Category Archives: Youth’s Pathfinder

Tidbits for the Youth – The World’s Recipe/God’s Recipe

26 Thursday May 2022

Posted by in Youth, Youth's Pathfinder

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Photo by Allan Grant, 1947

From Youth’s Pathfinder, Rev. Fulgence Meyer, 1922

“Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not” (Eccl., 12, 1).

“I am young but once: hence I will make the most of it.” No proposition is more obvious than the one expressed in the first part of this sentence; and no resolution can be more warranted than the one contained in the second part. But there is a great divergence of opinion and practice regarding the manner of making the most of one’s youth.

The World’s Recipe

There are those who say: “Come, therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that are present, and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth. Let us fill ourselves with costly wine, and ointments: and let not the flower of the time pass by us. Let us crown ourselves with roses, before they be withered: let no meadow escape our riot. Let none of us go without his part in luxury: let us everywhere leave tokens of joy: for this is our portion, and this our lot” (Wisd., 2, 6-10).

Invariably, however, the same persons are soon forced to confess ruefully: “We fools have erred from the way of truth, and the light of justice hath not shined unto us, and the sun of understanding hath not risen upon us. We wearied ourselves in the way of iniquity and destruction, and have walked through hard ways, but the way of the Lord we have not known. Being born we forthwith ceased to be: and have been able to show no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness” (ib., 5, passim).

God’s Recipe

     The inspired writer, on the other hand, gives this recipe for the wise exploitation of youth: “Rejoice, therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgment” (Eccl., 11, 9).

If there is a period of life which particularly lends itself to happiness, optimism, and joy, it is the season of youth. But as there is, according to the common saying, but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous, so there seems to be, too, but one step from the highest joviality to the deepest gloom; from the finest optimism to the crassest pessimism; from the keenest desire to live forever to the haunting bent towards self-destruction.

An Epidemic of Suicides

     Just now we appear to be having in our country an epidemic of suicides among young people of both sexes, of various classes and professions. It is an indication that not only they, but also many others like them, were and are very unhappy. And why should young people, in the most exhilarating and promising time of life, be such utter strangers to happiness?

God plainly gives the answer in these words of the Bible; “My people have done two evils. They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and have digged to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jer., 2, 13). In other words, these unfortunate young people have forgotten their Creator in the days of their youth.

The only way for young persons to be wholesomely, substantially and lastingly happy, is to reverse this process, and to remember their Creator in the days of their youth. Then, whatever may befall them, their happiness will not suffer from it, grounded as it is upon God, Who is always the same in His love, goodness and bounty.

The days of affliction will come upon them also sooner or later, and the years will draw nigh of which they will say: They please me not. Yet they will be fortified against them in such a manner that the peace of their mind will not be diminished, and the joy of their heart will not be dampened.

Here we may paraphrase the words of St. Paul (Rom., 1, 17), and say: “The young person liveth by faith.” Faith in God will enable him or her to meet every difficulty victoriously, and to endure every test triumphantly.

The One Expert on Happiness

God is the only expert on human happiness and the manner of its acquisition. He made the human heart and gave it its irresistible craving for happiness. He alone knows how this craving can be satisfied.

From the method He has established there is no escape if one is going to achieve happiness at all. The one and exclusive way, therefore, for a young person to be happy is to follows God’s own prescription and remember the Creator in the days of youth.

Moreover, God wants what He wants. And He is not indefinite in telling what He wants. “My son,” He says, “honor the Lord with thy substance, and give Him of the first of all they fruits” (Prov., 3, 9).

If God wants the first fruits in other lines, He especially wants the first fruits of human life, namely the days of youth. He will allow no one to defraud Him of these with impunity. Whoever attempts it, pays dearly for it by the emptiness, anguish and misery of his life.

Solomon in His Youth

Perhaps no man in the history of mankind had greater opportunities to seek happiness in his youth, and no one sought happiness with more avidity and intensity in the things of this world, than Solomon, the king of Jerusalem.

He relates of himself: “I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things….I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem….And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not: and I withheld not my heart form enjoying every pleasure, and delighting itself in the things which I had prepared: and ….I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun” (Eccl., 2, 1 sqq.).

And after all his experiences this wisest of men ends by exhorting: “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is all man” (Eccl., 12, 13).

St. Augustine, one of the leading Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and one of the greatest thinkers of all times, is another striking witness to the inability of things created to give to the human heart the contentment it craves, and to the soul of man the happiness it wants.

