Under the Aegis of Mary These Graces Liberally When Asked

or the hired workers who set up the than any other knows what virtues are tent or cater the banquet, it may necessary in a priest and will dispense Fbe little more than another job. In Under the Aegis of Mary these graces liberally when asked. the faithful, it nurtures hopes for another Christ had the unique privilege of priest at the priory, or for being able to choosing His Mother. Before the world was, start a school. They may soon receive the He looked on Mary and saw in her all the privilege to have Mass on First Fridays, virtues that best suited the Mother of the one or in the case of the smaller missions, to High Priest of the New Law. In choosing have the opportunity to attend Mass more her, He pointed her out as the model of the than once a month. Perhaps parents see the virtues for all future priests. That priests answer to their prayers, a son giving himself have indeed set their spiritual compass to to the highest calling on earth. As for the the Star of the Sea for direction, is evident seminarian, although busy with a thousand in their meditations and devotions, the care and one frantic last-minute preparations, they take to inculcate Marian devotion in he sees the goal of these all-too-brief years all their faithful, and her almost invariable of study and formation. Like the boy in the presence in the Sunday sermon. Yet, all plastic helmet watching fire trucks go by, of this laudatory build-up of Our Lady as he thinks, “Someday, I’ll be up there.” the possessor of all virtues could easily Yet, despite the richness and variety remain severed from reality and might very of these sentiments, ordination day presents well bear less fruit than it ought, unless far more serious implications for the one they demonstrate in more concrete fashion who actually receives the priestly character. ordinand approaches his irrevocable moment Christ so long, who alone among all men how she translated these qualities into act He is about to make a complete offering of oblation, she offers him to God as she could accept Calvary when it happened, in her daily life. A great sculpture must of self, that once accepted, can never be presented her own Jesus some two thousand surely knows how to form the soul taken back. Forever. This is eternity in years ago. In the Temple, placing Him in that goes up to Calvary daily in the Simeon’s arms, Our Blessed Mother knew Mass. Mary is united to each of her how much she was giving up. She saw the priestly sons by a special heavenly horror of the Sacrifice He would undergo, love that is far more intimate than but nonetheless, she immolated her own any affection of the natural order. will, content in the assurance that God’s will Nothing, neither death nor life, for His firstborn came from a deeper love neither men nor angels, can separate than hers. Every new priest is also God’s from Mary those she has bound firstborn, marked out in a special way for to herself by the invincible bonds His service, and that service is centered of love. Only they themselves can on the Sign of Contradiction, the Cross. break these bonds by a deliberate Of course, this ceremony is by no renunciation of her love, and means the first contact of the priestly soul every day they beg of her that this with the Mother of Priests. Even in the may not happen. Small wonder, seminary the young cleric realizes then, that so many seminarians be admired both that the priest is not at his own choose to acknowledge this in the proportion a word. In front of thousands, he steps disposal; he is Mary’s. He maternal care by acts and coordination into infinity. He will live, die, and spend knows also that he has not of Total Consecration of its features and in the exquisite detail eternity in heaven or hell as a priest. How formed himself to receive to the Immaculate of each part. She is beautiful not only in much more responsibility he shoulders, the grace of ordination; Virgin, their Mother the harmony of her virtues, but she also how many more sins can a man commit as no, Mary formed him. and Queen. Our shines with a special splendor in the degree a priest! To what a lofty degree of virtue Formation is not what Blessed Lady carried of each individual virtue taken in itself. is he obliged, who must excite others to a a man does, but what the eternal High As God’s excellence reflected in her virtuous life! Thinking over the multitude of he receives, and he has Priest in her womb, was the ultimate inspiration for this issue, trials and temptations in store for him, the received everything through watched him grow and the VERBUM would like to provide her young ordinand needs a source of courage the hands of Mary, conduit of teach, and stood with Him with a fitting tribute and thanksgiving for and strength to make the fateful step to every grace. She who dwelt with on Calvary; surely she more the ordination of nine priests and three undertake this office. He finds it in Mary. deacons by His Excellency Bishop Alfonso Mary stands always near, watching de Galarreta this June 18. Accordingly, her children and guiding them through VERBUM asked this year’s ordinands to life. At the first cry for help she is ready to the prietshood to compose a brief essay stretch out her hand and ward off any danger in honor of one of Our Lady’s outstanding that might threaten them, as numberless qualities in the hope that the reading of these souls know by experience. Consider how compositions will redound to their merit, much more care she takes of her priests, Our Lady’s glory, and the reader’s benefit. marked as they are with the image of her After explaining the nature of the virtue, beloved Son. She has a special love for these they demonstrate its importance for the other Christs, and is both a channel of grace priesthood and how it is exemplified in the and a beacon of virtue for them. As each Mother of priests. Their responses lie within. Fr. Todd Fr. John Fr. Daniel Fr. Séan Anderson Bourbeau Dailey Gerrity Of RustOn, LOuisiana Of Oak GrOve, MinnesOta Of Platte City, MissOuri Of Olivet, illinOis BORn septemBeR 16, 1967 in RustOn, LOuisiana BOrn July 20, 1985 in st. Paul, MinnesOta BOrn June 10, 1985 in sMithville, MissOuri BOrn March 16, 1983 in lOveland, cOlOradO Faith Zeal humility Religion aith is the supernatural virtue by which the mind he harvest indeed is great, but the laborers hat gives a window its value? Neither its size, an he primary obligation of any priest is to offer gives quick assent to those things revealed by God. few.” Responding to this plea of Our Lord is impressive frame, or being placed in a beautiful sacrifice to God. Yet the priest of the New FIt is, in fact, through faith that we know God, for “Twhat attracts the young man to the priesthood. Wbuilding can guarantee it the ability to transmit TTestament, standing in the person of Christ to offer we cannot know Him unless he reveal Himself unto us, and It is also a particular joy for him during his time at the the daylight. It is a good window first and foremost when light Him again to His Divine Father, excels all other priests thus, faith forms the necessary foundation of religion, the seminary to reflect on that other episode of Our Lord’s life in penetrates it, allowing the viewer on one side to see objects because he immolates the Perfect Victim. From this oblation only basis on which anything of lasting value can be built. which He speaks of “the harvest”: wearied from His journey, without. The Catholic priest may be compared to this transparent all graces flow. The priest mediates between God and men, It has pleased God to transmit the contents of Jesus rests at Jacob’s well and there converts the Samaritan glass. As light passes through crystal without losing its brilliance presenting the offerings of men, then making intercession the faith, whole and inviolate, by means of the men woman while the disciples are sent to buy food. They return or clarity, so he is meant to be the medium by which the light of and dispensing God’s graces to mankind. appointed to safeguard and elaborate this deposit with their meal in time to see all the townsfolk, summoned by the woman, pouring out of God works in souls and through which God can be seen by all men. This tribute of sacrifice and homage to God over time. God’s official and binding revelation of the city and crowding around Our Lord. To the astonishment of the Apostles, Jesus ignores Unfortunately, a priest’s vices, especially pride, obscure the light of Our Lord constitutes the primary function of the virtue of religion. essential religious truths closed with the death of the food they have brought Him. He tells them, “I have meat to eat which you know not... Jesus Christ like dirt on a window pane. Hence, one virtue absolutely necessary for Religion, a subsidiary of justice, is that by which we give the last Apostle and He ensures that these truths will Lift up your eyes and see the countries for they are white already to harvest.” the spotlessness of every priest’s soul is humility.

Load more