CAPG's Blog 

"Let Catholics listen to the word of God, which the Church, and the Church alone, preserves and teaches entire and incorrupt. Let them not run, like sheep that have no shepherd, where other voices resound and try to drown out the voice of God when they are raised in opposition to the voice of the Church.

We have Sacred Scriptures. We have Tradition. We have the Supreme Pastor, and certainly a greater number of priests near us.

Why then, in the face of those who fight against us and hate us, must we give an exhibition of stupidity or fanaticism? "Christians, be harder to move," wrote Dante in his own time, "don't be like feathers that move with every breeze." He gave the very reasons that are valid today. " You have the Old Testament and the New, and the Pastor of the Church to guide you." And he concluded as we conclude, "This is enough for your salvation."

Source: American Ecclesiastical Review. Msgr. Alfredo Ottaviani

"Nothing is done by the Church that is not for the salvation of souls. The Church is not rightly portrayed if it is shown as in any way, or at any time, or in any activity, cultural, social or disciplinary, opposed to or in competition with the salvation of souls. I do not say the salvation of some souls in the shortest possible time; I do not say the break-neck making of new converts. I say the salvation of the greatest number of souls before time ceases: that is the raison d'etre of the Church and of the missions. It is a mistake to try to distinguish between them."

Source: The American Ecclesiastical review.  January -  June 1951 .Patrick O'Connor, St. Columban's Tokyo Japan

He, of all men, must be a man of faith, a man of sacrifice. He must be a lover of God, a lover of God's people, the example of God's love for men. He bears faith to men, for he is the instrument through whom God works.

His faith should be full, it should be clearly defined, intelligently appreciated, and intelligently made known. He should be a man of faith, who believes in God in the full meaning of belief; who believes in his Church, in the teachings of the Fathers and Councils, who is loyal to his Bishop and the Holy See, who trusts implicitly in Providence.

His life should be above reproach, for he deals with sacred things, he handles holiness; he must be as Timothy, “Blameless, sober, prudent.”

Albertus Magnus and St. Thomas have said that no greater power or dignity than the power and dignity of consecrating the body of Christ was ever bestowed on man; and no greater sanctity or perfection can be conceived than the sanctity and perfection required for so divine an action, in the priest. To him, above all men, is said the word of Christ, “Be perfect, imitate Me, be My disciple.”

Woe to him, if by him any scandal comes.

To him is given power over the body of Christ, At his word, Christ the Lord comes in the sacrament of the Eucharist and dwells upon our altars to be the food and nourishment of our souls. By his acts, in conjunction with man's repentance, sins are remitted. In his hands, according to the scheme of salvation, are the keys of the kingdom of Heaven.

Oh, indeed he should be a man of faith!

Source: Our Church, Her Children and Institutions, 1908, Rt. Rev. T.J. Conaty, D.D.