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Priests for the Third Millennium: The Year of the Priests by Timothy M. Dolan
What does it take to respond enthusiastically, wholeheartedly, and faithfully to the call to serve? Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan provides answers in Priests for the Third Millennium.
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September 19, 2024
TALKS GIVEN TO PRIESTS BY A FORMER RECTOR (NOW A BISHOP)
Bishop Timothy M. Dolan was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis in 2001 by John Paul II. He wrote in the Introduction to this 2000 book, "what follows [are] the conferences I have given my seminarians in Rome in my first five years as rector... The North American College is the American seminary in Rome, where, at this writing, three hundred twenty-five priests and future priests, from two-thirds of the dioceses of the United States, are in formation... While the conferences were intended for seminarians, my hope is that they will also be found helpful by priests, and by anyone in a position of leadership in the Church." (Pg. 13)
He recalls difficulties experienced by a "very plain country pastor who became an auxiliary bishop out of sheer obedience"; "One of his many crises was the seminary. One-fourth of the priest faculty left the priesthood, the student body was decimated by departures, and the theology being taught was anything but of the Church. The priests who remained on the faculty announced they wanted to join an ecumenical theologate, since, according to their interpretation of the [Second Vatican] council, it was useless to teach Catholic theology---since it probably no longer existed." (Pg. 17)
He advises, "I invite you to look in your closets, drawers, trunks, under your bed... and ask if you dress simply. That, of course, is one of the two reasons for clerical garb: the other being the outward identification, namely that we do not need too many clothes because we have a uniform. Now, that can be violated, too, can't it? On the one hand you have fellows whose clergy shirts are so faded or whose suits and shoes are so old and dirty that they look like slobs. On the other hand you have guys who spend more on cassocks and water-silk sashes and cloth-covered buttons, on gold cuff-links and a half-dozen tailor-made vests than their fathers would on their best suits. Both extremes are wrong." (Pg. 191)
He states, "the pray the entirety of the [divine] office daily is a grave duty for every transitional deacon and priest. Only a very serious reason can excuse us from missing one of the hours. Careful fidelity to our divine office is necessary for the survival of our priestly vocations." (Pg. 259)
He cautions, "One guy told me that the first Sunday after altar girls were allowed, one woman backed him up against the wall for, in her words, 'allowing such an abomination,' while another came up and proclaimed that such trivial condescension insulted her and she would never be happy until a woman was celebrating Mass, not serving it. He got it from both sides! You certainly have to have an interior sense of self-worth, confidence and strength in your priesthood to remain at peace and unscathed on the front lines." (Pg. 277)
These talks will be of interest to a wide variety of Catholics---and not just priests and priests-in-training.
Bishop Timothy M. Dolan was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis in 2001 by John Paul II. He wrote in the Introduction to this 2000 book, "what follows [are] the conferences I have given my seminarians in Rome in my first five years as rector... The North American College is the American seminary in Rome, where, at this writing, three hundred twenty-five priests and future priests, from two-thirds of the dioceses of the United States, are in formation... While the conferences were intended for seminarians, my hope is that they will also be found helpful by priests, and by anyone in a position of leadership in the Church." (Pg. 13)
He recalls difficulties experienced by a "very plain country pastor who became an auxiliary bishop out of sheer obedience"; "One of his many crises was the seminary. One-fourth of the priest faculty left the priesthood, the student body was decimated by departures, and the theology being taught was anything but of the Church. The priests who remained on the faculty announced they wanted to join an ecumenical theologate, since, according to their interpretation of the [Second Vatican] council, it was useless to teach Catholic theology---since it probably no longer existed." (Pg. 17)
He advises, "I invite you to look in your closets, drawers, trunks, under your bed... and ask if you dress simply. That, of course, is one of the two reasons for clerical garb: the other being the outward identification, namely that we do not need too many clothes because we have a uniform. Now, that can be violated, too, can't it? On the one hand you have fellows whose clergy shirts are so faded or whose suits and shoes are so old and dirty that they look like slobs. On the other hand you have guys who spend more on cassocks and water-silk sashes and cloth-covered buttons, on gold cuff-links and a half-dozen tailor-made vests than their fathers would on their best suits. Both extremes are wrong." (Pg. 191)
He states, "the pray the entirety of the [divine] office daily is a grave duty for every transitional deacon and priest. Only a very serious reason can excuse us from missing one of the hours. Careful fidelity to our divine office is necessary for the survival of our priestly vocations." (Pg. 259)
He cautions, "One guy told me that the first Sunday after altar girls were allowed, one woman backed him up against the wall for, in her words, 'allowing such an abomination,' while another came up and proclaimed that such trivial condescension insulted her and she would never be happy until a woman was celebrating Mass, not serving it. He got it from both sides! You certainly have to have an interior sense of self-worth, confidence and strength in your priesthood to remain at peace and unscathed on the front lines." (Pg. 277)
These talks will be of interest to a wide variety of Catholics---and not just priests and priests-in-training.
April 16, 2026
Read reditt 2026: book about religion, non fiction
Pros: very enlightening
Cons: occasionally repeating himself
Pros: very enlightening
Cons: occasionally repeating himself
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews