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The formation of priests
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Topic Started: Wednesday, 16. May 2007, 23:22 (626 Views)
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Deleted User
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Saturday, 23. February 2008, 00:08
Post #16
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Deleted User
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The 2008 World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to be celebrated on 13 April and the Vatican have today released Pope Benedict's message for this 45 World Day of Prayer
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13 APRIL 2008 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Theme: “Vocations at the service of the Church on mission”
Dear brothers and sisters,
1. For the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, to be celebrated on 13 April 2008, I have chosen the theme: Vocations at the service of the Church on mission. The Risen Jesus gave to the Apostles this command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19), assuring them: “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28: 20). The Church is missionary in herself and in each one of her members. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, every Christian is called to bear witness and to announce the Gospel, but this missionary dimension is associated in a special and intimate way with the priestly vocation. In the covenant with Israel, God entrusted to certain men, called by him and sent to the people in his name, a mission as prophets and priests. He did so, for example, with Moses: “Come, - God told him - I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth my people … out of Egypt …when you have brought forth the people out of Egypt, you will serve God upon this mountain” (Ex 3: 10 and 12). The same happened with the prophets.
2. The promises made to our fathers were fulfilled entirely in Jesus Christ. In this regard, the Second Vatican Council says: “The Son, therefore, came, sent by the Father. It was in him, before the foundation of the world, that the Father chose us and predestined us to become adopted sons … To carry out the will of the Father, Christ inaugurated the kingdom of heaven on earth and revealed to us the mystery of that kingdom. By his obedience he brought about redemption” (Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, 3). And Jesus already in his public life, while preaching in Galilee, chose some disciples to be his close collaborators in the messianic ministry. For example, on the occasion of the multiplication of the loaves, he said to the Apostles: “You give them something to eat” (Mt 14: 16), encouraging them to assume the needs of the crowds to whom he wished to offer nourishment, but also to reveal the food “which endures to eternal life” (Jn 6: 27). He was moved to compassion for the people, because while visiting cities and villages, he found the crowds weary and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (cf. Mt 9: 36). From this gaze of love came the invitation to his disciples: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Mt 9: 38), and he sent the Twelve initially “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” with precise instructions. If we pause to meditate on this passage of Matthew’s Gospel, commonly called the “missionary discourse”, we may take note of those aspects which distinguish the missionary activity of a Christian community, eager to remain faithful to the example and teaching of Jesus. To respond to the Lord’s call means facing in prudence and simplicity every danger and even persecutions, since “a disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Mt 10: 24). Having become one with their Master, the disciples are no longer alone as they announce the Kingdom of heaven; Jesus himself is acting in them: “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me” (Mt 10: 40). Furthermore, as true witnesses, “clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24: 49), they preach “repentance and the forgiveness of sins” (Lk 24: 47) to all peoples.
3. Precisely because they have been sent by the Lord, the Twelve are called “Apostles”, destined to walk the roads of the world announcing the Gospel as witnesses to the death and resurrection of Christ. Saint Paul, writing to the Christians of Corinth, says: “We – the Apostles – preach Christ crucified” (1 Cor 1: 23). The Book of the Acts of the Apostles also assigns a very important role in this task of evangelization to other disciples whose missionary vocation arises from providential, sometimes painful, circumstances such as expulsion from their own lands for being followers of Jesus (cf. 8,1-4). The Holy Spirit transforms this trial into an occasion of grace, using it so that the name of the Lord can be preached to other peoples, stretching in this way the horizons of the Christian community. These are men and women who, as Luke writes in the Acts of the Apostles, “have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ” (15: 26). First among them is undoubtedly Paul of Tarsus, called by the Lord himself, hence a true Apostle. The story of Paul, the greatest missionary of all times, brings out in many ways the link between vocation and mission. Accused by his opponents of not being authorized for the apostolate, he makes repeated appeals precisely to the call which he received directly from the Lord (cf. Rom 1: 1; Gal 1: 11-12 and 15-17).
