For more than a century, Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary has prepared teenage boys for the priesthood, largely unchanged as the city transformed around it from gritty industrial center to modern metropolis.
But another kind of change finally caught up with Quigley.
The 102-year-old seminary, a Gothic-style building in a tony Chicago shopping district, closed this month because of a shrinking student body that has seen just one graduate ordained in the past 17 years.
Another seminary closes in our country and people are asking why there are few vocations. People can't figure out why no one wants to be a priest. The answer is rather apparent - there is no obvious honor in the priesthood. Honestly, without seeing the glory of a priest at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Tridentine Rite I would most likely not be entering a seminary this year. Returning to the Traditions of the Church including altar rails, Rogation Days, Latin Masses, women wearing head coverings, Rosaries in Latin, etc. will bring countless vocations to the Church.
In the 1950s, there was a plethora of vocations to the holy priesthood. Today, few men enter the priesthood and liberal seminaries are slowly drying up. I pray that the greater use of the Tridentine Mass will be allowed. I know that through its usage, vocations will begin to soar.
4 comment(s):
Matthew, this is something I started thinking about on my blog: if there are two forms--one extraordinary, and one ordinary--of but one rite, surely then both have to be learned by seminarians?
Mark, I would think so. Personally, I want to learn both.
i love the Mass, the latin, the headcoverings, etc etc, but it's not just about that (though are important). what is being taught, followed, believed is watered down or contrary to the faith. this lack of knowledge, indifference, and heterodox beliefs is not going to help foster vocations. a priest who celebrates the most beautiful TLM but believes in false ecumenism, priestesses, etc isn't going to solve the Church's problem, it will just cause more confusion. i'm not sure if i made my point.
You made your point very clear, Katoliko, and I do completely agree with what you wrote.
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