As a young man, before his conversion to the faith, he had tried for over fifteen years to sate his hunger for joy and peace in the amusements of the world and pleasures of the flesh, in which he indulged without restraint. Far from rendering him happy, however, these worldly diversions and fleshly gratifications merely made him more miserable from day to day until under the impulse of grace he turned to God, in Whom he finally found all he was looking and yearning for.

And in the warmest gratitude and most blissful love he cried out: “Thou has made us for Thyself,  O Lord; and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee!”

Sacred and secular history of ancient and modern times are replete with instances of men and women in mature life deploring the follies and sins of their youth. You find no instance, however, of an elderly man or woman ruing the fact, that they spent their young years in virtue and goodness.

The Devil exults most when he can steal a man’s joy of spirit from him. He carries a powder with him to throw into any smallest possible chinks of our conscience, to soil the spotlessness of our mind and the purity of our life. But when spiritual joy fills our hearts, the Serpent pours out his deadly poison in vain. – St. Francis of Assisi

Painting by Robert Duncan

The ideal wife gives comfort and encouragement when needed. She is wise with a woman’s intuition…

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This booklet contains practical advice on the subjects of dating and choosing a spouse from the Catholic theological viewpoint. Father Lovasik points out clearly what one’s moral obligations are in this area, providing an invaluable aid to youthful readers. Additionally, he demonstrates that Catholic marriage is different from secular marriage and why it is important to choose a partner who is of the Catholic Faith if one would insure his or her personal happiness in marriage. With the rampant dangers to impurity today, with the lax moral standards of a large segment of our society, with divorce at epidemic levels, Clean Love in Courtship will be a welcome source of light and guidance to Catholics serious about their faith.

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A Frank, Yet Reverent Instruction on the Intimate Matters of Personal Life for Young Men. To our dear and noble Catholic youths who have preserved, or want to recover, their purity of heart, and are minded to retain it throughout life. For various reasons many good fathers of themselves are not able to give their sons this enlightenment on the mysteries of life properly and sufficiently. They may find this book helpful in the discharge of their parental responsibilities in so delicate a matter.

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Should I Choose the Religious Life?

28 Monday Mar 2022

Posted by in Vocation, Youth, Youth's Pathfinder

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In 2018 we went to the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles to be present at the Abbatial Blessing of Mother Cecilia, the first-ever consecration of a Benedictine Abbess in the Traditional Rite in the United States!

There was also First Professions and Investitures. It was a long ceremony (4 hours) but oh! so beautiful and inspiring!

They had the abbatial dedication of the Sisters’ new church the day before (almost 8 hours long) so it was a big weekend for the Nuns!

Here are a few pictures….

This big weekend was the inspiration for this post. Excellent advice from Fr. Fulgence Meyer, 1924 from Youth’s Pathfinder…

“Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts, 9: 6)

A number of our Catholic young men and young ladies, who are called by God to the priestly or religious state, remind one, in their attitude towards the divine call, of the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob. When Jesus asked her for a drink she thought that she was to bestow a favor on Him, whereas in reality all the favor was to be hers.

Our Lord intimated this when He said to her: “If thou didst know the gift of God, and Who He is That saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou perhaps wouldst have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water” (John, 4, 10).

Instead of deliberating whether they should favor God  by answering His call to the sanctuary or the convent, these young people should feel highly favored for being called at all.

But how is a girl to know, if she has a vocation for the convent or not? Before I give the answer to this question, I want to observe, not only to girls but also to young men, who may have a call to the convent or the priesthood. While the call to the priesthood is more sacred and consequently more distinct than the call to the religious life: still the general canons for distinguishing the relative vocations are about the same for both.

The call to the cloistral life may be extraordinary or ordinary. When it is extraordinary, it is manifested in an unusual manner, say by means of a personal supernatural revelation through a vision, a dream or some similar channel.

The subject of this revelation has no doubt and can have no doubt of its genuineness; yet he duly submits it to the judgment of his spiritual director before acting on it definitely. Several saints, for instance St. Paul, received their call in this way.

The Ordinary Way

Instances of this kind of vocation, however, have always been and are today very rare. They who are known to have been the beneficiaries of them, never sought, prayed for, or expected them. These vocations always came unsolicited and altogether unlooked for. Even some of the greatest saints and apostles of the Church, of both sexes, received their calls to the convent or the priesthood in the ordinary way.

This consists in a certain inclination to the life, together with a consciousness of having the qualifications of body and soul that are necessary to make a success of it.

