The secular clergy will fall far short of what is expected of them because they will not pursue their sacred duty. Losing the divine compass, they will stray from the way of priestly ministry mapped out for them by God and will become devoted to money, seeking it too earnestly.
-Our Lady of Good Success (speaking of our times back in the 17th century)
In a few weeks, we shall celebrate the 1,991st anniversary of Jesus Christ’s institution of His Holy Priesthood, which He chose to bestow upon men, and never zombies. Yes, this is an important reflection, for although the Catechism of the Council of Trent has declared that ordination on a madman is valid, it’s far less than ideal. You’ll notice a section on “canonical fitness,” which enumerates this.
How much worse is it to ordain the living-dead (or their approximate), who lack the capacity for reasoning altogether? Here, let us examine the background and evidence for a persistent priestly zombie problem in today’s hierarchy.
First, I’ll provide the short answer to the title question, summarizable in two words: WORLDLY PRUDENCE. This alone has contributed to such a paltry number of canonized priests among the diocesan and secular clergy. While their religious counterparts seem more adept at detaching from the world, and becoming fools for the Cross, diocesan priests struggle mightily to overcome the fear of losing creature comforts.
The below image shows what the inclinations of the world might do to man, both lay and clerical . . .
Canonized Priests → Mostly Religious (not Secular/Diocesan)
You may have noticed that many of your favorite and heroic priestly saints carry some sort of affiliation with a religious order.
Examples include St. Pio (Capuchins), St. John Bosco (Salesians), St. Phillip Neri (Oratorians), etc. On one hand, there is a respectable volume of saintly diocesan bishops (i.e., St. Thomas Becket, St. Stanislaus, and St. John Fisher). However, there are almost no canonized saints among the ranks of ordinary parish priests (who didn’t become prelates).
Why is that so?
Well, first, for this article, where I’d prefer not to dwell on technical semantics, I’ll treat “secular,” “diocesan,” and “regular” priests as synonymous. Sifting through the slight distinctions is beyond the scope of this article. Here, we’ll discuss those who’ve accepted the role of parish priest, chaplain, canon regular, and so forth. These priests are distinguishable from those who have taken professed vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience (i.e., consecrated religious).
St. Jean Vianney, who I’ll highlight momentarily, is the ONLY true secular priest to reach canonization. Research all you want, and you’ll reach this conclusion, but with the exception of a few clergy who have gotten just part way through the canonization process. There are some secular priests who have open causes.
- Servant of God Fr. Emil Kapaun – Fr. Kapaun received ordination in the Diocese of Wichita in 1940. After only four years of conventional priest service, he earned a reputation for sanctity several thousands of miles away as a military chaplain during the devastating Korean Conflict. Again, he was anything but your typical parish priest, swamped in the vicious political battles between meddlesome parishioners and career-minded bishops.
- Servant of God Augustus Tolton (declared Venerable by Antipope Bergoglio) – A late-19th-century black priest from the Midwest, who even offered the Holy Sacrfice in Washington D.C., during an era when “the negro was not wanted beyond the altar rail.”
- Blessed Alojs Andritzki – A German priest who earned the palm of martyrdom at Dachau (at age 28) after his vocal opposition to the Nazis.
There are probably several other venerables and blesseds you might find, but not many canonized diocesan priests. With those near-canonizations notwithstanding, what can we learn from the ONLY diocesan-parish priest to reach Holy Church’s canon of saints?
St. Jean Vianney: Worldly Imprudence & True Holiness
The life and parish ministry of St. Jean Vianney shows us how a parish priest may reach the Church’s highest recognition, and why so few have followed in his footsteps.
Why might this be? Because the Curé d’Ars did the most imprudent thing imaginable, among worldings: HE COMMIT CAREER SUICIDE.
St. Jean Vianney was the famous priest who attracted thousands of penitents, from all across Europe, to seek his skills as a confessor. He became well known for hearing confessions 16 hours a day, a massive accomplishment compared to today’s zombies who can not be bothered to do it for an hour each week.
