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Jesus returned to his homeland and taught in the synagogue, prompting amazement and the question: “Where did he acquire such wisdom and miraculous power?”?”

Returning to one’s native land is a fundamental human longing, driven by a desire to reconnect with community and shared heritage. Yet, for those on a divine mission, this homecoming takes on a deeper significance. Just as Jesus returned to his people with a great reputation and high expectations, so too are we called to fulfill a purpose among our own. What is the purpose of our return, and what do our loved ones expect from us??

Isn’t he the carpenter’s son, with Mary as his mother and James, Joseph, Simon, and Judah as his brothers? Aren’t his sisters all with us?

The natives are familiar with Jesus’ family, but they haven’t yet grasped his divine nature and purpose. This limited understanding serves as an invitation to look beyond the surface and discover the inherent value of those around us. By doing so, we can uncover the truth that often lies hidden beneath the exterior. This effort is especially crucial when it comes to understanding Christ.

“They asked with resentment, ‘Where did all this come from?'”

Misunderstanding the origin of Jesus’ works can be a grave mistake, leading to superficiality and shallowness that mislead and foster wrong attitudes towards creation, people, the Church, and God..

But Jesus told them: “The prophet is honored everywhere, but not in his homeland and in his house.”
Proclaiming the truth as a son or daughter of God requires courage, even among one’s own, for it may lead to rejection. A Christian’s calling as a prophet is universal, applying to every context, not just where it is welcomed. Rejection can often authenticate one’s faithfulness to their mission.

Because of their unbelief, Jesus performed few miracles there.

We often wonder why God performs miracles in some situations but not others. While the answer remains somewhat mysterious, it’s clear that our own unbelief can hinder God’s intervention. God’s heart is willing to bestow many graces, but will we have the faith to receive them? Faith requires not only divine grace, but also human courage, trust, and faithfulness.

Alphonsus  Maria de Liguori was born in 1696 to a distinguished and affluent Neapolitan family. A prodigy, he earned a doctorate in civil and canon law at just 16 and went on to become a brilliant advocate in the Naples court, winning every trial he defended over eight years. However, feeling an insatiable thirst for God and a desire for spiritual perfection, he began to sense a different calling. Disillusioned with the corruption and injustice of the judicial system, he abandoned his lucrative career in 1723, despite his father’s objections, and pursued the priesthood. Under the guidance of excellent mentors, he delved into the study of Holy Scripture, church history, and mysticism, acquiring a comprehensive theological education that would serve him well in his future endeavors.

After being ordained a priest in 1726, Alphonsus worked with the Diocesan Congregation of Apostolic Missions, evangelizing and catechizing the poorest segments of Neapolitan society. Despite their struggles with vice and crime, he proclaimed the Gospel with love and taught them fundamental truths. With patience, he encouraged them to pray and improve their lives. His efforts yielded remarkable results: groups of people began gathering in private homes and workshops to pray and meditate under the guidance of trained catechists. When these meetings moved to city chapels at the Archbishop’s request, they became known as “Evening Chapels.” These gatherings fostered moral education, social healing, and mutual aid, nearly eradicating theft, violence, and prostitution among the poor.

Despite the vastly different social and religious context of St. Alfonza’s time, the “Evening Chapels” remain a compelling model for missionary work that can inspire us today, particularly in the “new evangelization” of the poor and in fostering a more just, fraternal, and solidarity-driven human coexistence. While priests are entrusted with spiritual service, well-formed laypeople can also become effective Christian leaders, serving as a genuine gospel presence in the heart of society.

After he began to think about the evangelization of the pagan nations – Alphonsus at the age of 35 – he came into contact with the country people and shepherds in the interior regions of the Kingdom of Naples and – struck by their religious ignorance and their neglect – he decided to leave the capital and devote himself to these persons, the poor spiritually and materially. In 1732, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, which he placed under the care of Bishop Tommaso Falcoia, and he himself became its superior. These religious, led by Alfonso, became authentic itinerant missionaries who went even to the most remote villages, encouraging conversion and persistence in the Christian life primarily through prayer. Even today, Redemptorists spread in many countries of the world with new forms of apostolate continue this evangelistic mission. I think of them with appreciation and encourage them to always be faithful to the example of their holy founder.

