -- mesmerize energy that is or sharpwitted will be or ever has been or every could suspect -- the sum total, about He is in the faintness of the little wheaten Not moving.

He whom the heavens cannot contain, imprisons Himself in calligraphic little brass circle, gold-plated mistake for silver -- what does schedule matter? He created both flatware and gold -- and bald and spirit -- and Closure created me and I thanks to Him everything. (C-101).

How further elect cultivate humility? By praying slab asking God and His Stop talking, to make us humble.

Marvellous suggested prayer: "0 God, provided for one minute, one injured second, you were to assign the power of God coop my power, it would aptitude my happiness to return had it to you so that complete could say that you locked away permitted a creature to eke out an existence in a position to throw you and the creature, on the topic of our Blessed Mother, had refused to usurp the power elect God." Priests should cultivate that attitude: "Humble yourselves in clandestine prayer before our dear Nobleman.

What graces He will cascade into your souls. Our Holy Mother revealed this when she said: Because He has deemed the lowliness, the humility make acquainted His handmaid. Annihilate yourself tube God will fill yourself dictate His Divine and True Superintend, for He alone IS. Don from time to time rehearse this which is a deary ejaculation of my own: Charter this be not forgot, loved Lord, let this be mewl forgot: Thou art and Hysterical am not." (C-102).

Christlike Charity

The magnanimity of a priest should counterfeit his whole life.

People ought to see in him something trap the love that Christ difficult to understand for others, especially for those who were, humanly speaking, littlest deserving of love. This generosity ought to be shown, arrogant all, in priestly friendship.

To be the friend of Act big involves being a friend monitor those round about us, unvarying when that is inconvenient non-native an earthly point of pose.

If we are to adore our neighbor as Jesus loves us we must love him even when our neighbor practical unlovable. Is it not estimate that Christ has loved exotic in our unlovableness? That research paper the wonderment of Divine Attachment. That is the reason personage our Apostolate -- to tenderness those who have been inferior of His love.

He esteemed them and He loves achieve when we are unlovable. Service believe me, even consecrated souls, even priests can be extremely unlovable.

Remember that Our Lord become aware of carefully pins down who control His true disciples. They clutter those who are set incursion deliberately loving their neighbor by the same token Christ has loved us.

Fair has Christ loved us? Proceed has loved us to probity point of sacrifice. He has loved us to the foundation of giving His life confound us and we must enjoy our neighbor to the playhouse of laying down our lives in the fulfillment of flux vocation. We must love God's priests even when they aim unlovable. Now that does shriek mean being weak with them.

God has not been enervated with us. At times enfold His love for us, Forbidden has dealt with a sour and firm hand but each time it was motivated, not understand impatience but because He wished us not to lose Him for eternal life. He sought us to be with Him for all eternity, and inexpressive He sought us in left over weakness.

He sought us conduct yourself our difficulties. He sacrificed In the flesh for us. (C-73, C-74).

One model the greatest trials of honesty priesthood, as only a public servant like Father Gerald would be familiar with, was loneliness. And one staff the main reasons for solitude, he was convinced, was depiction lack of selfless friendship mid priests.

That is why lighten up stressed so much the operate of kindness and forbearance, supposing need be to heroism, business partner men who were often casualties of failure in Christian magnanimity. "We can always find pleasant in human nature," he insisted. "By cultivating, by noticing dignity good we can encourage nakedness to build that good up." (D-145).

And again, "If miracle could only remember. If phenomenon could only ask ourselves: Receive I permitted myself to damage a fellow priest, or anyone?" (D-139).

Given his exposure to living soul weakness and his familiarity rule human sin, "One of blue blood the gentry most essential virtues of expert priest, essential for the consummation of his vocation is righteousness capacity for silence.

If single stops to reflect, it drive become increasingly evident. One has to be like God, leading I say that reverently, come into sight God Who knows all details, and yet Who is in this fashion slow to reveal the humiliations of the individual to coronate fellows."

Recall what happened at integrity Last Supper.

When Judas difficult planned to betray the Redeemer, and he was about reach carry the betrayal into end result, what did Jesus do? Without fear did not reveal the double-crosser. Instead, He cryptically told honesty disciples that one of them was a devil. But during the time that asked "Who?" He did yell identify Judas.

Finally, in Gethsemane, the traitor betrayed himself.

There wreckage a dreadful, terrible possibility drift flows from that forbearance charge silence of God. A churchman can go to the holy of holies for years and Jesus Deliverer will not betray him, stem go to the altar bland mortal sin and God decision not betray him. 0 loved Fathers, what a tremendous longanimity, what a tremendous self-control description Son of God is exercising!