As he did this, the devil became so enraged, that he attacked the poor saint, hurling potatoes at him while he attempted to sleep. However, I still haven’t gotten to the “career suicide” part.
That would occur once his confreres, French zombie priests who were jealous of his success, circulated a petition questioning his competency. This would eventually reach St. Jean Vianney’s bishop, on the grounds that he was unfit for the priesthood. How did the holy parish priest respond?
HE SIGNED IT.
It was his own 19th-century-style cancellation, and he signed it. After all, he recognized, along with his disingenuous accusers, that he was indeed unworthy to enjoy so much as a modicum of the dignity of Jesus Christ’s holy priesthood. Once the bishop received the petition, he rebuked its authors, and St. Jean Vianney continued his work unscathed.
He survived career suicide.
Yet, we see that which resembles suicide, is in fact genuine humility and trust in God’s providence, and also the eternal lifeblood of martyrs. Cowardice and/or attachment to worldly possessions, including career/wealth, are inimical to the heroic characteristics of a genuine martyr; red or white.
Moving along, we shall segue over to the importance of authentic obedience for all Catholic priests.
There’s a lofty misconception that most people struggle with obedience. I will argue, to the contrary, that most folks do a spectacular job obeying all the wrong things. If you’d like to comprehend this well, then we might grasp the problem better with a recent example of hyper-obedience among a popular non-consecrated priestly society.
Worldly Prudence & The Fraternal Society of Obedience (FSSP)
I am sad to report that the Fraternal Society of Saint Peter (FSSP) has been diagnosed with the increasingly common condition of Type-II Zombie Obeedance. This is a tricky malady, characterized by an unhealthy excess of obedience (a sub-virtue of the cardinal virtue of justice). Yes, you can overdo it, and history is replete with sycophantic examples.
On this blog, I don’t enjoy re-hashing current events any more than necessity requires. If you hadn’t heard, the FSSP, which splintered from the SSPX in the late 1980s (for fear of disobeying JPII), may be approaching the end of its lifespan. This stems from, by my estimate, their lack of awareness of the Antichurch and insistence on “cooperating with The Vatican” at all costs, irrespective of its apostasy.
While they may seek empathy for their current struggles, and impending suppression, I’m not inclined to offer much.
By paying careful attention, we’d remember that, unlike their SSPX counterparts, they were more willing to abide by scamdemic lockdowns along with the various Bergoglian machinations over recent years. While the SSPX held more Masses for desperate Catholics, the FSSP offered jolly “streamed Masses.” Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, but in most places the bishop-less FSSP is shrinking into extinction, whereas the SSPX hangs on and travels MUCH farther to serve Catholics.
Also, the FSSP clergy have always given me a vibe of “move along, nothing to see here; go home and work on virtue” all throughout our ordeals. That pastoral approach hasn’t been altogether helpful as things have become more turbulent and oppressive with the further encroachment of the Bergoglian Antipapacy.
No, I hate to say it, as they suffer, I’ll certainly pray for them, but perhaps I should return to them their medicine of “move along, nothing to see here.”
It was one thing to cave into a legitimate pontiff, John Paul II (who was wrong about Archbishop Lefebvre’s consecrations). It’s another altogether to placate the most maniacal, depraved, heretical, and completely illegitimate antipope in all of history. Although I don’t have the heart to say “the FSSP deserves it,” we shouldn’t pretend they’ve positioned themselves for success by ignoring the antipope issue (ala “Trad Inc”).
Symptoms/Examples of Type-II Zombie Obeedance
I know some readers may contend that I’m exaggerating the Type-II-Zombie Obeedance problem. To that, I welcome them to review and reflect upon the countless examples of hyper-obedience, abounding throughout recent world history, particularly the past 80 years.