Admired for his goodness and pastoral zeal, Alfonz was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Sant’Agata dei Goti, but he renounced this service – due to the various illnesses he suffered – in 1775 with the permission of Pope Pius VI. The same Pope in 1787, when he learned of his death, which came after many sufferings, exclaimed: “He was a saint!” and he was not wrong. Alfonz was canonized in 1839. In 1871 he was declared a Teacher of the Church. This title belongs to him for several reasons. Above all, for the rich teaching of moral theology, which appropriately expresses Catholic teaching, so much so that he was Pope Pius XII. proclaimed “patron of confessors and moralists”. In his time, an extremely rigorous interpretation of the moral life became very widespread, also because of Jansenism, which instead of nurturing trust and hope in God’s mercy, incited fear and presented God as gloomy and strict, far removed from the one who was revealed to us by Jesus.

St. Above all, in his main work entitled Moral Theology, Alfonz presents a balanced and convincing synthesis of the requirements of God’s law engraved in our hearts, fully revealed by Christ and reliably interpreted by the Church, as well as the dynamism of conscience and human freedom, which precisely through adherence to truth and goodness enable maturation and full realization of the person. Alfonz advised the shepherds of souls and confessors to be faithful to Catholic moral teaching, emphasizing at the same time a kind, receptive and pleasant attitude, so that penitents can feel accompanied, supported and encouraged on their journey of faith and Christian life. Sv. Alfonz never tired of repeating that priests are a visible sign of God’s invisible mercy, which forgives and sanctifies the mind and heart of the sinner to convert and change his life. In our time, in which there are clear signs of a loss of moral consciousness and – it must be acknowledged – a certain loss of respect for the sacrament of reconciliation, the teachings of St. Alfonza is still extremely relevant.

Along with theological works, Alfons created a number of other writings intended for the religious formation of the people. Their style is simple and pleasant. Read and translated into many languages ​​the works of St. Alfonza contributed to the formation of folk spirituality of the last two centuries. Some of them are texts whose reading is very useful even today, such as Eternal Maxims, The Glory of Mary and The Way of Love. Especially this last work represents the synthesis of his ideas and is his crowning work. He strongly emphasizes the necessity of prayer, which enables the opening of God’s grace to the daily fulfillment of God’s will and the achievement of one’s own sanctification. He writes about prayer: “God does not deprive anyone of the grace of prayer, by which help is obtained to overcome every lust and every temptation. And I say, I repeat and I will always repeat as long as I live that all our salvation consists in prayer.” This is where the famous saying “He who prays will be saved” comes from (Del gran mezzo della preghiera e opuscoli affini. Opere ascetiche II. Roma 1962 , p.171). On this occasion, I recall the call of my predecessor, the venerable Servant of God John Paul II: “Our Christian communities must become “schools of prayer”… It is therefore necessary that education in prayer becomes an essential point of every pastoral planning” (Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, 33,34).

Among the forms of prayer fervently recommended by St. A visit to the Blessed Sacrament or – as we would say today – adoration, be it short or long, private or shared before the Eucharist, stands out for Alfonzo. “Certainly”, writes Alfons, “among all pieties this one – the adoration of the sacramental Jesus – is the first right after the sacraments, it is the one most pleasing to God and the most useful to us… Oh, how sweet it is to stand with faith in front of the altar… entrusting our needs to him, as a friend does to a friend in whom he fully trusts!” (Visitation of the Blessed Sacrament and Mary for each day of the month. Introduction). Alphonsian spirituality is indeed extremely Christological, with a focal point in Christ and his Gospel. Meditation on the mystery of the incarnation and passion of the Lord is often the object of his sermons. In these events, salvation is offered to all people “abundantly.” And precisely because it is Christological, Alphonsian spirituality is also Marian. Particularly devoted to Mary, he points to her role in the history of salvation: Companion of Redemption, Mediatrix of Grace, Mother, Advocate and Queen. In addition, St. Alfonz affirms that reverence for Mary will be a great comfort to us at the moment of our death. He was convinced that meditating on our eternal destiny, on our vocation to always share in God’s bliss, as well as on the tragic possibility of damnation, contributes to living with peace and effort and facing the reality of death always with full confidence in God’s goodness.

