09 Jan 24 – Bishop Strickland Reacts to Fiducia Supplicans

[0] Welcome to the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[1] Terry Barber, it looks like Bishop Strickland's got a new beard coming there.

[2] Bishop Strickland, thank you for starting the new year out here on your show.

[3] And I know that many people have been praying for you.

[4] And thank you so much for proclaiming Jesus Christ and him crucified.

[5] Thanks, Terry.

[6] Happy New Year.

[7] Merry Christmas.

[8] We're still on the Christmas season.

[9] I'm not taking my tree down.

[10] I'm not taking my decorations down.

[11] My manger set, the manger said I have, my parents in 1947, and we've been putting it up ever since, and please God, my next generation will do that.

[12] But Bishop Strickland, today I would like to ask you to talk a little bit about your letter that you sent out to priests.

[13] And we all want to discuss that.

[14] But before we get to that letter, I had a couple tweets that I thought were apropos for the time we're living in.

[15] And to set the stage, I'm a layman.

[16] You're a retired bishop now, but you know, you're a successor of the apostle.

[17] You have a huge responsibility to teach, govern, and sanctify, and the faith.

[18] And I do too, so because I have a microphone in front of me, and I've published about 30 million recordings in the last, what, what a 42 years of Catholic teachings.

[19] And, well, I hope all of them will please our Lord that have been distributed.

[20] I did my best, but the point I'm making is we're living in some confusing times and bishops all around the world from Asia to South America to Europe.

[21] And they're really concerned about this letter that came out just a week before Christmas from the Holy Office regarding the so -called blessing of same -sex couples and also this irregular unions.

[22] and that name irregular.

[23] I'd rather use biblical terms, you know, like fornication or adultery.

[24] It's much clearer for a guy that has not much of an education.

[25] My education is more in biblical things rather than soft peddling stuff.

[26] So here's my comment.

[27] We're living in times where we see now pictures of priests blessing same -sex unions in church with a rainbow, We're seeing, you know, I mean, little kids are potentially going to be seeing this.

[28] It's scandalous from what I can see.

[29] And it seems that right after that document came out on the 18th of December, you made a clear statement saying, just say no. You know, and many bishops are saying no. But now the Cardinal Fernandez, who's the prefect for the doctrine of faith, they call it a catastrophe now.

[30] but he's saying that, that, here's what he says, bishops banned from total or definitive denial of fiducius supplicans.

[31] So in other words, he's saying, you can't deny this.

[32] This has to be implemented, so I'm ordering you.

[33] And I like what your tweet said, and I just want you to give a little comment on it, because you said this.

[34] Instead, his eminence should be banned from confusing this issue even more.

[35] your eminence rewind the clock to 2021 and simply clarify we cannot bless sin that was the document that they came out at the same office two years ago then you said no further confusing statements will be necessary can you add to that i mean that seems really clear well really terry i think we need to everyone who knows the truth yeah bishop's priest even lady like yourself, if you have an audience that needs to hear the truth, we need to speak up.

[36] And thankfully, many bishops are.

[37] Basically, the continent of Africa has said no. And I haven't heard, I mean, this latest came out, I guess, just yesterday or very recently, this further confusion, basically, so -called further clarification.

[38] It just gets because really, Terry, as I said, you know, I like pretzels fine, but theological pretzels.

[39] And you have to turn, you have to twist yourself into a pretzel to try to make this right, to make it reasonable, to make it anything that even a basically catechized person is going to know.

[40] And in using words like irregular, these people are in sinful situations.

[41] Yes, call it for what it is.

[42] Be clear.

[43] I'm a sinner.

[44] I go to confession often.

[45] I need to, but they do too.

[46] Yep.

[47] And no blessing will penetrate their heart until their heart is contrite of their sin.

[48] Amen.

[49] It is ridiculous.

[50] What is coming out of the Vatican, it's ridiculous.

[51] And I think we need to be very clear, like some of the African bishops, I watch some of their video.

[52] And it really, Terry, I'm proud to say it sounded like what I say.

[53] Of course, they said better than I do.

[54] Yeah.

[55] But it's down to earth.

[56] Yep.

[57] It's clear speech.

[58] It's not all this gobbledy gook that we're hearing.

[59] And we need to rise up and say.

[60] as I said right out of the gate.

[61] That's right.

[62] We need to say it more clearly and more distinctly, no. And frankly, Cardinal Fernandez, you are not going to tell me as a bishop that I must follow your dictate to bless sin.