The aforesaid inclination does not have to be an overwhelming and irresistible attraction that one sensibly feels for the consecrated life. It may be a mere leaning of the mind and heart towards it coupled with a will to embrace it even if the emotional nature should rebel against it with a degree of sensible repugnance, fear and revulsion.

The Will Is Lacking

If one, then, has the desire to follow the life, and possesses the corporal, mental, spiritual and moral properties to render it successful, there is every evidence of a vocation. There is nothing more required in addition, but that the person in question definitely resolve to follow the call, and make application to the superior of the convent or, respectively, to the bishop.

As soon as the superior receives the postulant in the community, or the bishop admits a young man to sacred orders, the call to the religious or priestly life is completed, and is as certain and secure as God desires it should be.

It is to be noted that, all other things being given, the will of the individual plays a large and decisive part in establishing a vocation, in pursuance of our Lord’s words: “If any man will come after Me.”

Usually, when true vocations do not mature, this will in the subject is lacking; and, alas, it is lacking in far too many of our Catholic young men and young ladies in the United States today.

You Must Take a Chance

The mistake many of them make is, they virtually and unconsciously, if not expressly and knowingly, look and wait for an unusual sign of vocation, when they are not entitled to it and will consequently never get it.

They are always about to be told by an angel or by our Lord Himself, in a dream or a vision, that they should enter the convent.

They delude themselves and ordinarily die unclothed with a religious garb. They should be satisfied to do as thousands of others have done and are doing, to their own and others’ temporal and eternal welfare, and follow the ordinary signs of vocation.

To use the usual phrase, God wants those who follow Him to take a chance, and to trust in His loving providence and generous fidelity for the future. And they who take this chance in abiding confidence and whole-souled attachment are never known to regret it ever so little.

Famous and Fortunate Chance-Takers

Abraham took a chance when he complied with God’s bidding, that he should leave his country and his kin. The apostles took a chance when Jesus, hardly known at the time, bade them to leave their boats and their nets and follow Him.

He never disappoints those who sincerely renounce everything to follow Him. But in every single case He makes good His grand and magnanimous promise:

“Amen, I say to you that you, who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of His majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundred fold, and shall possess life everlasting” (Matt., 19, 28, 29).

The Test Is Not Hard

Every girl, therefore, who feels inclined to convent life and is satisfied, that in view of her physical and moral qualifications she can make a good nun, especially if her judgment is supported by that of some other discreet and reliable person or persons, such as her parents, pastor, confessor, her nun teacher or nun friend and the like, is warranted in believing that she has the necessary vocation, and is at liberty to apply for admission in the cloister.

If the superior duly receives her, she need have no fear whatever regarding the genuineness of her vocation, even if she was never vouchsafed a revelation from on high in the form of a heavenly voice or apparition, telling her that her place was in the convent. These manifestations of vocation are, as has been said, most unusual and infrequent.

The best marks of a divine call are the ordinary ones, as a rule, for they are easier and surer discerned, and there is not so much danger of delusion in regard to them as there is respecting pretendedly extraordinary signs of vocation.

This is true, of course, in an equal degree of a young man contemplating the pursuit of the priestly or religious life.

 

“The Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot.” -St. Augustine

 

What is the easiest path to heaven? How do you know what is your vocation? Should you check out religious life first? Please say 3 Hail Marys for the priest….

 

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We must do everything we can, to not only return to modesty and purity in dress and behavior, but also to help others return to it through good example and knowledge. This is a guide, designed for girls who would like to please Our Lord more and make reparation for those who do not honor Him.

This is designed for the young child through kindergarten age to learn a little of their Faith through the alphabet. Its an ABC book that includes Catholic holy images to learn the alphabet, along with the short and long sound for the five vowels.

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When God Curses ~ Respecting Parents/And the Winner of the Advent Giveaway is….

15 Monday Nov 2021

Posted by in Give-Aways, Youth's Pathfinder

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From Youth’s Pathfinder, Rev. Fulgence Meyer, 1920’s

Disclaimer: I think it is important to clarify that if a parent is abusive, even though the principle of respecting their position applies, one needs to seek guidance from a reliable outside source. Keeping abuse “to yourself” is never a good thing!

When God Curses

The earthly blessing which God promises to dutiful children is converted into a proportionate curse, however, for those children who ignore, disregard and ruthlessly transgress the fourth commandment, and refuse to honor, love and obey their parents. For their hostile attitude to His representatives God will pursue these unnatural children with His wrath, which will overtake them sooner or later, even in this life.

