Monday, November 06, 2006
A crisis of courage
Courtesy of Dom, I read this excellent homily on the crisis of vocations to the priesthood in the United States. Fr. Phillip, OP was riled up and had something to say!
There is no vocations crisis in this country. None. There is a crisis of courage. God has called all the men we need to serve His Church as priests. More than enough. There is never a lack of abundant blessings from our Father. There is, however, a lack of generous acceptance of His abundance.
We need young men who will step up and offer themselves as servant-leaders. We need young men who will battle the dissenting professors in the seminaries, who will step up and take charge in the parishes as men of God, who are not embarrassed by their vocation and who will proudly proclaim themselves religious, priests, and servants. We need young men who will patiently work with faithful lay men and women to prepare them for leadership roles proper to the lay charism. In other words, gentlemen, we need you to say YES to God’s call to you. We need young men with great big hearts to stand up, come forward, and do the job that Christ has left us to do: to teach, to preach, to celebrate his sacraments, and to show us the Way as faithful men of this century.
It's short but powerful.
There is no vocations crisis in this country. None. There is a crisis of courage. God has called all the men we need to serve His Church as priests. More than enough. There is never a lack of abundant blessings from our Father. There is, however, a lack of generous acceptance of His abundance.
We need young men who will step up and offer themselves as servant-leaders. We need young men who will battle the dissenting professors in the seminaries, who will step up and take charge in the parishes as men of God, who are not embarrassed by their vocation and who will proudly proclaim themselves religious, priests, and servants. We need young men who will patiently work with faithful lay men and women to prepare them for leadership roles proper to the lay charism. In other words, gentlemen, we need you to say YES to God’s call to you. We need young men with great big hearts to stand up, come forward, and do the job that Christ has left us to do: to teach, to preach, to celebrate his sacraments, and to show us the Way as faithful men of this century.
It's short but powerful.
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Absolutely. Every young single man should seriously discern his possible call to the priesthood.
# posted by 
: 11/07/2006 4:56 PM
: 11/07/2006 4:56 PM
I agree that the vocations crisis is artificial, but I feel that the important factor to consider is the general decline of a Catholic "identity" in our culture. Mathematically, I think we will have about as many priests as we have Catholics in the next generation.
Are people today really less courageous? Although they may be, I think the overbearing contributing factor is that men (and women) aren't being raised in good Catholic homes. That isn't something that can be changed overnight by virtue alone. It requires a cultural transformation.
It's kind of amazing to look at the grace with which God guides His Church through these times. He doesn't want crappy priests, that's why He's not really creating a spiritual heritage in liberal Catholic circles. They are dying out. They are spiritual geldings.
We're headed for a small Church. Small Churches need less priests.
Are people today really less courageous? Although they may be, I think the overbearing contributing factor is that men (and women) aren't being raised in good Catholic homes. That isn't something that can be changed overnight by virtue alone. It requires a cultural transformation.
It's kind of amazing to look at the grace with which God guides His Church through these times. He doesn't want crappy priests, that's why He's not really creating a spiritual heritage in liberal Catholic circles. They are dying out. They are spiritual geldings.
We're headed for a small Church. Small Churches need less priests.
Hmmm... if we're going to suggest alternate reasons, I think I could supply a reason or two on the shrinking Church.
Could it be Contraception?
Peace,
Bob
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Could it be Contraception?
Peace,
Bob
# posted by : 11/08/2006 9:18 PM
: 11/08/2006 9:18 PM << Home