[63] No, I don't.

[64] I don't have to do that.

[65] I'm not going to do that.

[66] and I'm sure that these African bishops that spoke up so clearly, they're not going to do it either.

[67] One of the bishops said that these people are coming as a couple.

[68] They go back home as a couple.

[69] They're sleeping in the same bed as a couple.

[70] That's right.

[71] They're doing other things probably in that same bed as a couple.

[72] To pretend anything else is just a mind game that isn't even respectful of.

[73] of the human person or of just common sense.

[74] And one of the priests that I talked to recently said, because one of the bishop talked about common law.

[75] And that seems to have fallen out of the vocabulary of the church, but it's still the truth.

[76] And the law of God is what is common to humanity.

[77] And we've got to be very clear, And frankly, you know, people talk, I haven't heard so much recently because what's coming out of the Vatican is schismatic.

[78] And I'll say it.

[79] They're the ones creating this schism because faithful bishops are obligated to say no. Amen.

[80] One of the bishops pointed out with a lot of sadness, you could tell that he was genuinely sad to be saying, here's something that's been signed.

[81] off on by the Pope, by the Holy Father, and bishops are obligated to reject it and say no. That's a sad place to be.

[82] It is sad, but we can't let the sadness keep us quiet, and we have to, for the sake of the church, in honor to Christ, and in honor to those two people, as you mentioned, there have been a few internet pictures already of individuals coming forward, oh, they've been married for 22 years or whatever, civilly married.

[83] Notice in that picture, this document says, oh, we're not talking about marriage.

[84] But these people are claiming to be civilly married for 22 years or for whatever length of time, and they're coming forward very happy to get a blessing.

[85] I'm obligated for the sake of those two children of God, male or female, they're children of God, God loves them, and I'm obligated as a pastor to say, stop the sin you're living.

[86] As I'm obligated to say with any sin that someone comes forward with, as someone mentioned, it's the same thing that I've thought, but I saw one thing posted saying, well, when are the embezzlers coming?

[87] coming.

[88] And when are the chronic liars coming?

[89] When are the child abusers coming?

[90] I mean, if we're just going to bless those who are in habitual sin, that's what we're talking about.

[91] Yes.

[92] There's no call to repentance.

[93] There's nothing about change your life.

[94] It's basically ignore the gospel and ask for a blessing.

[95] And that's meaningless.

[96] It really, as you could tell, it gets me rile.

[97] up.

[98] We need to simply resoundingly say Vatican, prelate, no. And Holy Father, you need to rethink signing off on this.

[99] Yes, please.

[100] Because it's contrary to his responsibility as the successor of Peter.

[101] That's just flat out the truth.

[102] And if it gets me in more trouble, So be it.

[103] I'd rather be in trouble with the powers of this world than with the power of God.

[104] And that's one of the reasons why I like working with you in the vineyard of the Lord, Bishop Strickland, because you will speak the truth.

[105] You see, Father Bill Casey used to say the most merciless thing we can do is let someone wallow in their sin.

[106] See, you're willing to love them.

[107] And what is the definition of love by St. Thomas Aquinas?

[108] The will the good of the other.

[109] See, you're not loving them by.

[110] blessing them in sin.

[111] Okay?

[112] That's what I got out of it.

[113] Now you quoted a bishop.

[114] I took Bishop Martin Tubunga from Africa and I took his clip and put it on our YouTube channel full sheen ahead.

[115] I think it's now almost 350 ,000 views and growing.

[116] Why?

[117] Because it's inspiring to see this bishop speak so simply but straightforward.

[118] And you can see he's in pain to have to say this.

[119] Hey, you think I like talking about this issue?

[120] I don't.

[121] You know why?

[122] I'd rather talk more about how to introduce people to the person of Jesus Christ.

[123] But you know what?

[124] We have this issue that's affecting many souls.

[125] Can you imagine souls going before God?

[126] And they say, well, nobody told me that.

[127] I don't want, I'm not going to be that nobody.

[128] Stay with us, family.

[129] We'll be back with more here on the Bishop Strickland Hour on Virgin Most Power.

[130] And now back to the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[131] Welcome back to the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[132] Man, I need more iced tea after that segment.

[133] Bishop Strickland, if I could describe you and your message as being the gospel message, I want to read this and this just said, what you just said is what basically is the gospel.

[134] In a world full of chaos and disorder, it's reassuring to know that God has a plan to deal with sin and evil.