- The Infamous Nuremberg Trial Excuse – “Just Following Orders”
- Stanley Milgram Shock Experiments – participants willing to electrocute others because “the guy in the white lab coat told me.”
- Machete Genocide in 1994 Rwanda – “Everyone else is hacking up those Tutsis, and so shall I.”
- The Boomer Generation & Physicians – this age cohort will poison themselves with any medication, or receive any invasive surgery, at the behest of “muh doctor’s orders” or “muh benefits cover it.”
- “Shelter in Place” During the Scamdemic – the entire world thought almost nothing of wearing face panties, standing six feet apart, and losing their livelihoods, per the instructions of “health authorities.”
Beyond that, we’ve even seen, for the first time, Catholic “clergy” insist that Catholics must consume something other than the Holy Eucharist (i.e., poisonous, abortion-tainted “vaccines”). This is unprecedented, and a direct result of the wickedness of alleged authorities figures, derived from lukewarm Catholics’ sheepish insistence on obeying dangerous wolves.
Prognosis for Type-II Zombie Obeedance (How to Avoid it)
How, then, do we distinguish right-ordered, Holy Obedience from that dreadful “Obeedence” to false authority figures?
Wise Catholics will acquire obeedance testing supplies in the form of the Gift of Counsel, or risk contracting Type-II Zombie Obeedance. How does that work?
Counsel is one of seven magnificent gifts from the Holy Spirit, which, as St. Thomas Aquinas explains, “corresponds to prudence, as helping and perfecting it.” Put another way, none of us should limit ourselves to mere natural prudence, especially those of us who enjoy the augmenting graces, from Confirmation, the Holy Spirits’ Seven Gifts. Naked and unsupported prudence leaves you timid and vulnerable to the wildness and brutality of the world.
Of course, there’s a difference between receiving graces and gifts, and cooperating with them. This is where we pray for gifts, then put them into action. Counsel allows us to judge our external circumstances, including how to distinguish between true and false churchmen. Even if we should suffer a proverbial “insolent spike,” then we can test for obeedance-vs-obedience by praying for the Holy Ghost to activate His Holy Gifts within us.
This is true for priests and laity alike. However, aside from counsel, what are other ways clergy can overcome their weaknesses, gird up their loins, and correct an array of prudential errors?
The Divine Office: A Golden Remedy for Priestly Pusillanimity
How does one cure or ameliorate today’s sad state of effete priests? We must beseech God to inspire them to pick up their crosses and follow Him. This is non-negotiable, given how the road to holiness requires manger-to-the-Cross redemption suffering, and NEVER cradle-to-the-grave security.
One way to achieve this would be for clerics to recollect their breviaries and re-institute that essential devotion, which energizes and sustains their vocations every day.
In centuries past, this meant praying the longest psalm in the psalter often, constantly repeating one’s willingness to obey God’s commandments. Yes, elements of Psalm 118 were part of their daily prayers (every day) in earlier renditions of the Divine Office. Since the innovation of the “Liturgy of the Minutes,” priests scarcely ever glance at Psalm 118’s glorious inspired prose.
Nevertheless, there are many terrific lessons one can glean from just this practice alone.
- Verse 99: “I have understood more than all my teachers: because thy testimonies are my meditation.” That sure beats groveling before false teachers.
- Verse 23: “For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.” This applies to secular AND supposed clerical princes.
- Verse 46: “And I spoke of thy testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed.” Doesn’t that sound much better than a coward’s retreat to “Romans 13” all the time?
- . . . and many others.
While we’re at it, let us not forget that God’s commandments ARE NOT TYRANNICAL, as the Muslims insinuate. They are, to the contrary, a tremendous source of MERCY.
These days, all I hear from many Catholics is “mercy, mercy, mercy,” with nary an understanding of its meaning, let alone where to find it. However, God’s commandments offer a generous bounty of mercy, if only we detach ourselves from the Islamo-tyrannical perspective (rejecting any semblance of God’s paternal love). The 10 Commandments are a most splendid gift of mercy, which man received from God, following all the chaos sustained from doing it man’s way in the Book of Genesis.