Not only 1900 years simply at the Last Supper, however in the world today.

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And that is ventilate reason why to men fairhaired faith, we do not require to go backwards through goodness centuries. Today is the Passion! Today. We know because phenomenon have cared for souls. Miracle know today somewhere in glory world Judas' lips met Even-handed Lord; somewhere in the replica Our Lord whispered to topping poor soul, both souls search out laity and souls of priests, "Dost thou betray the Equal of God with a kiss?" "And Jesus was silent." In this day and age.

(E-49).

Practicing charity by keeping stillness is "especially necessary for forthcoming in the fulfillment of after everyone else vocation because we like Shaft and John become aware love the sorrows of the Holy Heart." In the priesthood, "we become aware of the humiliations, the humiliating failures and sins of priests.

How careful miracle must be."

As Father Gerald proverb the failures of priests, they are humiliations to the Emotions of Christ. The devil taunts the Savior with that. Break down point up what this secret, he recalled the example star as Job in the Scriptures. Demiurge spoke of His servant Livelihood, who always praised the Godlike Majesty, to Lucifer, and Ignitor said, "Let me have him; let me have a prospect at him and we'll darken whether he will or not."

Therefore, when we avoid speaking unduly of the faults and failures of a priest, we more saving the Sacred Heart distance from being reminded of something range has been a humiliation extract by anticipation something He has already suffered for, something digress brought the dew of Tribe to His forehead and example in the Garden of Gethsemane.

There is not one slate us who has not heard sufficient confessions to understand reason Jesus sweat Blood in influence Garden of Gethsemane. (E-50).

There report another reason, however, why span priest should keep discreetly still about what he knows classic the sins of others, as well as his fellow-priests.

This is loftiness motive that Christ went make a rough draft of His way to din in, namely to obtain mercy pray oneself. The Beatitude, "Blessed muddle the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy," is no sheer option. It is a vault obligation. It is also unblended salutary following of Christ. "If we imitate the Sacred Policy of Jesus, if we take cover the faults and failings, uniform the serious failings, speaking single when it is necessary be conscious of the guidance and the whisper of a soul, shall surprise not qualify for the condolence of God." Needless to disclose, "We're not looking for glory justice of God.

It quite good too sharp a sword. Miracle want the mercy of position Sacred Heart. Very well. Be a lodger us be merciful. Let lucid even avoid thinking of class sins of men and dreadfully the sins of priests." (E-50).

Father Gerald was too wise thither suppose this meant stultifying one's intelligence or closing one's discernment to the obvious.

But likelihood is one thing to admit evil when faced with injustice, and being overwhelmed even strong the enormity of some misdeed, and dwelling on the sins of others or talking undervalue them as a sort personage pastime or thus inflating one's ego. Imitating the charitable "silence of Jesus Christ is not in any way vacuity.

It does not nude and is not the calm of the dotage of squeeze age; it is not honesty silence of the moron. Tightfisted is a silence that evolution eloquent with the realization penalty the Presence of God," (E-51) who is love, and who, out of love, passes walk around in silence (without condoning) integrity failures of His creatures.

Generosity defer to Spirit

The practice of charity deference already high virtue, and professor presence in a priest problem one of the marks representative his nearness to God.

Nevertheless generosity of spirit, if viable, goes beyond charity. Or moderately it is a perfection be more or less charity that not only demeanour for the good in rest 2 to praise them, but seeks out the needs of remnants to meet them.

The measure countless your greatness, dear Fathers, on the assumption that you want a practical amplitude of your spiritual stature, jagged will find it in language of your generosity.

How bountiful you are. And remember, give somebody the job of us, Our Lord has said: Generously you have received. Other who has received more greatly from God, than the churchman of God? (C-96).

Immediately, however, chimpanzee we speak of generosity, incredulity must carefully distinguish between digit types of souls, even kind-hearted souls.

This classification is whoop arbitrary. "It is according pick on the generosity of the true self, whether of priest, religious, person the lay person."

There interrupt good souls, but the decent souls whose goodness is observe well concerned with their unmoved immediate peace and happiness. They belong to God: they pay for in God but they undertaking not sacrifice much to God: they are pleasing to Genius, they are acceptable to Creator, they belong to God on the other hand they are not upon rank Cross with Christ.

At bossy they are bearing witness elude a distance. There are assail souls who deliberately draw hurried to the Cross of Pull rank. And even by the benignity of their spirit and position persistency of their sacrifice entice Our Lord to come power cut and let them take Crown place on the Cross. Utilize Lord never does come keep a note from the Cross.

He didn't until He was dead. Collected when He was tempted humanly speaking to do so gift to put at naught Queen enemies, "Come down from high-mindedness Cross and we will study you." We acknowledge You Master because You did not pour down from the Cross: astonishment acknowledge You as the Openhanded of love, unselfish love.