St. Alfonz Mária The provided text is an empty string. If you meant to provide a text for rewriting, please provide it within the triple quotes. de Ligouri is an example of a zealous shepherd who won souls by proclaiming the Gospel and administering the sacraments in a gentle and kind-hearted way, born of an intense relationship with God, the Infinite Goodness. He had a realistic optimistic view of the sources of goodness that the Lord gives to all people and emphasized the feelings of the heart as well as the mind for love of God and neighbor.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you that our saint – like St. Francis de Sales, whom I spoke about a few weeks ago – emphasizes that holiness is accessible to every Christian: “To a religious as a religious, a layman as a layman, a priest as a priest, a husband as a husband, a merchant as a merchant, a soldier as a soldier, and similarly talking about everyone else position” (Pratica di amare Gesú Cristo. Opere ascetiche I, Roma 1933, p. 79). We thank the Lord that by his providence he raises up saints and teachers in different places and times who speak the same language, to invite us to grow in faith and to live our Christianity with love and joy in simple daily actions, so that we walk on the path of holiness, on the way to God and true joy.

The spiritual life undoubtedly includes. So let’s ask what our resolution should be, for example, a confessional one.

First principle: To be effective, it must be specific, not general. It won’t help to try: I want to improve! You have to determine exactly what and how. It’s like saying to yourself: I will learn to play the piano. You have to take concrete steps. I will sign up for the course, and I will practice so much. None of the musicians said to themselves: I have a strong will, I will start playing. You have to: first, second, thumbs up…

Second principle: Your resolution must also be positive. Not what you will not do wrong, but how you will do it well. Not so: I will finish falling asleep, – but what time will I go to sleep, and when will I get up?

The third principle is to make only one resolution, to follow it well. Remember it during the morning prayer; check it during the evening prayer. Whoever makes more resolutions will soon run out of energy and fall away-

The fourth principle is to make your resolution transferable (feasible). One man generously decided, “I will cover my wife with attention.” Nothing came of it. He would have done better if he had said to himself, “I will not go to rest before I ask the woman if she needs anything.” Or, more simply, “I’ll get up from the table and take away her plate.” Then another can.

Fifth principle: Let your resolution be reasonable. You must clarify why you want to practice this and why it is worthwhile. It should benefit the other. For example, explain the above: It will help our relationships and be an example for children. This reasonableness in your resolution will reassure you and give you the confidence that you are on the right path toward spiritual growth.

The sixth principle is to let your resolution and your regulation be joyful. Embrace the journey with a light heart so you don’t play the martyr when the going gets tough. Remember, you won’t improve without humor—you’ll only get sad. So, let the joy of your resolution be your guiding light, inspiring you to keep going even when the path seems challenging, ignore past failures, and make a resolution. One resolution is concrete, positive, feasible, reasonable, and joyful. When making

Resolutions, knowing yourself, your possibilities, the strength of your will, and not making grandiose plans are essential. It is much better to make a minor decision but keep your word. St. Ignatius of Loyola carried a piece of twine in his pocket, which he used to tie knots whenever he made a mistake he wanted to eliminate. He concentrated on only one but stopped when the twine was in his pocket without a knot until he had conquered the evil trait. Some errors only take a few weeks to eliminate; others require months. Today’s birthday boy was not ashamed of it, although he was a tough soldier. He knew he had to be consistent. This self-awareness and consistency will empower you and keep you in control of your journey toward spiritual growth.

IN editor, Blaise Pascal says: I admire those who get people to fight for them. They stood at the head of the army, defeated other armies, and conquered cities and nations. However, I admire much more those who know how to overcome themselves. We conclude: Overcoming yourself is indeed tricky but also very necessary. We should do everything to make it happen. St. Teresa ironically noted that the road to hell is paved with good intentions that were never realized. Already half a millennium ago, Thomas from  Kempen wrote: A person’s spiritual progress is governed by resolutions. If even the one who tries hard falls back into mistakes, how will the one who tries nothing do?” You would be almost excellent if you eliminated just one mistake an aye

We can often admire some brothers and sisters for their beautiful relationship with God, neighbor, and the Church. Their behavior is not just attractive, but also sensitive and beneficial. Their conduct directly inspires us. This is true holiness. They do it solely for God, willingly sacrificing their free time and other things. However, some seek to be seen as pious. Yet, their life, behavior, and words evoke the exact opposite. They are more detrimental to themselves and the Church. Their righteousness is misguided or even false. Lord Jesus says: “A good man brings forth good from the good treasure of his heart, and an evil man brings forth evil from evil. After all, his mouth speaks out of the fullness of his heart ” (Lk 6,45).  

