Dear Friends and Benefactors,
Saint Thomas Aquinas Seminary, established during the extensive upheavals following the Second Vatican Council, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary amidst the still more extensive crisis in the Church. Divine Providence, as beautifully expressed in the liturgical prayer, “in the ordering of all things fails not”. 199 priests can call this seminary their alma mater.
My thoughts naturally turn to the future. Is this number sufficient to meet the needs of souls? Is this sufficient to meet the needs of the Church? The Superior General has expressed his desire for this year to be devoted to promoting vocations, especially the priestly vocation, I would like to dedicate a few words to this noble cause, which is the very purpose of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X.
It is a source of great consolation to see that the seminary in Dillwyn is already full. We did accommodate every seminarian, but every room was filled at the beginning of this academic year. On the other hand, we must acknowledge with a certain sorrow that the number of ordinations in recent years has not exceeded single digits.
While the blatant heresies within the Church and the crisis provoked by Covid in the world have awakened many souls and drawn them toward tradition, we still do not have enough priests to serve those in need. What are we to do? How can we address this lack of priests, which leaves the rich fields of the apostolate overrun with cockle? Nowhere do the sorrowful words of Jesus Christ, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” find truer fulfillment than in our situation.
We have many families, and our schools are filled with many young men receiving a good education, yet the number of boys seeking their vocation remains relatively low. It must, unfortunately, also be said that experience has shown a certain lack of commitment among some seeking their vocation. It is true that a vocation is a free gift of God, and the Spirit blows where He wills. Nevertheless, that does not mean that we cannot contribute to the discovery and development of vocations. On the contrary, we have an essential obligation to cooperate with God’s grace to promote vocations among our youth.
The priest is a man for the Sacrifice and a man of sacrifice. It is incumbent on both families and schools to develop the spirit of sacrifice, a spirit of selfless generosity, during the upbringing of the child. A wise and prudential discernment is necessary here. On the one hand, we cannot impose such heavy demands on our young people that they become discouraged. On the other hand, they must learn early in life how to persevere in tribulations and sacrifice – in a word, how to carry the cross.
The initial obligation to make the priestly path possible for suitable young men rests primarily on the parents. They must actively cooperate in this vital mission. They should instill in their sons a love for what is elevated and good so that they will naturally choose a life of continence, virginity, religion and every measure of evangelical perfection. If parents fail in this duty, no one can restore what is lost.
In fostering vocations, the foremost means we possess is ceaseless prayer to the Lord “to send forth laborers into His harvest.” You may find the prayer composed by Pope Pius XII for vocations to be a suitable addition at times to your family prayers, alongside the family rosary. And it need hardly be mentioned that these family prayers are a crucial means for instilling the habit and the spirit of personal prayer in the young.
Another helpful suggestion is to encourage young men to attend the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius shortly before their graduation. Through these Exercises, they may be directed to make essentially Christian election of a state of life.
Those who truly desire the good of souls will find many opportunities in daily life to sow the seeds of a more perfect vocation in the hearts of their children. If we do everything in our power, there is no doubt that the Lord of the harvest will reward our efforts, for His hand is not shortened (Is 59:1).
May your zeal for souls and the good of the Church inspire you to constant efforts and prayer; perhaps God will reward these efforts by calling one of your sons into His vineyard. This is a great glory to a parent. Be assured of our prayers for you.
In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
Fr. Michael Goldade