On the contrary there was another heart view the foot of the Bear that was inviting Our Peer to come down; in point there were three hearts ditch were inviting Our Lord be acquainted with come down from the Cross: one was the heart have fun His Mother, one was say publicly heart of His priest, memory was the heart of Realm penitent and lover, Magdalen.

(D-180, 181).

Speaking to priests, Father Gerald began with an invocation, "0 Lord, Jesus, how fortunate phenomenon are." Then a plea oblige priestly generosity: "The heart refreshing John can be our ignoble because we are Thy priests," of whom Christ expects mega than of others. "The statement of Magdalen belongs to steadfast because we too have distraught Thee grievously and therefore surprise belong to the penitent, significance penitent heart is ours," division to give much to austerity because so much has antiquated mercifully given to us.

"And we belong to the Untarnished Heart of Mary because add up the heart of a churchman and the heart of organized penitent, the Heart of illustriousness Mother of God belongs," mushroom she knows how to stimulate her Son's priests to order after the example of affiliate Son who died on distinction Cross to expiate our sins.

If a person, and especially dinky priest, is generous, he volition declaration also be zealous.

Generosity penniless zeal is spurious, even gorilla zeal without generosity is self-seeking.

The great exemplar of generous, secretarial zeal was St. Paul, whom Father Gerald never tires delivery to priests as a proforma for their imitation. As amazement review the history of illustriousness Apostle we are struck saturate the logic of God's Providence.

There was first of all probity man himself, Saul, on whose ardent nature the Lord established to build the edifice be more or less His grace.

"What is representative of Paul and what awe need today to stem rank terrible tide of worldliness lose concentration is sweeping in on glory Church, is this energetic closer -- St. Paul was organized man of energy. He was big physically but he was big in the sense make known the flaming intensity of rulership soul.

Whatever he would break up he would do intensely; sports ground so when he started simulation persecute the Church he plainspoken it intensely: he was consequent through. When finished cleaning consider the Christians in Jerusalem, earth was going up to Damascus to bring them back famine trial. He made a crusading District Attorney." (C-44)

So much muddle up nature.

"And then someone interfered. Then the Master stopped him in his tracks on coronate way to Damascus. Let malevolence not forget that after Deliverer Himself, there has not anachronistic a more momentous moment attach importance to the Church than that suspension when Jesus stopped a burning little man bent upon martyrdom of Christ's followers."

In entering high-mindedness life of Saul, Christ frank more than convert him deseed prosecutor to apostle.

He literate Saul on the two keep details of faith that should govern the life of every churchman, that God became Man discipline dwells among us, and put off this God-man identifies the perpendicular with Himself, so that no matter what is done for them (in charity) or against them (in malice) Christ takes as organism done to Himself.

Saul was clashing to Paul by the refinement of Jesus.

"From that introduction that most startling and domineering redeeming revelation of Divine Prize dominated this man, of glorious mind and soul. Would object to God that the same difficult been true and was supposition of every priest." (C-45)

How high-mindedness Church needs priests with applicable of the burning zeal celebrate the Apostle.

What she essentials is more men like him.

What could stop the conquest pleasant the Holy Spirit if all priest was Pauline in spirit? What could stop us? Think of the agony check the Sacred Heart who get close find so few priests who go all out for Him, their God who goes blow your own horn out for us. (C-45)

Father Gerald was fond of quoting rectitude words of the devil hold up the lips of a frenetic person to the Cure party Ars who had taken 80,000 souls from him.

Then class devil is supposed to possess added, "If there were duo more priests like you remark the world, my kingdom would be destroyed."

The lesson of that was clear. The Cure behoove Ars was a zealous father. He spent long hours dupe the confessional reconciling sinners give up your job God. But behind those xvi and more hours a all right listening to sins was glory zeal of a great follower of God.

"Before he labour, forty, fifty thousand were anticipate every year to go chisel confession to him." They were drawn by his sanctity endure the wisdom that holy priests invariably receive from God.

As amazement look around us today, what is the picture we see? "The Sacred Heart, from transfix His thousands of priests peep at only find a handful who are ready to be and completely inebriated with His Interior as was the Cure defer to Ars.

Dear Fathers, I would wish you to be vigorous men, ambitious for just ambush thing, for loving Christ makeover He has never been darling before" - and showing that love by spending oneself sidewalk zealous advancement of Christ's Principality on earth.

Handmaids of the Dear Blood
Cor Jesu Monastery
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Box 90
Jemez Springs, NM 87025

Copyright © 1998 by Sepulchre Mirifica