Vocations in Times of Crisis

About this sermon

The great preacher, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, of holy memory, once stated the following: Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops, like bishops, and your religious act like religious. Although I love Bishop Sheen and have enjoyed his sermons, conferences, and books, I must disagree with that statement he made. It is very true that the laity make up the great majority of Church membership and from them comes so many blessings and so much support, including vocations to the consecrated life. But when the good Lord desires to bring real reform to the membership of the Church…when He desires to cast down the fire of the Holy Ghost upon us here below to enkindle in us a greater Faith, Hope, and Charity, it is the religious…the consecrated priests, monks, nuns, sisters, and religious brothers that are his special kindling. When the good Lord wants to sanctify the flock, He raises up holy Shepherds and sets them a part as His special forces units. The apostles were all bishops…high priests and shepherds that guided their flocks. The laity were most faithful during the Arian crisis, true, but it was the bishops…Ss. Athanasius, Nicholas, Eusebius of Vercelli, and other high priests who forcefully and officially taught that Christ was consubstantial with the Heavenly Father. Sheep are lost without their Shepherd and members of the body are in trouble without the presence of the head. St. Benedict, an abbot and monk, brought light to the Dark Ages and planted the seeds of a glorious Christendom. St. Bernard, another holy religious and priest, would attract countless men to a higher chivalry present in the monastery. St. Catherine of Siena, a consecrated virgin and Third Order Dominican, was the greatest individual of the 14th century, who influenced both popes and secular rulers. It was the Lord working through religious and clerics such as Ss. Ignatius of Loyola, Philip Neri, and Theresa of Jesus that saved the majority of Europe from the evil of Protestantism. And in this present time of crisis within the Church and society, it will be the consecrated and the ordained who will be the main instruments in God’s Hands in bringing about a much needed cure, reform, and renewal. For more please visit http://www.reginaprophetarum.org & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest The website https://sensusfidelium.us/ To donate please visit https://sensusfidelium.us/donate-support/ Donations to Sensus Fidelium is 501(c)3 tax deductible

Topics

• Strength in Hard Times