These words of the Lord Jesus warn us that true piety springs from a good heart and manifests itself not only in words but, above all, in deeds. For the Lord Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to me: Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father, which is in the sky “(Mt 7 21). So righteousness must come from love. And love – it’s not calculation, praise, celebrations, recognition, tributes for proven service… The Pharisees often boasted of being pious. 

But who is good? He who has a good heart! As you are inside, so will your deed. Let’s remember the publican and the Pharisee praying in the temple. Although the Pharisee fasted and gave tithes regularly, his actions are like chaff that does not weigh against God, but the humility and humiliation of the publican, who is aware of his weakness, that he is afraid to lift his eyes, weigh and have excellent value before God. So, the Lord Jesus wants us to go deep and not just stay on the surface and talk to the wind. That’s why he uses a comparison that even children can understand. That is, either a person builds his life on the Lord Jesus and thus survives the last judgment, or not, and his efforts, his life will collapse like a house of cards. 

We should build our efforts, plans, attitudes, and the meaning of our lives on Jesus’ teaching. Everything we would make outside of Jesus, although it is beautiful and maybe briefly here on earth, seems powerful, effective, and strong, everything will one day end in failure, disappointment, and horror. He who does not build on Jesus builds on the sand. Difficulties will come, winds will blow, and the effort will go to waste….Who is pious? This question cannot be answered in one sentence. He who fulfills his religious duties attends holy masses, prays, fasts, and does good deeds should be pious. However, many deny piety to these very people because it has become a habit for them only. They have nothing to do or are directly hypocrites because they do it only and only for praise or for others to notice them.

How to explain it? Unfortunately, we are witnessing that many”people have a noticeable discrepancy between their external and internal behavior. Others are in the Church, and others are at home. Can we talk about a good Christian? Although he prays and participates in the Holy Mass daily, he is angry, slandered, lazy, and reluctant. Is this true piety? True holiness is when we do what we say. James the Apostle writes: “So does faith: if it has no works, it is dead in itself “(Jam 2,17).

Therefore, let’s ask our conscience more often: Are we doing some things just for the praise of people? For reward already here on earth? Are our actions in line with our words? Let us be encouraged and soul the birds of action recommended to us by the teachings of the Lord Jesus, which the Church proclaims. To unite in good our words and our deeds. Let’s learn from those people around us who have already understood the words of the Lord Jesus, and their behavior is an example. Everyone has a mistake, let’s be aware of that, and therefore let’s learn from them only goodness and beauty, which have value before God.

The story of Mary and Martha is mainly interpreted as a warning against being too subject to the worries and tasks of life, as a warning against workaholics, and against forgetting to take care of the most important thing due to our many worries, namely listening to God’s voice.
Jesus’ words to Martha: “You worry and worry about many things…”, but perhaps it could be interpreted differently. After all, we know what it means: “You care too much!” We tell the other person to care for themselves and not stick their noses where they don’t belong. Jesus’ words do not seem to condemn or reject Martha’s care, but I would say that Jesus appreciates her hospitality. Instead, His words seem to me like a defense of Mary, which Martha was attacking. “Marta, take care of yourself, and don’t judge Maria when she does something differently than you do.” 

It’s a common human error to judge others, evaluate them, and finally condemn them because they do things differently than we do. At the same time, it is clear to all of us that every person is different, so everyone has to act a little differently. For Martha, the natural and correct way of expressing her respect and love for Jesus is through her hospitality, care, and the food she prepares.

And only for Mary is it correct to express the same attitude towards Jesus differently: by listening. Similarly, the same faith and holiness will be manifested in each believer in a slightly different way, in a slightly different way of praying, in a somewhat different way of thinking and talking about spiritual things. 

Let’s worry mainly about our faith and our relationship with Christ. Let’s not unnecessarily judge their faith and piety by wasting time and hurting others.

Who was Saint Anne and Saint Joachim? We know very little about them. If so little is said about the Virgin Mary in the Holy Scriptures because God wanted to leave her hidden and humiliated, then about St. Anne and Joachim, her parents, are not spoken to at all. We know their names from ancient traditions. We know that Anne was barren. So what to say about her? How can we be encouraged by their example if we don’t know anything about them altogether? I think it is enough that they were the parents of the Virgin Mary. I will help myself with the words of St. John of Damascene, this author from the turn of the 7th and 8th centuries, to express what the Virgin Mary’s parents mean to us: “O blessed couple, Joachim and Anne!