4. In the beginning, and thereafter, what “impels” the Apostles (cf. 2 Cor 5: 14) is always “the love of Christ”. Innumerable missionaries, throughout the centuries, as faithful servants of the Church, docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, have followed in the footsteps of the first disciples. The Second Vatican Council notes: “Although every disciple of Christ, as far in him lies, has the duty of spreading the faith, Christ the Lord always calls whomever he will from among the number of his disciples, to be with him and to be sent by him to preach to the nations [cf. Mk 3: 13-15]” (Decree Ad Gentes, 23). In fact, the love of Christ must be communicated to the brothers by example and words, with all one’s life. My venerable predecessor John Paul II wrote: “The special vocation of missionaries ‘for life’ retains all its validity: it is the model of the Church's missionary commitment, which always stands in need of radical and total self-giving, of new and bold endeavours”. (Encyclical Redemptoris Missio, 66)
5. Among those totally dedicated to the service of the Gospel, are priests, called to preach the word of God, administer the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, committed to helping the lowly, the sick, the suffering, the poor, and those who experience hardship in areas of the world where there are, at times, many who still have not had a real encounter with Jesus Christ. Missionaries announce for the first time to these people Christ’s redemptive love. Statistics show that the number of baptized persons increases every year thanks to the pastoral work of these priests, who are wholly consecrated to the salvation of their brothers and sisters. In this context, a special word of thanks must be expressed “to the fidei donum priests who work faithfully and generously at building up the community by proclaiming the word of God and breaking the Bread of Life, devoting all their energy to serving the mission of the Church. Let us thank God for all the priests who have suffered even to the sacrifice of their lives in order to serve Christ ... Theirs is a moving witness that can inspire many young people to follow Christ and to expend their lives for others, and thus to discover true life” (Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, 26).
6. There have always been in the Church many men and women who, prompted by the action of the Holy Spirit, choose to live the Gospel in a radical way, professing the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. This multitude of men and women religious, belonging to innumerable Institutes of contemplative and active life, still plays “the main role in the evangelisation of the world” (Ad Gentes, 40). With their continual and community prayer, contemplatives intercede without ceasing for all humanity. Religious of the active life, with their many charitable activities, bring to all a living witness of the love and mercy of God. The Servant of God Paul VI concerning these apostles of our times said: “Thanks to their consecration they are eminently willing and free to leave everything and to go and proclaim the Gospel even to the ends of the earth. They are enterprising and their apostolate is often marked by an originality, by a genius that demands admiration. They are generous: often they are found at the outposts of the mission, and they take the greatest of risks for their health and their very lives. Truly the Church owes them much” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 69).
7. Furthermore, so that the Church may continue to fulfil the mission entrusted to her by Christ, and not lack promoters of the Gospel so badly needed by the world, Christian communities must never fail to provide both children and adults with constant education in the faith. It is necessary to keep alive in the faithful a committed sense of missionary responsibility and active solidarity with the peoples of the world. The gift of faith calls all Christians to co-operate in the work of evangelization. This awareness must be nourished by preaching and catechesis, by the liturgy, and by constant formation in prayer. It must grow through the practice of welcoming others, with charity and spiritual companionship, through reflection and discernment, as well as pastoral planning, of which attention to vocations must be an integral part.
8. Vocations to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life can only flourish in a spiritual soil that is well cultivated. Christian communities that live the missionary dimension of the mystery of the Church in a profound way will never be inward looking. Mission, as a witness of divine love, becomes particularly effective when it is shared in a community, “so that the world may believe” (cf. Jn 17: 21). The Church prays everyday to the Holy Spirit for the gift of vocations. Gathered around the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles, as in the beginning, the ecclesial community learns from her how to implore the Lord for a flowering of new apostles, alive with the faith and love that are necessary for the mission.
9. While I entrust this reflection to all the ecclesial communities so that they may make it their own, and draw from it inspiration for prayer, and as I encourage those who are committed to work with faith and generosity in the service of vocations, I wholeheartedly send to educators, catechists and to all, particularly to young people on their vocational journey, a special Apostolic Blessing.
From the Vatican, 3 December 2007
Vatican
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Deleted User
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Sunday, 24. February 2008, 23:39
Post #17
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Deleted User
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There is a really heartening article in this weeks Catholic Herald, concerning the growing Norbertines in Manchester. Part of it is available on line here but it will only be avaible until Friday.
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Fr Hugh, the superior of the community of Corpus Christi has a huge problem – and it’s not his girth, though that too is considerable. His is a problem, which, at a time when vocations are thin on the ground, many would envy him for: he simply doesn’t have enough space for his growing community and has had to turn down two applicants this year because there was nowhere to put them.