[135] Jesus came to announce that this divine plan is now in effect and it's time to repent, time to believe.

[136] The first disciples heed the call, dropped their nets, and followed him.

[137] We are all called to do the same.

[138] Why I say that, do you remember that statement you've made for years with me that we have to become first century Christians?

[139] That's what I just read.

[140] In other words, the first century Christians lived the gospel of repent and believe in the gospel.

[141] This is what I get excited about because I think the world is definitely in need of that.

[142] So thank you for that last segment.

[143] I'd like to shift gears if I could.

[144] I've got a little letter here from you that you sent on January 4th a letter to priests.

[145] And I think this is really incredibly important.

[146] I'll tell you why.

[147] Let me just set the stage.

[148] The spirituality of the priest sets the stage for the spirituality of the laypeople.

[149] and I'm just going to tell a quick story and then turn it over to you.

[150] When I was in my teens, I've been going to Daily Mass since I was 13, thanks be to God.

[151] I served Mass at 6 .30 in the morning.

[152] There was a priest, Father Chris Tuog, Irish priest, old school guy, beautiful.

[153] He said Mass like every Mass was his last Mass. He was very reverent, the elevation of the host, I mean, everything.

[154] Well, he mentored me as a young man. And I noticed that I would get there early to set up for the Mass. and he'd be in the pew kneeling down praying before Mass. And no other priest that I had met had ever come early to pray before Mass. And so he did that.

[155] He made his holy hour, and then he would always, after Mass, make a Thanksgiving.

[156] And so what did I do?

[157] I emulated him.

[158] I copied him.

[159] Why?

[160] I'm a young man. I'm looking for holiness.

[161] I see it in front of me. So guess what?

[162] I've been trying to make a daily holy hour since I was a youngster every day my life sometimes I fail but most of the time like this morning with my wife we made a holy hour together before mass why I'm going to say it's because a holy priest along with Bishop Sheen talking about the daily holy hour convinced me that time before our Eucharistic Lord was like a taste of heaven so I introduced that because it seems to me that We need to get back to that model of holiness.

[163] So I want to ask you to read your letter and tell us why you did it first and then share what's in the letter with us, please.

[164] Well, really, Terry, as I have read things that are really devastating about the situation of the church, the corruption, financial, moral, every level of corruption.

[165] I read a recent document that was, it just left me wondering, what in the world can we do?

[166] And what I realized was we have to grow more holy.

[167] Our priests have to be holier.

[168] Our priests have to be more committed to living the life that a priest's life is.

[169] So that's what this document is about, is trying to encourage priest to live who we are.

[170] Right.

[171] To be about the faith and to live that faith as fully as we can.

[172] There are many things that priests get involved in, but the most important thing we can do is be men of the Eucharist as what was in my heart as I wrote this letter was the blessing that I've had as one who has grown more and more to appreciate being Eucharistic, knowing that the Lord is truly present, body and blood, soul and divinity.

[173] And I would really urge that the formation of priest and that really the focus has to be for this crisis that we're in in the church, for priests to be earlier, just like you said with that priest that impressed you, the stronger the priest can be.

[174] To me, that's the answer to everything.

[175] That's the answer to the lack of catechesis.

[176] That's the answer to the confusion, the moral corruption, the financial, all the problems come down to parish priest and religious order of priest, every priest becoming holier, becoming more connected, not just saying mass daily, which is significant, needs to happen, but living eucharistically, as I put it in another conversation, what I hope to encourage from this letter is that priests will, make celebrating Mass the very beginning of everything they do.

[177] And then baptizing a child, hearing confessions, visiting in the nursing home or in the hospital, visiting a prison, counseling a couple.

[178] Everything flows out of celebrating mass, celebrating the Eucharist, and everything closed back to that.

[179] Even, you know, I know that, I mean, I was a priest for many years in a parish.

[180] I know there are administrative duties that have to be taken care of.

[181] But if you're living as a Eucharistic priest, even those administrative duties, for one thing, they don't overwhelm your life so that, well, you're always in the office getting business done, but you forget to pray.

[182] If you're truly close to the Lord, you're guaranteed to stay close to him, whatever you're doing.

[183] And to, as I was listening to the program that your wife had just before we started recording, pray constantly.

[184] That seems impossible.

[185] But that is what we're called to do as disciples, all the baptines.

