On the Sanctifications of Priests According to the Needs of Our TImes

by Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange, Paul M. Kimball (Translator)

In 1946 Reverend Father Garrigou-Lagrange wrote this short work in Latin entitled De sanctificatione Sacerdotum secundum exigentias nostri temporis. Its central theme is the urgent need of a deeper faith, both amongst the faithful, to enable them to stand firm against the principal errors of our day, especially against the materialist and atheistic spirit of the Communist creed; and also amongst the clergy, so that they would be able to communicate this gift to all Christians. In developing that theme he discusses the duty which falls on every priest, not excepting secular priests, of tending towards Christian perfection. He stresses the exalted nature of this state of perfection as revealed in the eight beatitudes, which are concrete expressions of that perfection; and in the supreme precept of love of God and one’s neighbor, which commands the perfection of charity, not as something to be put into practice at once, but as the end towards which all the faithful must be striving, each one according to his own particular calling in life, either as a married person or as a priest or as a religious, whether in sacred orders or not. But if the faithful in general, in their state of life, have this duty of constantly tending towards a greater love of God and their neighbor, and towards the full perfection of charity which will be found in Heaven, how much greater is the obligation of priests to make a similar effort in order to be true lights of the world and the salt of the earth.

156 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 29, 2013

About the author

Réginald Marie Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. (February 21, 1877, Auch, France – February 15, 1964, Rome) was a Catholic theologian and, among Thomists of the scholastic tradition, is generally thought to be the greatest Catholic Thomist of the 20th century. He taught at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, commonly known as the Angelicum, in Rome from 1909 to 1960.

Father Garrigou-Lagrange initially attracted attention when he wrote against the theological movement later called Modernism. He is also said to be the drafter or "ghostwriter" of Pope Pius XII's 1950 encyclical Humani Generis, subtitled "Concerning Some False Opinions Threatening to Undermine the Foundations of Catholic Doctrine."

He is best known for his spiritual theology. His magnum opus in the field is The Three Ages of the Interior Life, in which he propounded the thesis that infused contemplation and the resulting mystical life are in the normal way of holiness of Christian perfection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald...

Reviews

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is also really helpful for those discerning a call to the priesthood, it lays out what should always have been the program for those seeking to be a part of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. However, even if you are not intent on becoming a priest, we must remember that the whole Mystical Body of Christ is a Priestly Nation, therefore this book is still good to read in order to enter more intently on the Priesthood of All Believers. Fr. Lagrange does a spectacular work covering Prayer and Intellectual Formation to the Moral and Theological Virtues as it relates to the Gifts and The Beatitudes; with special treatment on the Eucharistic Christ to finish the book. This book is small and can probably be completed in about a week, but it will be referred to again and again for its insights, this in union with "The Priest Union With Christ" by Fr. Lagrange makes for an insightful read.

[Patris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on Aquinas philosophy, how to fight for sanctity....

[Sam U · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Treat me well!"

A great elaboration on how a priest should live out his vocation and fight the tide of secularisim. Useful for lay people too