KatyA
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Rose of York
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Monday, 25. February 2008, 00:36
Post #18
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I have already taken to those Canons, Katy.
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Compline is the office we have wholly in Latin: it’s Gregorian. And that’s the one people love. They come to it and they have their socks knocked off. They think it’s wonderful.
They speak in a manner to which most of can relate. Knocking socks off, indeed!
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“While we have Latin in other parts of the office, Compline is the one that’s completely Premonstratensian. That’s what people like. It’s really about getting people to slow down and stop rushing around so much and running around like headless chickens and that you can find peace in your daily life.”
What a fine service the Canons would do if they were to travel the country telling that to the Ladies of the Guild of the Green Cardigan.
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The canons, who have never stopped celebrating in the Premonstratensian rite, as well as the Novus Ordo Mass, advocate a via media, or middle way. People don’t want politics, says Fr Hugh, they just want to go to Mass and have God at the centre of their lives. “We like thinking of ourselves as middle of the road. It’s those labels that are wrong: traditionalist versus progressive and you’re neither; you’re Catholic,” he says. The middle road seems to be the right way for the Manchester Norbertines; now they just need the space to grow.
Wise men.
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Keep the Faith!
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Deleted User
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Tuesday, 14. October 2008, 14:15
Post #19
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Deleted User
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Cardinal Franc Rodé, prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life recently spoke at a symposium on religious life (held in USA) and noted the importance of the laity in fostering vocations
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Vocations are a gift from God; the initiative is completely his. Nevertheless, as is his custom, he normally uses secondary causes and he depends on our collaboration to carry out his plans. I distinguish two different and complementary ways to promote vocations: One I will call indirect and the other direct. And, counter-intuitively, I think that what I call indirect promotion is actually the more important of the two in the context of the Church today because all of us can engage in it, the whole body of the Church benefits from it, and without it the direct promotion of vocations remains mostly sterile. “Indirect” promotion is everything that builds up the life of Christ in the Church, and it can be summarized in three dimensions of life: spirituality, catechesis, and apostolate or ministry. And we have to focus these three dimensions to Christian life on the two places that most affect the vocation to consecration: on the family and on the heart, mind and soul of the individual young person. Very often in our own lives and communities the reason the seed does not bear fruit is not that the ground is rocky or otherwise bad, but that many other concerns clamor for our time and attention. What I mean is, today we are engaged in and worried about many things, like Martha. Committees, conferences, social justice issues, press releases, and such like, clog our calendar. But there is one thing and one thing alone that will ultimately change the world, and that is the inner transformation of the human person through contact with the grace of Christ.
Full article Zenit
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Derekap
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Tuesday, 14. October 2008, 16:16
Post #20
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Whilst I don't wish to detract from the importance of the quotation in any way, I would like to say that we do tend to use the word "Vocation" in the exclusive sense of Priests and Religious. We should not forget that parentage and any job or service is a Vocation. The men who collect the rubbish and recycling items from the presbytery are also fulfilling a Vocation. This is not demeaning the word but enhancing other people's duties.
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Derekap
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Rose of York
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Tuesday, 14. October 2008, 18:28
Post #21
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Well said, Derek. This afternoon, whilst walking my dog, a woman asked if she could walk with me, for company. She confided in me, she had nipped out while her husband was asleep. He has alzheimers disease. That lady is fulfilling her vocation.
How come we are told vocations to religious life and priesthood, come from God, but nobody says "God gives the vocation to be married, or to be single".
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Keep the Faith!
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Rose of York
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Friday, 24. October 2008, 01:57
Post #22
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I keep hearing that vocations in the C of E are down. That is incorrect.
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Official Church Statistics, published on the Church of England website, show increases in the number of clergy being trained and numbers being ordained. The Church recommended 595 future clergy for ordination training in 2007, the greatest number for more than a decade and maintaining the upward trend since the mid-'90s. In 1994, 408 candidates were recommended for training.
http://www.indcatholicnews.com/stats324.html
We cannot expect to have an increase like theirs, because a large number of theirs are women.
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Keep the Faith!