Usually God’s punishment is after the manner of the transgression, and when these ingrate children once become parents them-selves, provided God vouchsafes parenthood to them, their filial ingratitude will be avenged by the coldness and heartlessness of their own children towards them.

God will not be mocked. The inimical position unloving children take to their parents of itself renders their life unpleasant and miserable, and creates a spirit of mutual aversion, distrust and antagonism that depresses the soul, gnaws at the heart, impairs the health, and consequently embitters and shortens the days of life. There’s no escaping the inspired words “He is cursed of God that angereth his mother” (Ecclus., 3, 18)

“He that afflicted’ his father, and chaseth away his mother, is infamous and unhappy” (Prov., 19, 26).

The Depth and Width and Length of God’s Curse

The Bible, which is the word of God Himself, gives a number of striking examples to illustrate, as by means of eloquent object lessons, the terrible and far-reaching curse of God that pursues the delinquent son or daughter and, respectively, the great blessings that are heaped upon the dutiful and obsequious child.

Shortly after the human race got its second start, as it were, when the waters of the deluge had receded, and after God had blessed Noe and his sons profusely, the patriarch one day fell a victim to drunkenness. When he was in this condition his son Cham used the occasion to dishonor and ridicule his father, whilst the two other sons treated him with touching reverence and thoughtful regard.

Awaking from the wine, and learning what had occurred, Noe cursed Changan, the son of Cham, whilst he blessed Sem and Japheth. And both his curse and his blessing were ratified by God, and affected not only the addressees but also their descendants from generation to generation.

It is observable, that Cham was Noe’s youngest son. In early youth there is the greatest danger of yielding to an impulse of flippancy, freshness and impertinence to the disregard of the honor that is due to parents. Cham no doubt thought he was pert, smart and cute in treating his father as he did.

His cuteness and his pretendedly wise remarks brought down a tremendous curse from God. Nor was there any allowance made for his immaturity and impulsiveness. He had not only the promptings of nature but also the good example of his elder brothers to guide him and to warn him against the misdemeanor he perpetrated.

This was not his first offense. No son treats his father with contumely and ridicule at one bound; but he advances towards this grossness gradually by lighter breaches of honor and respect, in thought, word and deed, towards his parent.

No doubt he had previously spoken to his father disrespectfully and rudely; he had laughed at and made fun of certain things his father said or did; he had given him back talk and contradicted him, or given him no answer at all: they were all preparatory stages leading to the final insult that was visited by the awful curse of his father, which was immediately sanctioned and executed by God.

God Allows No Excuse Against His Rights

Neither did it avail Cham as an excuse or a palliation of his guilt, that his father had exposed himself to discredit and ignominy by his conduct. The curse was inflicted just the same.

No matter how a parent demeans himself, the fact alone that he is a parent entitles him to the honor of his children on all occasions. Whatever he may do or have done cannot erase or cancel his claim upon their respect. As was mentioned above, whoever and however he may be, since God used him to bestow the gift of existence upon them, he will always stand before them as God’s representative, challenging their reverence and gratitude.

This, of course, applies to the mother as well as to the father. For this reason the fourth commandment does not say : “Honor thy father and thy mother as long as they are good and virtuous,” but it simply insists that father and mother must be honored, meaning always and under all conditions, just because they are father and mother, even though any other claim to honor may be wanting in them.

This ought to be borne in mind by children who are tempted to be ashamed of their parents because of their poverty, or lack of good manners, language, culture, or what not. Whatever the parents’ real or imaginary deficiencies may be, these ought to disappear entirely in the eyes of children when contrasted with their claim on the children’s gratefulness and affectionate consideration.

When they themselves get more sense and acquire a truer appraisal of things in general, children will often blush when they remember their weakness in being ashamed of their parents for this reason or for that.

Not All Parents Are Saints

No one says that parents are never bad and vicious; or that their sins should be construed as virtuous deeds, and that children should be proud of, and glory in, their parents’ transgressions. Nothing of the kind.

All that is demanded is, that in spite of whatever failings, sins and vices the parents may be guilty of, the children, in view of their very parenthood, never cease honoring and respecting them.

Far from divulging and parading their parents’ faults before others unnecessarily, or even making them the objects of their own private conversations among themselves, they will do what they can, after the example of Sem and Japheth, to cover and hide as much as possible the weaknesses and excesses of their parents, and to bury them in charitable oblivion.

