I was asked this question today by someone looking over the David F Pierre Jr. books, which present a more accurate history of the recent flood of accused priests. By the way, I’ve received way more requests for the books than I have books! However, our kind benefactor said that if there is need of more, more will be purchased. Patience is a virtue! And I will… I will, please God, get to your emails! This will take a while to sort out!
Now, in answer to the question, I said that the reason why seminarians want to become priests even if they go to prison falsely accused right after their ordinations is because it is precisely for this that they signed up. As the Master, so the disciple. If Jesus was falsely accused… I mean… excuse my well chosen words here (which are most appropriate)… Where in the hell would they think that they have some sort of entitlement not to suffer in the same way our Lord suffered? Are they so special? No? Then they should even welcome being falsely accused. They should rejoice that they can suffer for the sake of Jesus. And they do. But I’ll get to that, please God, as the series on the Beatitudes continues on the blog here.
Just to make a bit of an analogy with the Tyburn martyrs over in England. The seminarians studying at the English College in Rome back in the day when England was killing priests as fast as they could hang, draw, and quarter them…. those seminarians knew that they would be slaughtered in just such a way about as soon as they returned to England after their ordinations. And, indeed, they went straight to their deaths. That’s what they signed up for in signing up for the seminary. They knew it. Everyone knew it. That’s why the English College in Rome is called The Venerable English College. It was the seminary of martyrs. Wow! Sign me up! Oh wait! I’m already a priest! Guess I’m carried away here…
Now, just to say… If this desire of the true disciple to be like our Master, Jesus, is not the attitude of today’s seminarians, they had better think again, or leave the seminary. If they are scared, perhaps a bit of spiritual direction is in order. We want fearless priests who are not afraid to preach, in season, out of season, all the truth, in all charity, whatever the cost.
Jesus, grant us good and holy vocations to the priesthood!
Accompany me, Father George David Byers, S.S.L., S.T.D., as I begin life as a Catholic Priest-Hermit by choice. Holy Souls Hermitage is dedicated to the sanctification of my fellow priests, bishops, deacons & seminarians going through the purgatory of this life or the next. Prayer and sacrifice go up, of course, for both Benedict XVI and the next Successor of Saint Peter. 
Thank you father for your wonderful rant!
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I almost wish I had not married and fathers 6 children so that I could follow you into the priesthood. I will make sure my boys [don't] share his line of thought![
Thanks again Father,
fxr2
Thank you Father for this Article. Despite the accusations that Priests may be facing,if you were to poll a group of seminarians on the two most important factors in their decision to enter the seminary, more than likely the influence of a significant priest (or number of priests) will be listed among the two in almost all cases. Prod each respondent a little further and you will undoubtedly hear about a Father N. who was a good friend of the family and influential in one seminarian’s youth; or possibly a Father X. who was truly a representative of Christ to another seminarian in action and word; or again a Father A. who led a life of heroic virtue and personal holiness.
Throughout all ages of the Church, priests have influenced countless young imitators who have heard Christ’s call to a vocation in the Church because of the example of one who represents Christ on earth.
But, look into which priests were the most fruitful in inspiring young men to hear the call of the Lord to serve as priests, and you will find priests dedicated to their priestly identity in action and in spirit. In other words, priests who live their priesthood at all times – within and outside of liturgical contexts.
My prayer is that amidst all the false accusations, God will bless the Church with good enough priests to inspire more vocations.
Wishing you a blessed Sunday.
As a spiritual mother for priests, I have had to knowing put myself forth as a sacrifice for the souls of priests. One of my priest sons was going through very painful suffering. I begged God to tell me what I could do to relieve his pain and suffering.
Then the Holy Spirit came upon me. I didn’t know specifically how it would transpire or what I would say. I was going to let the Holy Spirit speak through me but I was given a “knowing” that people would not speak to me afterwards…that I would lose the respect of the clergy in my church…that perhaps I would have to eventually leave the parish that I loved.
There was a whisp of fear when I was praying and thinking of the “fall out” afterwards but that didn’t seem to matter. I offered up that fear for my priest son. The Holy Spirit was front and center at that moment and I was brave because of Him. How did I know He was there?…because I was burning with the Spirit after the celebration of the Mass and having consumed the Eucharist; it was the Vigil of the Divine Mercy Sunday; it was the first Saturday of the Month; and during that ordinary mass people began to speak in tongues to the surprise of the priest.
Everything that the Holy Spirit revealed to me happened. I bore it in silence and was thankful for a suffering to offer up for my “son”.
I guess what I am trying to say is that when you pray and when you say your “Yes” to God, He will do the rest. You will be fortified in the Spirit and God, who is Love, fills you with an insatiable desire to give your very life for Him and for your fellow man…as man you wouldn’t do it but in God you would.
Your article is an awesome example of God’s Love working in man. God bless you Father George. Happy Sunday!