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Deleted User
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Sunday, 2. November 2008, 23:37
Post #23
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Deleted User
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This may be of particular interest to Mick and Karin. Yesterday, at St Francis Xaviour, Liverpool Stephen Patterson SJ, a former parishioner of St. Mary’s Oldham and former Oldham Rugby player, was ordained by the Most Rev. Patrick Kelly. Our PP attended the ceremony and commented that there were many young Jesuit priests and seminarians both there and at his First Mass in St Mary's today. So there are young men still answering the call. Unfortunately, he is destined for the Missions - Peru I think. Please keep him and all seminarians and newly ordained, in your prayers KatyA
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Ned
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Monday, 3. November 2008, 23:57
Post #24
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Hi All,
This is just a quick posting.
I was reading through 1 Samuel the other day (the RSVCE version is at http://www.geocities.com/sacra_scriptura/eng_bible_index.html ) and I thought about Hannah, and the way that she gave Samuel, her only child and just a toddler, to God (1 Samuel, chapter 1 verse 1 to chapter 2 verse 11).
Up till then I had always thought of the 'formation of priests' as being something that happened in seminaries. But then when I thought about it I felt that most vocations will come from the way that a young boy is raised; it will depend on the attitude of his parents, his siblings, neighbours etc.
Here is the prayer of Hannah (chapter 2 verses 1 to 10) :- Quote:
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1* Hannah also prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2 "There is none holy like the LORD, there is none besides thee; there is no rock like our God. 3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. 6 The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. 8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORDS, and on them he has set the world. 9 "He will guard the feet of his faithful ones; but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail. 10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed."
Up to a few decades ago quite a few Catholic mothers had a similar dedication, and that is what's needed to make a boy into a priest. But how many have it today ?
Edited by Ned, Monday, 3. November 2008, 23:59.
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Rose of York
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Tuesday, 4. November 2008, 00:16
Post #25
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Ned, it certainly happened, in my extended family, that two brothers grew up with vocations to the priesthood. Both knew from a very early age, that they wanted to be priests. It is known throughout the family, that their mother said she would teach her boys to love God so deeply, that they would feel called to priesthood. The boys' father gave the mother his full support. There was no pressure, that couple simply set out to imbue their sons with such a love of the Church, the Mass and the Sacraments, that they would enter the priesthood. Both of them told me, when they had been priests for many years, they were happy and fulfilled.
In their case, the parents and parish formed the vocations. The seminary did the training.
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Keep the Faith!
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Gerard
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Tuesday, 4. November 2008, 10:26
Post #26
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Hi Ned,
Hanna's prayer is like Mary's prayer is it not? I think all vocations come from God, including ones to the ordained priesthood.
Gerry
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"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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Rose of York
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Tuesday, 4. November 2008, 14:24
Post #27
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God gives vocations, agreed - inlcuding those to the married and single states.
All vocations need fostering, guidance and TLC.
I am interested to know what exactly is covered, in "seminary formation" of a priest. Is it done one way for men entering religious orders, and another way for potential diocesan priests?
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Keep the Faith!
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Ned
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Tuesday, 4. November 2008, 17:35
Post #28
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- Gerard
- Tuesday, 4. November 2008, 10:26
Hanna's prayer is like Mary's prayer is it not? I think all vocations come from God, including ones to the ordained priesthood. Hi Gerard,
Yes, the Song of Hannah and the Magnificat are remarkably similar.
And yes, all vocations come from God, and all of God's graces are freely given to people who do not deserve them. But I see the current scarcity of priestly vocations as a sign that God has turned away from us - and the only reason He would ever do that is because we, His people, have rejected Him.
Regards
Ned
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Deleted User
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Tuesday, 4. November 2008, 18:00
Post #29
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Deleted User
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Or it could be Ned that He is trying to tell us that we need to enlarge the pool of potential candidates.
John
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Gerard
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Tuesday, 4. November 2008, 18:04
Post #30
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Ned,
I have a different take on it - a more optimistic one. I think God has been purifying the Church and part of this has been a shake out of clergy who were not suited to the role for one reason or another. We are left with fewer but more committed clergy. This is forcing change in the way we do Church and in the activity of catholics. It will force us away from the "turn up, pay up and shut up" model to something more like the early Church. I would refer you specifically to Luke 10:1-24.
There is a worldly encraochment, I agree with you, but I also think God is dealing with that now, and we can help with our prayers.
Gerry
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"The institutional and charismatic aspects are quasi coessential to the Church's constitution" (Pope John Paul II, 1998).
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