Holy Orders

Sacraments

Our parishioners know that the priest is not ordained for his family or friends alone. No! The priest “taken from among men, is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Hebrews 5:1). The honor bestowed upon the priest is honor bestowed upon the whole Catholic people out of whose midst he is taken. As Venerable Fulton J. Sheen stated: "the priest is not his own".

What is the Priesthood of Jesus Christ?

For young men who may be called to the priesthood, please consider the following pages:

Diocesan Priesthood: Diocese of Springfield, MA Vocations: https://www.myvocation.com/

Religious orders within the Springfield, MA Diocese:

Conventual Franciscan Friars; Chicopee and Holyoke, MA: https://www.olaprovince.org/join-us/
Dominican Friars, West Springfield, MA: https://opeast.org/vocations/
Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M., Stockbridge, MA: https://www.marian.org/vocations/

Traditional religious orders:

Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, Illinois: https://www.canons-regular.org/discernment
Canons Regular of St. Thomas Aquinas, Illinois: https://traditionalcanons.org/
FSSP (Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri): http://www.fsspolgs.org/vocations/discernment/
Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest: https://www.institute-christ-king.org/vocations
Institute of the Good Shepherd: https://www.institutdubonpasteur.org/
Monastic Life: Monks of Norcia, Italy: https://en.nursia.org/vocations.html
Monastic Life: Silverstream Priory, Ireland: https://www.cenacleosb.org/vocations
Slaves of the Immaculate Heart, St. Benedict Center, Still River, MA: https://www.saintbenedict.com/about-us/

The Baltimore Catechism states: "A vocation is God’s call: 'What would God prefer me to be?' — not 'What would I prefer to be?'" The big obstacle is selfishness, lack of generosity with God in little things: frequent Communion, daily Rosary, obedience, kindness to others we don’t like, etc. Selfishness in little things results in selfishness concerning one’s vocation. 'Many are called, but few are chosen' (Matthew 22, 14). Pray daily and seek the advice of a priest to know your vocation."

DISCERNMENT PRAYERS:

St. Ignatius: "Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To You, Lord, I return it. All is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only Your love and Your grace. That is enough for me."

St. Ignatius: "Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to look for any reward, save that of knowing that I do your holy will."

St. Francis: "Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me true faith, certain hope and perfect charity, sense and knowledge that I may carry out Your Holy and true command. Amen."

Father Charles de Foucauld: "Father, I abandon myself into your hands: do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures – I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul: I offer it you you with all the love of my heart, for I love you, Lord and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father."

St. Augustine: "Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know Thee, and desire nothing save only Thee. Let me hate myself and love Thee. Let me do everything for the sake of Thee. Let me humble myself and exalt Thee. Let me think of nothing except Thee. Let me die to myself and live in Thee. Let me accept whatever happens as from Thee. Let me banish self and follow Thee, and ever desire to follow Thee. Let me fly from myself and take refuge in Thee, that I may deserve to be defended by Thee. Let me fear for myself, let me fear Thee, and let me among those who are chosen by Thee. Let me distrust myself and put my trust in Thee. Let me be willing to obey for the sake of Thee. Let me cling to nothing save only to Thee, and let me be poor because of Thee. Look upon me, that I may love Thee. Call me that I may see Thee, and for ever enjoy Thee. Amen."