[186] We're called to pray constantly, and it becomes more attainable the closer we are to the Lord to know that his sacred heart is a real presence that's with us always, especially and beautifully in the Mass and in Eucharistic adoration, but we can carry him with us.

[187] His love and his sacred heart doesn't leave us, even when we leave the altar.

[188] He's still with us.

[189] He dwells in us.

[190] That's one reason I believe that the Lord chose the way that he was going to remain with us is that he would become our food, that he would actually feed us.

[191] It doesn't get more intimate than that, the sharing of a life to actually be consuming the Lord.

[192] And for priests, there can't be too much emphasis on the Eucharist.

[193] And yes, we have work to do.

[194] We have missions to accomplish.

[195] But it's always got to start from and return to the Eucharist, the Mass, and the real presence of the Lord.

[196] Why do we have so many Catholics who are not sure about or seem to be sure that, oh, the Eucharist is just a symbol?

[197] That's because priests aren't telegraphing that Jesus.

[198] is there and he is the very epicenter of their life.

[199] The more people see that Jesus present in our lives, I mean, to stand at the altar, what a humbling gift that is, we should be overjoyed that we have that opportunity daily to stand at an altar and in the words of Christ in our hands, literally holding bread that becomes his body, holding a chalice of wine that becomes his blood.

[200] And that's the motivation for writing these letters is to encourage priests to go back to the heart of priesthood.

[201] And the heart of priesthood is the sacred heart of Christ, living and present in his church.

[202] Wow.

[203] All can say is, wow.

[204] Bishop Strickland, I was involved.

[205] I founded Lighthouse Catholic Media in about 9 ,000 parishes around the country.

[206] And I used to do the CD of the Month Club promotion at Masses.

[207] Sometimes I would go to 10 Masses in a weekend because I would make an announcement at the end of Mass about the presentation I would give about the CD of the Month Club.

[208] And what I noticed is, you know, being in hundreds of parishes, I noticed that when the priests showed up for Mass, like 30 seconds before they go out, He'd throw his vestments on, and he just ran out there.

[209] I know I can count more than 20 times that I found out the priest left the priesthood.

[210] And I noticed it because the way he said mass was so nonchalant, and it was just like, you know what, I do this.

[211] I'm performing.

[212] You know, hey, how are you?

[213] Good morning, Frank.

[214] Did you see those 49ers play that football game last night?

[215] Father, I'm sorry.

[216] Can we talk about that in the hall?

[217] I had no problem talking about the football game, but this is a sacred act you're going to do.

[218] And so I just noticed that, anecdotally, for me, that this takes place.

[219] And then I also noticed what you just said reminded me that 90 % of Catholic school children the last 50 years that were Catholic school are not practicing their faith.

[220] That's a big problem.

[221] Now, I want to attribute that to some things, catechesis, but I've got to tell you, The guys that I grew up with that went at the Catholic school here, I'm going to daily Mass. I'm playing baseball with them.

[222] And they told me, oh, yeah, we used to trick the priest because, you know, we drink all the wine on the side after Mass. We would go back there and juggle down wine.

[223] He never noticed.

[224] And, you know, we could tell he was a phony.

[225] What do you mean you could tell he was a phony?

[226] He didn't believe in this.

[227] So why should we?

[228] I mean, I'm getting this all my life going, what happened to the example I had when I was a young man?

[229] and I saw a priest who actually had Eucharistic piety.

[230] And that's what I want to talk about on the next segment.

[231] Your third paragraph of your letter, you talk about this phrase, Eucharistic piety, and why we should have that.

[232] And I'm going to say that I think we should have it because look what happens to us lay people when we see a priest actually say a reverent mass. And he comes early and he prays and he makes a Thanksgiving.

[233] And, you know, I remember Father Peter Irving, relative of ours, he was at Mass when he was newly ordained, and people were talking in the church, and he was just newly there.

[234] And he said, he went up and said, silence.

[235] I said, you guys want to talk, go into the hall where you should be preparing for Holy Mass. And I mean, he scolded the community.

[236] And some people didn't like it.

[237] But you know what I found out?

[238] Most of them did.

[239] And you know what?

[240] His churches were packed because he raised the bar of Ukraine.

[241] piety.

[242] And it seems to me that that's what you're asking to be done.

[243] So when we come back from the break, let's talk about that and much more.

[244] Also, folks, if you want to go back, I know we've got a bunch of new YouTube listeners now from the last month, thousands of new ones, and you can go back to our life, excuse me, the website, vmpr .org, download our free app.