Nothing draws the blessing of God more forcibly and copiously upon a child than this generous filial behavior. This especially counts for the observation, that bad parents not infrequently have good and prosperous children.

The explanation is simple. Because the children bear with, overlook and cover up the infirmities of their parents, God showers His graces upon them richly and effectively.

The great St. Bernard wrote in his rule that whenever the monastic bell rang, the monks were to drop what they were doing and go to whatever they were being called to.
In our homes, our monastic bell is all the many things beckoning at us throughout the day…the diapers to be changed, the dishes that need doing, the laundry that needs to be done, etc.
We respond to these things right away, even though we many not want to, remembering that these duties are the very things that will make us holy.

Excellent Sermon! Life After Death

What happens after we die? What should we expect? Fr speaks on the teaching of St Thomas Aquinas for this..

Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments on the Advent Giveaway Post! May God bless you…you are in my prayers, please pray for us!

And now…the Advent Giveaway!

Congratulations Marie Kelly! I have sent you an email!

Beginning with the first day of Advent and continuing through the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, these selections from the immortal pen of Fulton J. Sheen encourage readers to explore the essence and promise of the season. Those looking to grow in their prayer life and become more attuned to the joy of Advent and Christmas will find a wonderful guide in this spiritual companion….

You are about to make the season of Advent more meaningful than you ever have! This Advent journal is for busy moms who need a little help making this season special within the home. It will help you stay on track and be consistent with the customs you have decided to incorporate within your four walls. I have broken it down into bite-sized tidbits that, when laid out for you, will be easy to accomplish. As you check each item off you will get a sense of fulfillment knowing you are getting done what is truly important in this expectant season! The other things will get done….but first things first! At midnight, on Christmas Eve, when Baby Jesus arrives, you and your family will look back upon your Advent and sigh with satisfaction, knowing you truly have celebrated with the Church, that you have put your best foot forward in making this a spiritual, enchanting, holy time for all! The first few pages of this book will have a run-down of the special Advent customs and activities that will be on your checklist each day. They are simple, they are doable. I hope this Advent is more special than ever as we walk hand-in-hand making the Liturgy come alive in our homes!

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Vocations – Priesthood and the Religious Life

20 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by in Vocation, Youth's Pathfinder

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from Youth’s Pathfinder by Rev. Fulgence Meyer, O.F.M., 1928

A large number of young people are destined by God for the priesthood or the religious state. This is a vocation in its highest degree. Hence, although in a wide sense a vocation is required for every kind of life, when we speak of vocation we usually mean the call to the priestly or religious life.

This being the highest of all calls, it is consequently the most distinct, emphatic and pronounced. Of this vocation our Lord spoke solemnly in his farewell address the night before He died, when He said: “You have not chosen Me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain” (John, 15, 16).

With reference to the other callings in contrast with the priestly or religious vocation the words of our Savior come to mind: “Many are called, but few chosen”. (Matthew, 20, 16).

A king may love and smile upon the multitude of the subjects and favor them variously: but only a few chosen ones He invites into the inner apartments of His palace to make them His intimates and confidants.

God calls His own when He pleases. Our Lord chooses some the first hour, others the third or sixth, others again the 11th hour; in other words some receive the divine call to His special service early in childhood, others in youth and adolescence, others finally in manhood or womanhood.

But whenever and however the vocation is received, to be among the chosen few of the Lord is of itself a great privilege, a high distinction and an enviable honor. At the same time this choice engenders proportionate obligations, sublime duties and heavy responsibilities in the chosen one.

Many young men are called by God to be priests, He invites them into his sanctuary, into the Holy of Holies, to be His own ministers, the dispensers of His sacred mysteries, the mediators between Himself and man, His ambassadors, representatives, delegates and plenipotentiaries.

What dignity could be higher? What power greater, what honor loftier?

The young man who senses that he is called to the priesthood, therefore, crushed as he may be by the consciousness of his personal sinfulness and unworthiness, will gratefully appreciate and cheerfully accept the call from on high, trusting that God who calls him will equip and strengthen him sufficiently to meet the call and whatever it may demand of him. “God is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians, 1,9).

“God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.”  (1 Corinthians, 10, 13)
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to Thy name give glory.”

The more unworthy, unfit and unavailing a young man, in the spirit of true humility, considers himself personally to be, the better, worthier and more efficient a priest God will likely make of him.

