December 1, 1976

ABSURD INVERSION

In certain seminaries the teaching of religion is considered as a secondary subject; the pre-eminence is reserved and given to the study of other profane subjects, such as psychology and pedagogy; this is completely mistaken.

Religious teaching should be considered as the body, the center of all teaching imparted to the aspirants to the priesthood. It matters little to Jesus, the divine Teacher, and to most holy Mary, Queen of the Apostles, if the ministers of God are learned in profane sciences, but it does indeed matter to them if they are learned in the science of God, without which there is no spiritual fruitfulness; without neglecting the knowledge of what can complement the formation of the future priest.

In seminaries the very first teaching, essential and indispensable, should be that of superiors and upright educators; of superiors who are not disposed to any kind of compromise, neither with themselves nor with the world.

Holy superiors and educators are needed, in the true sense of the word. In fact, no school of sanctity is possible, without the presence of holy men as teachers.

Now, my son, it is not for nothing that I spoke to you of a situation that has been overturned: the head is below, the feet above. Frequently there are heretical superiors and educators, and heresy flourishes and prospers in pride; pride is the concupiscence of the spirit, that sooner or later results in the concupiscence of the flesh.

Natural gifts are of no use, if...

Of Me it was truly written: “Coepit facere et docere;” (he began to do and to teach), and thus it should be said of all educators.

The pastors of souls should take great care, it is their obligation, to give seminarians spiritual direction free of all compromise of any kind.

It will be the principal task of the spiritual director, to make them understand that every priest should be a victim; that every priest has a great mission in the Church of God: to immolate his own self, with the annihilation first of his own ego, in opposition and clear contrast to the teachings of the world, that will never be in accordance with the teachings of God. Therefore, with the complete immolation of himself, according to the example of the Divine Master, of the saints and martyrs, in these models and prototypes, it is necessary for the aspirants to be inspired, and to be led to practice these teachings.

It will be the task of the spiritual director to make the aspirants aware that natural gifts are of no use, if they are not humbly placed at the service of God, for his glory, at the service of one's own sanctification, and for the salvation of the brethren.

It will be the task of the spiritual director to persuade the aspirants that no exterior activity, taken in itself and by itself, will be of use to sanctify and save souls. He who saves, is first and always God, who stands in need of nothing nor of anyone.

If he has chosen you as his co-redeemers, it is only due to his infinite goodness, to his infinite love, but you can never be instruments of salvation with the Redeemer, if you are not with him on the Cross; there is no alternative to produce fruitfulness in pastoral practice: either with him on the Cross, and with him victims for the remission of the sins of the world, and of the souls that you desire and yearn to save, or impostors and traitors of the mandate received and of the powers that were conferred upon you.

The crisis of priestly identity: an unforgivable omission

It is necessary that those chosen should be imbued with the knowledge of the grandeur, dignity and power of the priesthood.

Today priests, by an unforgivable omission and lack of formation, do not know what they are; they do not know the great power they can dispose of, for the welfare of souls, tormented and martyred by the wickedness of the demons.

It is necessary that those chosen should be profoundly convinced of their priestly character, that makes them fathers, teachers and conductors, of the great army of Christ the Redeemer.

It is also necessary that priests should be filled and saturated with a profound, solid, immovable faith, like a rock, in the real presence of Christ in the unfathomable mystery of his Eucharistic presence among you.

Woe to those who are chosen and who allow themselves to be infected and poisoned by rationalism and positivism! Their faith must be limpid and pure. When faith is infected, hope and love languish; this is the tremendous crisis that is sweeping away the entire Church, which has lost thousands and thousands of priests, and religious men and women; it is the greatest tragedy, that has mortally wounded the Church of today.

Only one thing is impossible to God: to do evil. He can do everything, except evil, because he is not capable of desiring it.

The real, personal and physical presence of Jesus in the Eucharistic mystery, is an indisputable reality; it is a mystery of infinite humility, of infinite love, of infinite power and divine wisdom. If a priest does not believe in this personal presence of Myself, Christ, then in his church he will never be capable of being a co-redeemer.

I bless you, my son; love Me greatly.