[245] And you can watch all these shows on YouTube or any other media, and that way you can share it with your friends and family, especially the Bishop Martin Tabuka from Africa.

[246] You've got to see that one.

[247] But a full sheen ahead on the website or on our YouTube channel.

[248] Stay with us, family.

[249] We'll be right back with more on Eucharistic Hyde with Bishop Joseph Strickland.

[250] And now back to the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[251] Welcome back, indeed.

[252] Bishop Strickman's letter through priests.

[253] Wow, it's all about the Eucharist.

[254] You know, Second Vatican Council taught that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.

[255] I mentioned at the end of the segment about Eucharistic piety.

[256] And Bishop Strickland, I've been to several of your masses, okay?

[257] And, you know, this is just a fact.

[258] You can see the spirituality of a priest by the way he celebrates Mass. If he takes his time and he's deliberate and he's reverent, it really communicates a reverence for the lay people.

[259] to do likewise.

[260] It just seems like the way the priest leads the parish, that's where the parish goes.

[261] I mean, there's a Mont Senior George Kelly, who I knew from New York from years ago.

[262] He passed away, and he wrote a book in the late 70s, The Battle for the American Church, he said, where's the church going, where its leaders take them.

[263] Well, a priest is a leader at his local parish.

[264] And so Eucharistic piety, I mean, it just seems like maybe what we can do, and I'm going to hear about it, It's just have the priest realize that his presence on the altar communicates reverence or irreverence.

[265] There's no in between.

[266] But I want to hear about your thoughts on Eucharistic piety.

[267] Well, thanks, Terry.

[268] I really do think it's the heart of the reform of the church of the 21st century.

[269] And really, if suddenly we're going to be.

[270] just flip a sweep.

[271] Yeah.

[272] And every single priest was deeply Eucharistic, had a truly embraced a Eucharistic piety that was profound.

[273] It would have a profound effect on the church and on the world.

[274] And what I mean by Eucharistic piety is to approach the, as you said, getting ready for mass, everything that you're doing during the mass, and even after the mass should be sacred time.

[275] We both see young people hungry for the sacred, hungry for something that is clearly supernatural and different from any of the entertainment or any of the offerings that our society has for them.

[276] There are many different things that young people, or whatever age, but especially young people, they have been saturated with, here's the world on a platter, here, you can do anything you want, but it leaves them empty when there's nothing sacred, when everything is the same.

[277] And I think what I see, and I think you've seen the same thing.

[278] that young people are hungry for something sacred.

[279] Eucharistic piety, specifically for the priest to me, is about recognizing how valuable those moments are.

[280] For a daily mass, 30 to 40 minutes is what it should take.

[281] Oh, yeah, not 15.

[282] People have talked about, oh, it's too long.

[283] I think it's not long enough.

[284] And not for the sake of length.

[285] But for the sake of that, what I mean by Eucharistic piety is constantly focusing on Jesus Christ.

[286] As we prepare for him to come to the altar, as he is there present on the altar, and then after, if we are properly disposed, we've gone to confession, we're not aware of any serious sin on our souls, then we should receive.

[287] his body and blood, soul and divinity, and communion.

[288] And so that whole experience should be an experience of this sacred.

[289] And to me, Eucharistic piety means we know who's there.

[290] We know who we're preparing for in the liturgy of the Word.

[291] We're hearing the Word proclaimed, and we're preparing for the Word incarnate under the form of bread and wine to be truly present there.

[292] That's what Eucharistic piety is about, is preparing for the Lord.

[293] Just like John the Baptist, he prepares the way of the Lord.

[294] And that's what we all need to do for Eucharistic piety.

[295] And it has to be led by the priest.

[296] You mentioned a word that hopefully as we move forward and hopefully more and more priests and bishops recognize the devastated condition of the church, we have to change it.

[297] We have to get back on track.

[298] In order to do this, we've got to be strongly eucharistic and focused.

[299] And the word that you mentioned earlier that I would encourage is totally outside the vocabulary of a priest.

[300] if it comes to mind for any person there, the word that you used is nonchalant.

[301] Yeah.

[302] I don't know the etymology of that word.

[303] I'm going to look it up because that is antithetical to what a priest should be doing at mass. I just recently went, I won't mention where, because I don't want to throw a priest under the bus, but hopefully, and if there's any, vestige of nonchalance in my approach to celebrating the Eucharist, I need to change.

[304] I need to improve.

[305] I need to get more focused.