Here the words of our Lord are verified: “So shall the last be first and the first last”. (Matthew, 20, 16); in the words of St. Paul: “For see your vocation, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble: but the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that He may confound the wise: and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that He may confound the strong; and the base things of the world and the things that are contemptible hath God chosen and things that are not, that He might bring to naught things that are: that no flesh should glory in His sight. But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption; that, as it is written: he that glorieth may Glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians: 1, 26).

Everyone who has a genuine call to the priesthood is at first overwhelmed by the thought of his personal unworthiness and unfitness, and is inclined to say with Moses, when he was called by God to act in His name: Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus: 3, 11).

This sentiment of true humility is the best recommendation of the candidate. God will answer him as he answered Moses, saying: “I will be with thee.” This assurance suffices every aspirant to the priesthood even as it carried Moses through all the difficulties of his Divine commission.

Although they have no vocation to the priesthood, many of our Catholic young men are called to the religious life to become monks, friars or brothers, and devote themselves to monastic or conventual occupations, or to works of Christian education or charity.

There is a great dearth of postulants for these various phases of religious life. Whilst this vocation is not so sacred and divine as is that of the holy priesthood it is yet a very noble and sublime calling, offering every opportunity for the highest service of God, the attainment of heroic personal sanctity, and for participation in the saving of many immortal souls.

They who follow it, whilst they have not the honor, also have not the tremendous responsibility, of the priesthood, and in their humbler sphere they easier achieve complete piece of mind, joy of heart and contentment of soul.

Lay Brothers

If our Catholic young men, who are aiming to lead a virtuous celibate life in the world, understood how much spiritual comfort, strength and consolation they would derive from the monastic or conventual life, by consecrating themselves to it in lowliness of mind and uprightness of heart, our monasteries and convents for brothers would not have to be clamoring for candidates to do the work of God and religion they are most eager to do, much of which must be left undone because of the lack of laborers.

There are a number of young men who are gifted and called to do this work – for this vocation has room for every kind of talent or aptitude, whether this talent have for its object mental, clerical, mechanical or ordinary labor – but who shun it from mere to timidity or vacillation in following the call that God gives them.

They belong to the class of those to whom the Master of the Vineyard says, unavailingly, alas: “Why stand you here all the day idle?” (Matthew, 20, 6).

They are practically idle; for in their irresoluteness they while away in aimless wishes and purposeless dreams, much precious time, which could be profitably and very meritoriously spent in the vineyard of the Lord for the salvation of souls. They cannot answer in sincerity: “Because no man hath hired us.” (ib., 7).

There are ever so many convents, friaries and monasteries willing to hire them at once and forever. They announce it in books and magazines and newspapers that they are ready and eager to hire as many as come in candor and truth to do the work of the Lord and give themselves unreservedly to his service.

What has just been said applies with equal, nay, with greater force to the vocation of religious brothers who devote themselves to teaching our Catholic boys and young men.

Their number does not begin to meet the demand for them in our country. The church in the United States needs more of them from day to day. God gives the call, no doubt, to a sufficient number of young men; but unfortunately only few are seen to answer it.

He Was a Shrewd Boy

It is related that, when St. Bernard and some of his brothers were leaving their home to enter the monastery, the eldest brother said to the youngest: “Behold, our entire patrimony is yours.”

Instead of being pleased, the boy was stung by this remark and replied: “Whilst you are seizing the kingdom of heaven, do you think I am going to be satisfied with earthly wealth? Far be this from me. I, too, am going to conquer heaven.”

He made good his word by becoming a monk also, and vying with his brothers in the pursuit of sanctity.

It were very good for the church, for themselves and the welfare of souls in general, if our Catholic young celibates in the world develop more of the same rivalry towards taking the kingdom of heaven by violence, and allowed themselves to be spurred on by the many youths, who annually enter the priesthood or the cloistered life, to take the same generous step in answer to the call many of them are now leaving unheeded.

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Vocations – Priesthood and the Religious Life

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by in Vocation, Youth's Pathfinder

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from Youth’s Pathfinder by Rev. Fulgence Meyer, O.F.M., 1928

…a Beautiful Book!

A large number of young people are destined by God for the priesthood or the religious state. This is a vocation in its highest degree. Hence, although in a wide sense a vocation is required for every kind of life, when we speak of vocation we usually mean the call to the priestly or religious life.

This being the highest of all calls, it is consequently the most distinct, emphatic and pronounced. Of this vocation our Lord spoke solemnly in his farewell address the night before He died, when He said: “You have not chosen Me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain” (John, 15, 16).

With reference to the other callings in contrast with the priestly or religious vocation the words of our Savior come to mind: “Many are called, but few chosen”. (Matthew, 20, 16).

