A Seminarian speaks out

US Seminarians praying outside an abortuary

Photo: wdtprs.com


A Seminarian from the USA has responded to my last post regarding the EF Mass being taught in seminaries.

He wishes to remain anonymous and this is perfectly understandable.

I once asked a seminarian studying at Allen Hall, if he planned to celebrate the EF Mass when ordained.

He gave a fudged answer. He said:

"I will do whatever the Holy Father wishes me to do" - He didn't say yes and he didn't say no.

It is quite obvious that, when Pope Benedict reasserted the place of the Tridentine Latin Mass in the life of the Church, he was not doing it because he had nothing else to do that Wednesday afternoon.

He issued his Moto Proprio because he wanted his priests to be free to celebrate both forms of Holy Mass; Ordinary and Extraordinary.

EF Pastor Emeritus and Ora Pro Nobis have both commented on the fact that, whilst the Latin Mass is very important, there are other pressing issues that Seminary Directors should be facing up to.

The books selected for study; they need to be orthodox and sound, not the Catholic world according to Clifford Longley or Kung's Rough Guide to Hell.

The homosexual issue desperately needs to be addressed by those in the seminary system and by the Bishops.

And the pastoral aspect of the priesthood needs sharpening up.

Twenty three years ago I asked the local PP to bless our home; we're still waiting. I have an aged relative in need of the Sacraments, she is still waiting.

But here is the comment made by the Seminarian - it struck a chord with me and I hope that he does not mind me incorporating it in a post:-

"I think you have hit the nail on the head. I'm a postulant at a Seminary in the U.S.A. and I confess that I'm much dismayed at the apparent lack on interest in giving seminarians a grounding in Latin and the Extraordinary Form. Ironically, among my classmates, and indeed, I believe among the wider seminarian community, there is strong interest in preserving the Extraordinary Form, not only for itself, but because we feel knowledge of it will increase our understanding of, and reverence for, the Ordinary Form. Unfortunately, our formation programme does not only not emphasise this aspect of the Church, but completely ignores it. I for one, would love to see things altered, but as a seminarian, one feels somewhat powerless and not in a position to question his formation superiors. However, keep praying that things will change; there are young men out there who want to preserve the full, complete and orthodox views of the Catholic Church".

Why are our seminaries also Woolly Mammoths?

Yes, frozen in time, lost in the mists of  50 years or so of history, the Catholic Seminaries are something of a shambles.

Please do not get me wrong. We have a small but growing population of good seminarians who have a taste for something more than guitars and tambourines on a Sunday; who want to do more than be jolly nice social workers and some who even wish to fulfil their vocation by merging into diocesan life and organising their parish.

But...do they want to save souls? That is what a priest is meant to do. Save the sinners, bring back the lapsed, counsel the Godly ones, rebuke the twittish ones but, in all things work towards the salvation of his flock.

What do they need in order to be good shepherds? Well, they need an orthodox outlook to begin with and they need to have some backbone and integrity. And it would help them in their role immensely if they were finally able to celebrate both forms of Mass.



Does this ring any err....bells?

If so, you're out!

 Why? Well, Father Christopher Smith on Chant Cafe has a very good post on the matter so please take a look; I do not think even the pinkest of limp wristed Catholics could find too much to object to there.

Sadly, we are led to believe that many young men who apply to their bishop as candidates for the priesthood are sunk before they begin if the review panel or Studies Director gets a sniff of anything like incense about their person.

If I was 20 years of age and believed that I had a vocation I would have no truck with what is generally on offer. Can you imagine being a closet traditionalist in the midst of a bunch of liberals, many of whom being, allegedly, homosexual in orientation?

I would hie me to the nearest FSSP or ICKSP PDQ!

That is, perhaps a message that those in charge of the seminaries might like to ponder upon. If they continue in their 1960s style of religious education they are going to drive more and more potential priests into the arms of the traditional seminaries.

What Father Smith concluded in his post was that there should be room for both forms of the Mass to be part of the everyday liturgy. That I believe is right (even though wild elephants could not drag me to an OF Mass as it is normally celebrated). But by dismissing those orthodox men the modern seminaries are closing the freezer door on themselves and electing to remain Woolly Mammoths.

Roll on climate change!

Raymond Blanc uses internships for his business.....could this be adopted for seminarians?

Good service, acute attention to detail, high levels of competence; the result is perfect front of house service, quality food and expert waitering. I have posted on this before, quality training is a bit of a thing with me. You can walk into any cafe or restaurant and get pretty indifferent service, then you find one where you are welcomed, treated properly, spoken to as if you have brain cells in double figures and generally given a good all round experience.

That takes a lot of effort. Top class establishments such as Raymond Blanc's use "on the job training" - work experience, internships, call it what you will. It blends knowledge based learning with practical skills; it is, in short, vocational training.

In a recent comment on my post of  7th March Anthony S Layne picked me up on a point of slight concern (if I read him correctly). He was not overly comfortable with Priests being trained or developed using commercial methods, and I understand his concern.
But, as well as the academic programme necessary for the formation of a good priest, comes a spiritual one (of course) and a vocational one. Vocational in a double sense inasmuch as the man must have what we call a 'vocation' or a calling for the ministry and a practical programme based on what will confront him in the outside world. He must communicate well, be able to speak publicly effectively, know how to respond when visiting a hospice, be able to walk into a school and strike an instant rapport with the pupils - the list is endless.
So, Directors of seminaries send their trainee priests off into the community to work alongside parish priests and to learn the nuts and bolts of their vocation - all well and good.

But what preparation is given to assessing their placements? Is the PP they will be residing with a strong and competent role model? Does he lead an intensely spiritual inner life as well as a public one, does he gather prospective converts and lapsed Catholics about him like a iron filings to a magnet?

I will not mention our excellent blogger priests by name as I do not wish to embarrass them (and they will not thank me for my next point) but wouldn't it be an excellent move to place seminarians as interns with these beacons of the faith? Not one at a time, that already takes place, but three or four so that their mentor parish priest can use them individually or as a group to aid him in his work.
That's what happens (or should happen in commerce). You seek out the centres of excellence and place your interns with them - no point in placing them in the organisations that wallow in idle incompetence!

And, while I am on the soap box concerning the development of young potential priests I must say a few words in praise of the Latin Mass Society's initiative to train priests in the Extraordinary Form of celebrating Mass. This is the best possible use of funds in my opinion so, if you can support them with a bit of cash, it will reap huge dividends.
They may already do this but if they don't they may like to take it on board and that is, to extend the Mass training scheme to Seminarians.....their website may be found by clicking here. http://www.lms.org.uk/