[306] And if we remember, again, who we're preparing for, then you're not going to be nonchalant.

[307] And it doesn't mean you have to be nervous or rigid or, but you need to be preparing your heart and your mind to welcome the Lord.

[308] If the priest is doing that, then the teenager who's bored and doesn't really want to be there or the older person who is just sort of can't hear too well and they're tuned out, whatever the spectrum of individuals out there in the congregation, if the priest is telegraphing that he is preparing to welcome the Lord of the universe on that altar and that that Lord is present after the consecration on that altar.

[309] And we have just received him into our bodies.

[310] Then if the priest is modeling that, it's going to make a difference for those people and for that parish and for the community that that parish is in and for the world that that community is a part of.

[311] It truly is something that I am on fire with encouraging.

[312] And to me, where it came from, this focus on Marian and Eucharistic priest, it came from the devastation that I felt after reading the level of corruption in the church, in the Vatican with too many bishops and priests.

[313] what I want to emphasize there are many good and holy priests but none of us can say we're holy enough we've got to continue to grow in holiness I am one of the earlier letters I urged because I'm sure that there are priests out there that think I'm full of hot air they wish I would just quit speaking They wish I would go away.

[314] That's fine.

[315] It's not about me, but all of us need to grow closer to the Lord and to recognize the awesome supernatural responsibility that we have.

[316] And to just focus on that.

[317] All of that is what Eucharistic piety is about for me. And it is tied to Marion piety.

[318] Mary will help us.

[319] She's there.

[320] She was there at the foot of the cross.

[321] She's there at all the key moments of the life of Christ in this world.

[322] And she's there with him as queen of heaven.

[323] And she appears to us constantly saying, please, children, wake up to what you've been given in this age of Christ that we're living in for almost 2000, well, more than 2 ,000 years.

[324] He's been in.

[325] incarnate in the world in 233, we'll celebrate 2 ,000 years since he died and rose for us.

[326] We need to awaken to that reality.

[327] And priest, I guess what was clear to mean, it's that priests are the key.

[328] It's not some program, it's not some great, you know, the greatest thing, whatever being produced.

[329] It's not some effort by the conference of bishops or even by the Vatican.

[330] It's priest by priest, perish by parish, mass by mass, focusing on Christ.

[331] Because ultimately, all of that ties into it's Christ getting it done.

[332] It's his power.

[333] It's not mine.

[334] It's not yours.

[335] It's not the holiest persons in the pew.

[336] It's Christ working through.

[337] us.

[338] That's what Eucharistic piety reminds us.

[339] It's his power that we need.

[340] It's not another program.

[341] It's not more money.

[342] It's not more influence in society.

[343] It's not anything we can do.

[344] It's more of Christ, his grace and love and life.

[345] And the priest has the opportunity to be the conduit for that presence because we celebrate him at the altar.

[346] And if we approach the very beginning of the mass, when we make the sign of the cross until we say, go forth, the mass has ended, if we approach that at sacred time, and we're not being nonchalant and making side comments or giggling at some silly thing the server did or a fellow prey, whoever, I mean, yeah, you can laugh.

[347] I mean, we're human, but always returning to that focus of what we're there for.

[348] People are hungry for it, and I know we've both seen.

[349] The priests that are feeding that hunger are the ones that are developing parishes and congregations that are significant because the priest is feeding the people, the presence of Christ.

[350] Wow.

[351] Wow.

[352] That's all I can say, amen, amen.

[353] When we come back from the break, let's talk about self -sacrifice.

[354] And I'd like to lead off with a story from Fulton Sheen about a, we call it a victim soul where this woman was in an iron lung.

[355] And I know you've heard the Bishop Sheen retreats, but for the benefit of those, you won't want to miss the story of how this woman offered her suffering for future priests.

[356] And there was a visit at her hospital bed.

[357] You want to see what took place there.

[358] Stay with us.

[359] You're listening to the Bishop Strickland Hour with Terry Barber on Virgin Most Powerful radio.

[360] I love it.

[361] More for Jesus, all for Jesus.

[362] Stay with us, family.

[363] We'll be back in a moment after a quick break.

[364] Welcome back to the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[365] Thank you so much.

[366] Bishop Strickland, I wanted to set the stage for this next paragraph.

[367] You talk about self -sacrifice to become truly Eucharistic priests.

[368] And the Bishop Fulton Sheen priest retreats, I've heard.

[369] heard.

