Conferences All Week

We just finished a week of conferences on celibacy and priesthood. They were good but there is no way I could summarize all the stuff we covered. So I will just give you some memorable quotes. By the way, we are ordaining 30 men to the diaconate on Thursday. Keep them in your prayers. Pictures will be up soon enough.

To be celibate involves loving the community you serve. If you don't love them, you are not being faithful.

Don't be surprised that when you offer yourself to the Church she says yes.

You live in a glass house. (Meaning, everything you do is public, even what you eat)


photo by seier

One of the priests told the story of his bishop who had this woman constantly come up to him at different events where he would be celebrating Mass and ask to concelebrate. Each time he would politely explain that she could not. Later, at a USCCB meeting, he saw her outside protesting with some others over women's ordination and he went out and spoke with her. When he returned, the other bishops asked him what the heck he was doing talking to that crazy protester. He replied, "She may be crazy but she's my crazy."

You only love God as much as your least favorite neighbor or parishioner in this case.

Our hearts should be broken that love is not loved.

To live in the midst of the world
without wishing its pleasures;
To be a member of each family,
yet belonging to none;
To share all suffering;
To penetrate all secrets;
To heal all wounds;
To go from men to God
and offer Him their prayers;
To return from God to men
to bring pardon and hope;
To have a heart of fire for Charity,
and a heart of bronze for Chastity;
To teach and to pardon,
console and bless always.
My God, what a life;
and it is yours,
O priest of Jesus Christ.

- Lacordaire

AMDG.