Volume VII: The Ordained Priesthood

Overview

This Volume VII in the series of Magisterial Summaries is dedicated to examining “The Ordained Priesthood,” as it is presented and developed in Papal teaching documents of this century, starting with “Haerent Animo” of Pope Pius X up to the Apostolic Exhortation “Pastores Dabo Vobis” of Pope John Paul II, is an example of getting authentic and guaranteed light in our search for truth in matters that are a combination of the divine and human.

Vatican City, 28 Feb. 1994

Jose T. Cardinal Sanchez

Called by God

The Catholic priesthood was instituted by the Lord with a definite nature and mission, hence any question connected with it can be understood and developed only in the supernatural light of faith in the mystery of our redemption in Christ. Taken out of this divine design of our redemption in Christ, and of the expressed will of our Lord as contained in Scripture and in Tradition, the nature and mission of the priesthood cannot be adequately understood.

Priests are no mere representatives of men and chosen by them for religious functions and moral leadership. They are men chosen by God through the Church who “in virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, after the image of Christ, the supreme and eternal priest, are consecrated in order to preach the Gospel and shepherd the faithful as well as to celebrate divine worship as true priests of the New Testament.” (LG 28)

Harent Animo, Encyclical Letter to the Catholic Clergy on Priestly Sanctity, Pope St. Pius X, August 4, 1908
Ad Catholici Sacerdotii, Encyclical Letter on the Catholic Priesthood, Pope Pius XI, December 20, 1935
Menti Nostrae, Apostolic Exhortation on the Development of Holiness in Priestly Life, Pope Pius XII, September 23, 1950
Sacra Virginitas, Encyclical Letter of Pope Pius XII, March 25, 1954
Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia, Encyclical of Pope John XXIII on St. John Vianney, August 1, 1959
Address to The Roman Synod, Pope John XXIII, January 26, 1960
Otpatam Totius, Decree of the Second Vatican Council, on the Training of Priests, October 28, 1965
Presbyterorum Ordinis, Vatican Council II, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, December 7, 1965
Sacerdotalis Caelibatus, Encyclical Letter on Priestly Celibacy, Pope Paul VI, June 24, 1967
Message for the Fifth World Day of Prayer for Priestly Vocation, Pope Paul VI, April 19, 1968
Circular Letter on Formatio Permanens, Congregation for the clergy, November 4, 1969
De Sacertotio Ministerali, Synod of Bishops 1971, December 9, 1971
Inter Insigniores, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration on the Ordination of Women for the Ministerial Priesthood, October 15, 1976
Discourse to the Clergy of Rome, Pope John Paul II, November 9, 1978
Letter to All Priests, Pope John Paul II, Holy Thursday, April 6, 1979
Spiritual Formation in Seminaries, A Circular Letter of the Congregation for Catholic Education, January 6, 1980
Homily to 5000 Priests from the Whole World, Pope John Paul II, October 9, 1984
Pastores Dabo Vobis, Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II to the Bishops, Clergy, and Faithful on the Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of the Present Day, Mary 25, 1992
Directives Concerning the Preparation of Seminary Educators, Congregation for Catholic Education, November 4, 1993

Lectio Divina Cordis

Divine Reading of the Heart

H

HEAR the words as you inwardly read or speak

LECTIO
– Read –

E

ENTER the silence to reflect on a core precept

MEDITATIO
– Meditate –

A

ANSWER to the knock at the heart’s door

ORATIO
– Speak –

R

REST silently without words or thoughts

CONTEMPLATIO
– Contemplate –

T

TRUST: “Do not let your HEART be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 13:1)

CREDE FORMULAE
– Trust in the process –

Lectio Divina (Latin for “Divine Reading”) is a traditional Benedictine practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s Word. It does not treat scripture as texts to be studied, but as the living word.

The focus of Lectio Divina is not a theological analysis of biblical passages but viewing them with Christ as the key to their meaning.

Approaching the Magisterium Summaries from this perspective may lead to a deeper appreciation of its meaning and an appreciation of how it may be applied to one’s life.

Client View

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent sapien massa, convallis a pellentesque nec, egestas non nisi. Quisque velit nisi, pretium ut lacinia in, elementum id enim. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae; Donec velit neque, auctor sit amet aliquam vel, ullamcorper sit amet ligula. Nulla quis lorem ut libero malesuada feugiat.

Katy Author

CEO, Katy's Company

Are you ready to start?

WE SURE ARE

Yes, I'm ready