The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-07-13
are unfamiliar with their Ian
guage and actuated by sectarian
bigotry.
THE SEMINARY AND VOCA-
TONS.

At the ninth annual convention
of the Catholic Educational Asso-
citation held in Pittsburg recently
the Rev. Bernard Feeney, Spirit
ual Director Of the st. Paul Sem
mary, read a paper on "Voca-
tons from the Standpoint Of the
Seminary in which he pointed
out the different ways that theo-
logical seminary can foster voca-
tions to the priesthood and the
religious life. Father Feeney has
devoted many years to the spirit
ual training and education Of
young men studying for the priest
hood. Throughout the Northwest
there are scores Of young priests
engaged in pastoral work or in
teaching who were trained by him,
and they will find summarized in
this paper his conception of the
duty that devolves upon the SEM
mary to foster vocations among
the young.
The call to the priesthood and
to the religious state comes direct
ly and primarily from God; but it
does not reach fruition without
our cooperation. This co-opera-
ton is rendered imperative by
God Himself Who asks us to pray
stthat these dispositions and apti-
tudes may grow into conscious
purpose, and conscious purpose
persevere in faithful preparation
for ordination or profession" 1t
is our duty to ask the Lord to send
laborers into the vineyard to
gather in the harvest.
In the fostering Of vocations the
seminary can do much by insist
ing upon the daily recitation of
prayers in common for this pur-
pose. In addition to this, it must
seek to impress On the minds and
hearts Of it's students the intimate
bearing of priestly character on a
divine call to the higher life. The
influence Of a holy priest in a
parish will do much to arouse lat
ent vocations among the young
and enable him to gather about
him eager recruits for the work of
the ministry. His zeal will con-
strain him, as it were, to labor not
for self but for the general inter
est and needs Of the Church which
can be best promoted by fostering
vocations to the sanctuary.
In other ways, also, the sem
mary can become potent factor
in this important work. It can
point out that the primary, essen
tial mission of pastor tends to
promote vocations. The duty of
one charged with the care of souls
is to develop the spiritual life of
his people, and if he labors intelli-
gently towards that end his eff
forts will bear fruit sooner or
later, especially among the young,
who, under the inspiration Of his
zeal, will not hesitate to offer
themselves when he sends forth a
call for volunteers for the minis
try. AS an adjunct in this work
the jealous priest will invoke the
aid Of the parochial school and
academy with which he is con-
nected, either as director or chap,
lain, and many vocations to the
religious life will spring from
these institutions if they do their
duty in intoxicating a knowledge
and love for religion and sound
moral principles.
Another factor in this propa-
ganda for vocations is a knowl-
edge Of the history of the Church
whose present-day needs should be
made known to the laity by their
pastors in an effort to arouse a
self-sacrifcing missionary spirit
among them. In this regard the
duty of the seminary is evident.
It must direct the minds Of the
young levites along these lines in
the teaching of Church history
and thus prepare them to place
before their future focks such an
alluring picture Of the missionary
work Of the Church, under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit, as
will stimulate in young minds
aspirations and desires to share
in the exalted mission of preach.
ing the Gospel to every creature
In this connection the judicious
use of literature bearing on the
missionary activity Of the Church
at home and abroad can be made
productive of much good.
In this and many other ways
Il,