[370] And he gave a story of eight seminarians from New York.

[371] This was back in the 60s.

[372] And they went to visit a woman who was known in the diocese as a victim's soul.

[373] She was in an iron lung and so she couldn't move.

[374] And she was a prayer warrior.

[375] She offered up all of her sufferings for the seminarians at the seminary.

[376] And so it was right that they would come visit her and obviously say thank you.

[377] Well, the priest, unfortunately, this was the late 60s, and there was a change in some formation, and the priest didn't understand their victimhood as priests.

[378] They thought this was going to be like everybody's going to look up at us, and we're going to have all these great, you know, times, visiting people, doing whatever, you know, we're big shots.

[379] And when these seminarians, when she responded to them saying that, I hope you understand your victimhood as priests when you're ordained and they responded to the woman in the iron lung saying oh no no no no we're going to have a lot of fun there's no suffering in being a priest and she her response was you're bringing great suffering upon me right now because young man i will offer more of my suffering for all of you that you will truly understand your priesthood as priest and victim and i will never forget that story because I think there really is a message that many times, now, you were ordained in the 80s, and I'm not going to say that you had great formation.

[380] I don't think you did, but you can correct me. But the victimhood of the priesthood is real, and I'm not quite sure priests understand that sacrifice is the language of love when it comes to serving God's people.

[381] So let's talk about that paragraph when you said, ultimately, we must be men of self -sacrifice to become truly Eucharistic priests.

[382] Yeah, well, I think that that is woven into the very message of what it means to be Eucharistic priests because Jesus Christ suffered.

[383] Amen.

[384] And as it's emphasized, and that suffering as a great power that is really beyond imagining, because this is God's divine.

[385] son, who chose to become a part of his own creation, to become a real man, fully God, fully man, the great mystery of Christ's suffering.

[386] But he truly suffered.

[387] The night before he died, as we say at Mass, he took bread and wine and said, this is my body, this is my blood.

[388] The disciples, John was there at the foot of the cross.

[389] The rest of them, we don't know, they were probably not that far away.

[390] They probably knew of what was happening, but they were afraid, as most of us would have been.

[391] John had the strength and stood there with the Blessed Virgin Mary and saw firsthand that the suffering that Christ endured.

[392] And certainly the stations of the cross, the sorrowful mysteries that we happen to be recording this on the first Friday, of the year 24, a significant day, a double first Friday.

[393] And it's important to reflect on the suffering of the Lord.

[394] We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

[395] Those aren't just words.

[396] That's not just something to remember when you're making the stations of the cross.

[397] That speaks of the very fabric, the very fiber of what the life death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is all about.

[398] And for the priest, it ties in so significantly.

[399] And as you alluded to, Terry, the emphasis wasn't there on the sacrifice of the mass. I see.

[400] When I was ordained.

[401] It was more emphasizing meal and sacrifice.

[402] And the mass is spoken of as the heavenly banquet.

[403] Yes.

[404] But it's a banquet that is built on a sacrifice.

[405] And as Scott Hahn says so well in a recent talk, I know it's in his books as well.

[406] But if without the sacrificial element, without that giving over of self in love, that is Jesus Christ, he is love incarnate, and he gives himself as a man and as God, he dies on that cross willingly, according to the will of the Father, and all of that we know.

[407] But Scott Hahn reminds us that without that sacrificial element, the free choice of the Son of God to suffer and die for us, it's just another execution.

[408] There's no power in executing somebody.

[409] But when he freely suffers his death for us, that's the power of the universe, unleashed for us as he rises from the dead.

[410] So that's why for a priest to celebrate Mass and to be nonchalant about it and to be disengaged from the depth of what he's doing, it's a travesty and it's harmful.

[411] It's not just, well, that priest isn't so holy.

[412] We've got to pray for our priest to become holier and to become more connected to that sacrifice.

[413] Every human being suffers in one way or another.

[414] And the same thing is said, and I've heard great talks to holy men in the congregation and holy women.

[415] You and your wife in your marriage are called to join your suffering to the suffering of Christ on the altar.

[416] The priest isn't leading in that.

[417] If he's not deeply aware of that suffering soul that every priest needs to bring to the altar, then we're losing the very essence, the very heart and the power of what.

[418] the mass is about.

[419] The power of Calvary is there on the altar.

[420] And that power is always, it never stops at Christ's death.

[421] It always has on the horizon that he will rise from the dead.

[422] But that's the great, the two hinges of power there, death and resurrection.

