The Priestly Vocation A Series of Fourteen Conferences Addressed to the Secular Clergy   By: Bernard Ward (1857-1920)

The Dawn of the Catholic Revival in England, 1781 1803. By the Right Rev. BERNARD WARD, F.R.Hist.S., Bishop of Brentwood. With 38 Illustrations. 2 vols., 8vo, 26s. net.

The Eve of Catholic Emancipation. Being the History of the English Catholics during the first Thirty Years of the Nineteenth Century. By the Right Rev. BERNARD WARD. With Portraits and other Illustrations. 3 vols. 8vo.

Vols. I. and II. 1803 1820. 22s. net. Vol. III. 1820 1829. 13s. net.

The Sequel to Catholic Emancipation. The Story of the English Catholics continued down to the Re establishment of their Hierarchy in 1850. By the Right Rev. BERNARD WARD. With numerous Portraits and other Illustrations. 2 vols., 8vo, 22s. net.

LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. LONDON, NEW YORK, BOMBAY, CALCUTTA AND MADRAS.

THE WESTMINSTER LIBRARY A SERIES OF MANUALS FOR CATHOLIC PRIESTS AND STUDENTS

EDITED BY

THE RIGHT REV. BERNARD WARD BISHOP OF BRENTWOOD

AND

THE REV. HERBERT THURSTON, S.J.

THE PRIESTLY VOCATION

A SERIES OF FOURTEEN CONFERENCES ADDRESSED TO THE SECULAR CLERGY

BY

RIGHT REV. BERNARD WARD F.R.HIST.S. BISHOP OF BRENTWOOD

NEW YORK: LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO FOURTH AVENUE AND 30TH STREET 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON BOMBAY, CALCUTTA AND MADRAS 1918

TO THE CLERGY OF THE DIOCESE OF BRENTWOOD IN THE MIDST OF WHOM IT IS MY HAPPY LOT TO SPEND THE LAST YEARS OF MY LIFE THE SANCTIFICATION OF WHOM HAS BECOME THE FIRST OBJECT OF MY PASTORAL SOLICITUDE THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED

PREFACE

THE aim of the following pages is to present well known ideals and principles of action, and to apply them to the state of things actually existing among the secular clergy of this country. They contain the substance of Conferences originally addressed to Seminarists, which are now amended so as to be applicable to a wider circle.

From the nature of the case it happens that the greater number of our spiritual books are written by the Regular Clergy. Yet in some of its phases the religious life differs essentially from that of a secular priest. For example, the virtue of Poverty, or that of Obedience, as practised by the latter differ not in degree but in kind from the manner in which they are practised by those in the religious state. Hence the seculars do not always find the exact application they want.

In the present book it is hoped that frequent quotations from the writings or sayings of well known bishops and priests who have had personal experience of the English mission may at least give actuality to what is said, and at the same time add an authority for it to rest on.

FEAST OF ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY, PATRON OF THE SECULAR CLERGY OF ENGLAND, December 29, 1917.

CONTENTS

PREFACE CONFERENCE I. THE PRIESTLY VOCATION II. THE PRIESTLY VOCATION (continued) III. POVERTY IV. CHASTITY V. OBEDIENCE APPENDIX ON OBEDIENCE AT THE SEMINARY VI. THE RELIGIOUS EXERCISES OF THE PRIEST VII. THE PRIEST'S PASTORAL WORK VIII. THE PRIEST'S PASTORAL WORK ( continued ) THE LITURGY IX. THE PRIEST'S PASTORAL WORK ( continued ) PREACHING X. THE RECREATIONS OF A PRIEST XI. THE RECREATIONS OF A PRIEST ( continued ) XII. THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY XIII. THE PERIODICAL RETREAT XIV. THE PRIEST IN SICKNESS AND IN DEATH

THE PRIESTLY VOCATION

CONFERENCE I

THE PRIESTLY VOCATION