A king may love and smile upon the multitude of the subjects and favor them variously: but only a few chosen ones He invites into the inner apartments of His palace to make them His intimates and confidants.
God calls His own when He pleases. Our Lord chooses some the first hour, others the third or sixth, others again the 11th hour; in other words some receive the divine call to His special service early in childhood, others in youth and adolescence, others finally in manhood or womanhood.
But whenever and however the vocation is received, to be among the chosen few of the Lord is of itself a great privilege, a high distinction and an enviable honor. At the same time this choice engenders proportionate obligations, sublime duties and heavy responsibilities in the chosen one.
Many young men are called by God to be priests, He invites them into his sanctuary, into the Holy of Holies, to be His own ministers, the dispensers of His sacred mysteries, the mediators between Himself and man, His ambassadors, representatives, delegates and plenipotentiaries.

What dignity could be higher? What power greater, what honor loftier?

The young man who senses that he is called to the priesthood, therefore, crushed as he may be by the consciousness of his personal sinfulness and unworthiness, will gratefully appreciate and cheerfully accept the call from on high, trusting that God who calls him will equip and strengthen him sufficiently to meet the call and whatever it may demand of him. “God is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians, 1,9).

“God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.”  (1 Corinthians, 10, 13)
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to Thy name give glory.”

The more unworthy, unfit and unavailing a young man, in the spirit of true humility, considers himself personally to be, the better, worthier and more efficient a priest God will likely make of him.

Here the words of our Lord are verified: “So shall the last be first and the first last”. (Matthew, 20, 16); in the words of St. Paul: “For see your vocation, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble: but the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that He may confound the wise: and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that He may confound the strong; and the base things of the world and the things that are contemptible hath God chosen and things that are not, that He might bring to naught things that are: that no flesh should glory in His sight. But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption; that, as it is written: he that glorieth may Glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians: 1, 26).

Everyone who has a genuine call to the priesthood is at first overwhelmed by the thought of his personal unworthiness and unfitness, and is inclined to say with Moses, when he was called by God to act in His name: Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus: 3, 11).

This sentiment of true humility is the best recommendation of the candidate. God will answer him as he answered Moses, saying: “I will be with thee.” This assurance suffices every aspirant to the priesthood even as it carried Moses through all the difficulties of his Divine commission.

Although they have no vocation to the priesthood, many of our Catholic young men are called to the religious life to become monks, friars or brothers, and devote themselves to monastic or conventual occupations, or to works of Christian education or charity.

There is a great dearth of postulants for these various phases of religious life. Whilst this vocation is not so sacred and divine as is that of the holy priesthood it is yet a very noble and sublime calling, offering every opportunity for the highest service of God, the attainment of heroic personal sanctity, and for participation in the saving of many immortal souls.

They who follow it, whilst they have not the honor, also have not the tremendous responsibility, of the priesthood, and in their humbler sphere they easier achieve complete piece of mind, joy of heart and contentment of soul.

Lay Brothers

If our Catholic young men, who are aiming to lead a virtuous celibate life in the world, understood how much spiritual comfort, strength and consolation they would derive from the monastic or conventual life, by consecrating themselves to it in lowliness of mind and uprightness of heart, our monasteries and convents for brothers would not have to be clamoring for candidates to do the work of God and religion they are most eager to do, much of which must be left undone because of the lack of laborers.

There are a number of young men who are gifted and called to do this work – for this vocation has room for every kind of talent or aptitude, whether this talent have for its object mental, clerical, mechanical or ordinary labor – but who shun it from mere to timidity or vacillation in following the call that God gives them. They belong to the class of those to whom the Master of the Vineyard says, unavailingly, alas: “Why stand you here all the day idle?” (Matthew, 20, 6).
They are practically idle; for in their irresoluteness they while away in aimless wishes and purposeless dreams, much precious time, which could be profitably and very meritoriously spent in the vineyard of the Lord for the salvation of souls. They cannot answer in sincerity: “Because no man hath hired us.” (ib., 7).

There are ever so many convents, friaries and monasteries willing to hire them at once and forever. They announce it in books and magazines and newspapers that they are ready and eager to hire as many as come in candor and truth to do the work of the Lord and give themselves unreservedly to his service.

What has just been said applies with equal, nay, with greater force to the vocation of religious brothers who devote themselves to teaching our Catholic boys and young men.
Their number does not begin to meet the demand for them in our country. The church in the United States needs more of them from day to day. God gives the call, no doubt, to a sufficient number of young men; but unfortunately only few are seen to answer it.