The whole creation is in debt to you because, through you, it brought to the Creator a gift surpassing all gifts, a noble mother, the only one worthy of him who created her.” What would the parents like if the daughter were the Mother of God? St. John explains: “Blessed couple, Joachim and Anne, truly whole and without blemish! They recognized you from the fruit of your womb, as the Lord said somewhere: «By their fruits you will know them.» You lived godly and worthy of the one you gave birth to. You led a pure and pious life and brought forth the beauty of virginity.” Yes, a tree can be recognized by its fruit. If the daughter is full of grace and unblemished, then her parents are saints.

St. Joachim and Anne are our best education teachers. They raised the Mother of God. How did they proceed? What did they try to give their child? Did they want her to dress nicely, to have everything that was asked of her? Did they want Maria to be pretty and well-traveled, to have schools, and to be respected in society? Were they trying to keep her busy and, god forbid, not get tired? Not! First of all, they led her to God, to holiness and righteousness before God. “Joachim and Anna,” continues St. John of Damascus, “sowed for righteousness” and reaped “fruit of life”. They lit up the “light of knowledge”, diligently sought the Lord, and the fruit of righteousness came to them.” These holy parents planted love for God and neighbor in Mary’s heart daily, protected her purity, and carefully cultivated good habits. They did not care as much for her clothes as her spiritual beauty. Then, they could enjoy her: “Rejoice, most blessed Anna, because you have given birth to a girl!” … You will bring this girl before God, the King of all, “clothed”, as it were, with “golden fabrics”, the beauty of the virtues and adorned with the grace of the Spirit, whose “glory is within.”

Let’s learn from St. Anne and St. Joachim! The luster and glory of this world are passing away. Not if you give your children what you see in their eyes will make them happy. But if you prepare them for life, teach them to love God and lead them to a pure and moral life and virtues. The Virgin Mary is the most incredible woman in history. Her parents certainly did not regret that they led her strictly but with a love of holiness. Humanity is still grateful to them for what they brought up. God, the Church, the nation, and society need such parents today. God chose her child for great things. They cooperated with reverence to promote the growth in the grace of their little Mary. Thanks to their discipleship to the Holy Spirit, they cooperated in the sanctification of Mary. Who knows what God is calling your children to do? He certainly has big plans for them in his economy of salvation. Let’s pray that all parents like St. Anne and St. Joachim will be teachable.

“Let everyone consider us in this way as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries.”

(1 Cor 4:1)

In the catacombs, various pictures were found painted on the walls, primarily representing Christ the Lord in all forms. They also painted Him in the form of Orpheus. We know from history that Orpheus was a famous poet in ancient times who is said to have tamed even wild animals with his music and singing, just as Jesus drew the worst criminal to himself and turned him to God. Another rumor has been preserved about this Orpheus. She says that Orpheus’ wife was bitten by a snake, resulting in her death. Orpheus could not recover from this loss – he wandered the mountains-valleys out of grief and sang mournful songs. Until he finally decides that he will go down to the underworld to Hades, i.e., to the land of the God of the dead; there, he will look for his wife, and no matter what it costs him, he will bring her back to the surface among humans. After untold hardships full of terrible dangers, he reached the underworld region. Here, he found his wife among the dead, and with the strange magic of his singing, he so moved Hades, the ruler of the underworld, that he released his wife Eurydice, with whom he returned to the surface of the earth among men with great joy.

Therefore, they depict Christ the Lord in the form of Orpheus because even the most blessed creation of the mighty Lord God, namely man, was bitten by a snake in which the devil hid. This poisonous bite extinguished the life of his soul and deprived him of eternal life. Jesus took pity on the man and decided to free his soul from the underground Hell. He descended from Heaven: by untold labors and terrible torments, He redeemed the soul of man from Hell. When He finished His great work, He returned to Heaven, but in His stead, He placed His apostles, priests, here on earth to continue His divine work, the salvation of men. Jesus Christ continues to live and work in his priesthood:

Christ teaches through the mouth of the priest; Christ offers the sacrifice through the hands of the priest, and Christ distributes the blessing through the priest’s actions. What Christ did when he walked the earth is what the Catholic priest also does. That is why St. Apostle Paul: “So we are Christ’s ambassadors and as if God exhorts through us” (2 Cor 5:20). “Let everyone consider us to be Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries” (1 Cor 4:1). The relationship between the priest and the faithful is so close and inseparable that if this relationship were to break up, the Catholic faith and the Church of Christ would also break up and cease. This will be discussed. Listen up!

