Msgr. Stephen Rossetti—acclaimed expert on religious and clergy—has developed ten fundamental building blocks for priestly holiness, reminding his readers that the priest is a man who is full of God and full of joy. The Ten Steps to Priestly Holiness Cease any serious sin Renew the Sacrament of Penance in ourselves and in those we serve Pray more Dive deeply into the Eucharist Nourish good friendships, especially with priests Love the Church; love your bishop Practice gratitude Embrace your crosses Relax and trust Abandon yourself to God
This wide-ranging investigation of the priestly cultic texts from Exodus 25 onwards explores the coherence and theology of the priestly writing, utilizing insights from anthropology and recent biblical scholarship. Through a carefully worked out set of laws and institutions, the priestly authors sought to order Israel's life before God in a sustainable and satisfying way. This is a valuable contribution to the growing number of studies concerned to understand and recover this neglected part of the Bible.
Scholar Israel Knohl offers a new perspective on the history and theology of the Priestly source of the Pentateuch. Knohl claims that groups associated with the Priestly Torah appear ensconced within the Temple, operating within a "Sanctuary of Silence", in contrast to the later Holiness School, which reached a loftier conception of God and a broader purview of faith, holiness, and practice.
It is generally accepted that since the end of Vatican II there has been a crisis in the Catholic priesthood. This is reflected in two areas in particular--defections from the priesthood and a serious decline in vocations, primarily in the developed countries of the West. John Paul II has addressed this situation many times during his pontificate, especially in Pastores dabo vobis where he offers a clear theological vision and a program of formation to overcome the current crisis of priestly identity. In his new book McGovern offers a deep analysis of the Pope's theology of priesthood, drawing not only from Pastores dabo vobis, but also from his Holy Thursday Letters and other important writings on this topic. In this study the author deals with core aspects of priestly identity under three main headings--theological, spiritual, and pastoral--in the context of service to the lay faithful and the evangelization required of the Church in the new millennium.
"The past three decades have witnessed a decline in the number of Roman Catholic priests in Europe and North America, the result of resignations from the priesthood and of fewer people entering seminaries. A major cause contributing to this situation has been the ambiguity surrounding the role and identity of the priest in light of new theological paradigms. This book attempts to restore clarity to that matter by drawing primarily, although not exclusively, on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, postconciliar theology and the pronouncements of Pope John Paul II." "The first chapter probes the relationship of the priest to Christ and the church. This is the basic theme of the book, since the manner in which the relationship is perceived colors all aspects of priestly life. The following three chapters examine the three forms of ministry the priest renders to the community: the ministry of the word, of worship and of pastoral care. The book ends with a consideration of the most fundamental role of the priest: a disciple of Jesus. So the book comes full circle, returning to the primary relationship of the priest to Christ and to the church as a community of disciples."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
What comfort can we have in Christ Himself but as He is clothed in His priestly garments, in His office of High Priest? Nothing is more vital to a believer's comfort and sanctification than understanding the scope of the Lord's priestly office. Conversely, some struggle with sin, doubt, temptation, discouragement, or an accusing conscience because they fail to grasp the significance of Christ's priesthood. In Comfort and Holiness from Christ's Priestly Work , William Bridge reminds us that "Christ's office as a priest is the great storehouse and supply of all the grace and comfort that we have on this side of heaven." Read this edifying book and see how Jesus' fourfold labor of satisfaction, intercession, offering gifts, and blessing His people works to sooth your weary soul and grow you in godliness. Table of Contents: 1. Christ's Priestly Work 2. Making Satisfaction 3. Making Intercession 4. Offering Gifts 5. Blessing the People 6. Conclusion Series Description Interest in the Puritans continues to grow, but many people find the reading these giants of the faith a bit unnerving. This series seeks to overcome that barrier by presenting Puritan books that are convenient in size and unintimidating in length. Each book is carefully edited with modern readers in mind, smoothing out difficult language of a bygone era while retaining the meaning of the original authors. Books for the series are thoughtfully selected to provide some of the best counsel on important subjects that people continue to wrestle with today.
"An emerging field of study that explores the Hispanic minority in the United States, Latino Studies is enriched by an interdisciplinary perspective. Historians, sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists, demographers, linguists, as well as religion, ethnicity, and culture scholars, among others, bring a varied, multifaceted approach to the understanding of a people whose roots are all over the Americas and whose permanent home is north of the Rio Grande. Oxford Bibliographies in Latino Studies offers an authoritative, trustworthy, and up-to-date intellectual map to this ever-changing discipline."--Editorial page.
This is an important book, and it comes at a crucial moment when there is growing awareness that we are living in a time of reform and renewal in the Catholic Church. The troubles of the Church in our times are not unique. In fact, we see striking similarities between our times and those of St. John of Avila in pre-Reformation Europe. What Pope Francis has said about our times also applies to St. John's times: "We are not living in an era of change but a change of era." As in John's time, the Church carries out her mission today in an emerging global society marked by rapid and profound changes -- technological, economic, political, and cultural. These changes challenge the Church's moral authority and institutional structures and call into question her truth claims in a secularizing society. In every period of the Church's history, the key to her reform and renewal is the reform and renewal of the priesthood.
Priesthood and crisis are two words that appear to be very closely related. Or so it has seemed for the past thirty years and more. The crisis in the priestly ministry is constantly showing new sides, however-the issue of the priest's own self-understanding, for example, the interplay of the various different vocations within the Church, and the struggle, in the face of a plethora of different offices and ministries, to discern what constitutes the specific priestly dimension and identity. Again and again, in his theological writings, Hans Urs von Balthasar has addressed the fundamental issues of of?ce and ministry, of priesthood and discipleship. He has uncovered the foundations from a biblical and theological historical perspective and has offered answers to the current problems of priestly existence. This book presents the confrontation with relevant trends, and at the same time the opposing current generated by von Balthasar, since he does not follow popular positions but instead gives us the very core of the Gospel and of revelation, like rye bread. In order to illuminate the spirituality and meaning of the life of the priest of today, von Balthasar goes back to the origins, to the apostles, to their calling, and above all to that moment from which their apostolic mission and their entire Christian existence originates, the Paschal mystery of Jesus. On the eve of his death, Jesus establishes the Eucharist and the priesthood; immediately after his Resurrection he bestows on the disciples the power to forgive sins, entrusts his sheep to Peter, and sends them out into the whole world. Thus von Balthasar considers the life and mission of today's priests in continuity not only with the first apostles, but above all, with Jesus himself. The person and mission of Jesus Christ stand at the center of priestly spirituality. Hence all the reaections in this work revolve unswervingly around Jesus Christ and his mission. Jesus is the source and norm of priestly existence. Only when God, made manifest in the figure of the Savior Jesus Christ, is understood as the center from which this priestly existence springs, and only when this enduring center is proclaimed, can the bold presumption of the Lord in entrusting his mission to weak men be understood in confident trust and attract new followers, even in lean times.