He Was a Shrewd Boy

It is related that, when St. Bernard and some of his brothers were leaving their home to enter the monastery, the eldest brother said to the youngest: “Behold, our entire patrimony is yours.”

Instead of being pleased, the boy was stung by this remark and replied: “Whilst you are seizing the kingdom of heaven, do you think I am going to be satisfied with earthly wealth? Far be this from me. I, too, am going to conquer heaven.”

He made good his word by becoming a monk also, and vying with his brothers in the pursuit of sanctity.

It were very good for the church, for themselves and the welfare of souls in general, if our Catholic young celibates in the world develop more of the same rivalry towards taking the kingdom of heaven by violence, and allowed themselves to be spurred on by the many youths, who annually enter the priesthood or the cloisteral life, to take the same generous step in answer to the call many of them are now leaving unheeded.

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Vocation from Youth’s Pathfinder by Rev. Fulgence Meyer, O.F.M. (1927)

13 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by in Youth's Pathfinder

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Young Nun Praying

This life is a stage upon which we are all destined to play a certain brief sketch or role. Our parts have been assigned us by God, the supreme manager and director of the play of life. The best actor on the theatrical stage are usually eminent and highly successful in one manner of play, whereas they might fail completely if they attempted another. Similarly God has fitted and qualified each person for a peculiar sphere of life. Whoever adopts the life he is created for, and pursues it properly and fervently, will achieve great success and much happiness; whereas if one seeks to follow a life for which he is not adapted, he will necessarily incur disappointment and failure. Many a plant thrives wonderfully in the tropic zone, which is pitifully dwarfed and stunted in the temperate or arctic zone, In the same way many a person prospers immensely in a given vocation,who would be the merest bungler in another calling.

One of the Three is Yours: Which Is It?

It is evident, therefore, that if a young person wants to succeed and be happy in life and in eternity, the first requisite is the correct choice of a vocation. Here we are dealing with vocation from the spiritual and supernatural standpoint; hence only three kinds of vocation come under consideration. A young person may be called by God either to lead a single life in the world, or to consecrate him of herself to one in the priesthood or the religious life, or to be married. One of these three roles is fixed by God for everyone; and it is in the interest of every young person to find out his or her calling early in life, in order to prepare duly for it betimes, and thus to be the better qualified to play the role once the time comes to assume it.

Many young people are destined by God to lead a single or celibate life in the world. Some have no inclination to the convent or matrimony, or no capacity for either life; others, much as they might be inclined to marry, are constrained by circumstances to stay single, either because they do not acquire a proper mate, or because certain personal or family conditions are in the way! Others pursue the single state from definite choice as offering them the opportunities to dedicate themselves to a high career and noble ambition in a free and untrammeled manner.

The Relative Values of Vocations

The Church has declared, that the single, or celibate, or virginal life, when embraced and followed from motives of virtue, is in itself holier and more acceptable before God than life in marriage, since it involves a greater sacrifice of oneself. It must be observed, however, that the church does not here decide the respective virtue of individual persons pertaining to the two states. It therefore happens quite frequently, that a married person faithfully lives up to the duties of the married state , and is much better in the sight of God than a celibate or virgin, whose devotion to duty is not so loyal. There are married women who are more holy than certain nuns, and married men who are more godly than certain priests or friars; but this fact in no way changes the relative status of the vocation. The priesthood and the religious state are of themselves much dearer to God than the married state. It must again be remarked, that whoever stays single merely to be unattached to any serious obligation, and to pursue a life of libertinism freely and loosely, in the open or in private, is neither practicing virtue not deserving of anything but utter contempt and universal execration.

It Is No One Else’s Business

Why a certain person is leading the life of a celibate or a virgin in the world is no one else’s business. Vocation is a very personal and individual affair, and therefore a sacred domain into which others have no right to intrude. It bespeaks not a little arrogance and impertinence, if one undertakes to dictate to another what kind of a vocation he or she should espouse, or asks for an account why one calling was given the preference to another. Not even parents have a right to map out, let alone to interfere with, the choice of a vocation on the part of their children. In this choice everyone is free and responsible to no one but God. But while parents might cause great trouble and disaster to their children by an unwarranted assumption of power regarding the children’s choice of a vocation, or by wielding an undue influence over them directly or indirectly, they can also be of much service and material assistance to their children by their wise and unselfish counsel and advice.