[423] And in my time, in seminary and as a newly ordained priest.

[424] And there are many with that still the attitude is that we disengage the resurrection from the death and it loses its power.

[425] It has to be both working together.

[426] And that's what a Eucharistic priest is doing and encouraging people to embrace their own suffering.

[427] A suffering soul like the woman you mentioned in that iron lung.

[428] And that's, I mean, there's so many elements of this, Terry, that are so significant and so important as we talk about the sanctity of life.

[429] Amen.

[430] The children that are aborted are an atrocity and a devastation for all humanity, but also at the other end of the spectrum, if that woman in our modern times, if people said, well, the quality of her life isn't so good, we need to help euthanize her or encourage her to assist in suicide or something, we're losing that value of the suffering soul and offering up that suffering for all of us, even for the priest that you mentioned.

[431] Yes.

[432] We are short -circuiting God's plan for us when we say, oh, I don't want the suffering, and I want to medicate myself or take myself out of this life if the suffering becomes too great.

[433] Instead, what we're called to is join our suffering to that of Christ.

[434] He didn't give up his life.

[435] He freely offered it, but he breathed his last, staying clinging to life as long as he could.

[436] And that is a model for all of us.

[437] That's the way.

[438] we are called, as St. Paul says, when we're baptized, we're baptized into his death.

[439] How did Christ die?

[440] He didn't just say, okay, kill me. He said, I will not deny the truth before Pilate.

[441] He stood and said he is the truth, and Pilot didn't listen.

[442] So, you know, to me, just as we're talking about this, so many aspects of our Christian faith.

[443] whole spectrum of life, the whole suffering of people, the tragedies of wars unfolding.

[444] What do we do with all this?

[445] We bring it to the Eucharistic altar of Christ because he is the divine suffering soul that is beyond imagining in power.

[446] Bishop Strickland, this has been a very good instruction on the priesthood and on the Eucharist, and boy, does the church need it.

[447] So I'm hoping our listeners will pass this on to their.

[448] friends.

[449] We just have a minute left on the segment, but I wanted to close the next segment with something that is kind of practical.

[450] You talked about pro -life.

[451] We can't go and do a show without speaking for the unborn and the longborn.

[452] And I wanted to discuss the best New Year's resolutions for holiness in the new year, because that's what you just talked about.

[453] It's holiness, the universal call to holiness.

[454] That's the clarion call of the Second Vatican Council that maybe hasn't been communicated well enough.

[455] Yeah, let's talk about that and much more.

[456] And again, those who are brand new to the network at vmpr .org, you can download our free app on your smartphone.

[457] You can listen to us on YouTube, all the other different mechanisms out there to listen to.

[458] Send it to your friends.

[459] I'm hoping that this new year with Bishop Strickland, with his new YouTube channel that he has, he's going to be communicating short messages on the faith and it's just educational messages about the deposit of faith nothing more it's not his personal opinion because to be quite frank I don't care about Terry Barber's personal opinion not even Bishop Strickland's personal opinion I want to know what Holy Mother has always taught about the faith and that's what you're going to get in the new year here at vmpr .org virgin most powerful radio .org and so when we come back from the break, We'll talk about some things regarding New Year's resolutions, and I'll just give you a tease on one of them.

[460] Oh, this is the end of the show.

[461] I'm sorry.

[462] I went back too fast.

[463] Sorry about that.

[464] Bishop Strickland, if this is the end, how about a blessing?

[465] I got confused on this segment.

[466] Let's get a blessing.

[467] Almighty God, as we begin this new year, we pray that all of us will open our hearts more and more, acknowledging our suffering and acknowledging the joy that you offer to us when we know you.

[468] your truth and live your life more fully.

[469] We ask your blessing with the witness of the saints and the intercession of the Eumach of the Virgin Mary.

[470] And we ask us in the name of the Father, God, the Holy Spirit.

[471] Amen.

[472] Thank you, Bishop Strickland.

[473] You see how God uses the weak to confound the strong.

[474] That's me. Remember, our Lady of Fatima said, souls are going to hell because no one is there to pray and make sacrifices.

[475] Wow, we don't have to be a priest to make a sacrifice.

[476] Offer every action to our Lord.

[477] So that souls will be saved, especially for Holy Mother the Church right now.

[478] Make a holy hour this week for Holy Mother the Church and the Holy Father.

[479] Thanks again for joining us.

[480] May God richly bless you and your family.

[481] Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.