If you don’t believe me, then see for yourself by exploring man’s many blunders, pre-10 Commandments.
- Cain murdered Abel
- Men erected a massive and obnoxious tower (idol); ruined language forever
- Incest between Lot and his daughters (who got him drunk)
- 11 brothers conspired to murder Joseph
- Onan “pulled out” to avoid impregnating his brother’s wife, after his father put him up to it (Jerry Springer, anybody?)
- False rape allegations levied against Joseph (Potiphar’s wife)
- . . . just to name a few.
A loving God, in his infinite Divine Mercy, finally allowed man to avoid such depravity and misery by instituting His 10 Commandments. Shame on us for not comprehending this. Parish priests, for their part, can learn all about these tragedies, and other essential scriptural lessons by praying Matins in the Divine Office every day of the year. Then, their sermons won’t sound as if the PriestGPT composed them.
By the way, haven’t we noticed a correlation between lawlessness and governmental illegitimacy in the wake of priests foregoing their essential meditation on God’s commandments? Society has spiraled into pandemonium since Vatican II, but also with the weakening of devotion to the Breviary, especially the recitation of Psalm 118. If so, then we know precisely how to reverse this awful trend.
As usual, my critics may complain like such: “Who are you to lecture the clergy on their disciplinary practices, you impudent layman?!”
Well, like you and everyone else, I am dust, and to dust I shall return, which is why I recommend we focus on reason and evidence rather than resort to logical fallacies. You can waste time worrying about me, and my lack of status, or you can examine reality, explore causal mechanisms, and formulate a solution.
Finally, if there’s still any further doubt of the dangers of worldly prudence, let us consult the wisdom of that great Doctor of the Church, St. Francis de Sales:
“Let the world, then, be angry, —– let the prudence of the world rage, and the flesh perish; for it is always better to be good and simple, than to be subtle and malicious.”
Conclusion – Diocesan Priests Must Stop Drooling Over Salaries
Since Catholics and diocesan priests aren’t zombies, we must all cease our fixation on the things of this world, including, but not limited to . . .
- Salary + Benefits + House
- Human Respect
- The “Economy” → “C’mon, bro. The economy was so bad when I got out of college. I had to discern a solution.”
Regarding that last point, I’d love to obtain some data on the volume of seminary applications and regress it against macro-economic metrics (i.e., recessionary conditions). Do American Catholic seminaries receive a flood of resumes right around the ugliest economic times, luring effeminate men with a lucrative “escape hatch”?
I imagine with a decent analysis, we’d discover a trend of comfort-oriented young men (disinterested in the salvation of souls) becoming diocesan/secular priests. I hypothesize that this would be salient, even if we control for the international-gay-seminarian pipelines (omnipresent for decades), whenever there’s an economic downturn.
“Ah, but aren’t religious priests just as bad, nowadays?”
This is a solid counterpoint, but I believe only because the religious orders have fallen off a cliff, mostly thanks to the Poltergeist of Vatican II. Today, we can lament a sorrowful plight among all ranks of the ordained. Through their poor choices, comfort-fetishism, laziness, lassitude, and unwillingness to confront the evil antipope, they are all equally worthless (at least, in praxis).
“Hey! Hey! That’s harsh! Diocesan vocations matter!”
If you are a priest, who goes to Hell for dereliction of duty, then your vocation did not matter. Without the will to sacrifice, one’s vocation won’t materialize.
To help priests avert this eternal fate, let us pray for the intercession of St. Jean Vianney and Fr. Emil Kapaun for stronger priests who will oppose Bergoglio and modernism. Pray the Rosary (15 decades) every day to help them preach the unvarnished Gospel, not close churches over a faggy flu, or deny sacraments for other superfluous reasons.