Once, a stout deer was resting in the grass, dozing, when suddenly a shot from a machine gun rang out. The deer jumped up, looked around, and, seeing no one, lay down in the grass again. Before long, the rifle fired again. Startled, the deer jumped to its feet and turned its eyes curiously in all directions, but even now, it did not see a person, so it lay down in the grass again. No sooner had he laid down than the rifle rattled a third time, and the deer was gone. – This example moved one of the young men so profoundly that he decided not to go to the party. That’s what the sermon sounded like to me, he told his comrade, because last year, right around this time, I fell off my horse and almost broke my neck. Now, in the winter, I have barely recovered from pneumonia. That was the second shot. I’m afraid the third shot will catch me at this party. I’m not going there; I’d instead go to St. Confession. His fellow began to mock him for being a superstitious coward when frightened by the priest’s silly fable. The young man was ashamed and went with the other species for fun. Wine, music, and singing quickly diverted his mind from the sermon. They chatted merrily and sipped delicious wine. When he raised the glass to his mouth, he was caught by a violent cough, and in the effort, a vein burst in his lungs, and he exclaimed: I said that the third shot would see me here, and that was it.

Whoever has ears to hear, listen! He never went unpunished and rejected the words of the priest preacher. Christ the Lord said a long time ago: “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever despises you despises me.” (Luke 10:16)

2. Now, he fixes his gaze on the altar from the pulpit. The priest St. mass. How is the Most Holy Sacrament altar formed? So the priest, before the lifting, recites the words that Christ the Lord said at the Last Supper: “This is my body. This is my blood.” The transfiguration would not have happened even if an angel had spoken these words. However, I, the smallest of Christ’s disciples, will take bread in my hands and say Christ’s words over it, and the transformation will happen. In this strange power lies the dignity of the ordained priest. I prove that the priest renews Christ’s sacrifice of the cross with the Holy Mass and makes the faithful partakers of the graces of the sacrifice of the cross. That is why the priest is called the vicar of Christ.

Terrible blindness and unforgivable indifference have gripped people living now:

• They do not notice Christ, the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross.

• They do not want to participate in the graces of redemption because they despise St. Mass.

• They do not participate in it.

Poor blind people! How much happiness, blessings, and graces you will get rid of! Be careful not to take this grace of God in vain; God may take it away from you. In France, they are already in such a state that five or six villages have one old priest because young priests were called up for military service, many priests died in the war, and now they suffer from such a terrible shortage of priests that they have to take the dying believers to the sixth village. to find a priest who would provide him with the sacraments for the journey to eternity, and it most often happens that the sick person dies without the sacraments on the way.

Such abandoned believers will gather in the Church on Sunday, where instead of St., they pray the mass themselves; instead of the sermon, they read the instruction from some book, and while they perform the Sunday service like this without a priest, they go to bathe themselves in tears, they mourn the previous St. masses, sermons. Previously, they did not respect St. Mass; now, they must be without them for punishment. People living in our times treat a priest like a sick person treats health: they mourn him when they no longer have him. Even the faithful will recognize what a priest is worth when he is no longer among them. So that you, too, do not behave like that, appreciate the priest’s work, listen eagerly to the word of God, and devoutly participate in St. masses. Pray for the spiritual shepherds so that they work more successfully to save souls.

Especially in country days, ask the supreme shepherd, Jesus Christ, to pour into the hearts of as many young people as possible the vocation to the priesthood because, unfortunately, the current family upbringing fills young people with horror towards the priesthood when they experience that everyone scorns, rejects and hates the priest. Well, nothing for that! Nevertheless, even to the death bed of that slanderer, that enemy, the rejected priest approaches, presents to his sinking eyes the five wounds of the suffering God, shows him the stream of mercy that washes his soul white, and hears the priest’s words: “Brother, accept, holy food for the journey to eternity, may he protect you from the evil enemy and lead you to eternal life.”

Christ lives in priests; we are His soldiers, and our banner is the cross of Christ. I take up this banner and follow my divine master. I am going to the holy battlefield to win souls to Christ. God’s word is my sword, the helper of St. mass, food is prayer, and watchword is love. If you ask to be saved as I want to save you, none of you will be damned. When the eternal Judge comes to judgment, then together, in one place, the shepherd and his flock will be. We will confidently come before the Lord Jesus to receive the imperishable crown of eternal life from Him.