The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-02-12
FOSTERING VACATIONS FOR THE
PRIESTHOOD.

"Ilulu IuS ldSL 0COlC Vi SCoAo tIO
conviction has gradually forced itself
upon the bishops of the large dioceses
of this country that the number of
those presenting themselves as cand-
idates for the seminary and DESTROYS
of entering the priesthood was slowly
but surely diminishing, writes Arch
bishop Mundelein.
They found it necessary to take
special measures to safeguard those
to whom God has given the grace of
.priestly vocation not only during the
years of their seminary course of
theology, but even earlier, when the
first signs of probable vocation in the
Young schoolboy manifested them
selves to the watchful eye of pastor or
confessor.
In former generations, partly be-
cause the need of priests was not SO
sharply and so noticeably felt, the
custom was to educate those who had
aspirations to the priesthood in the
then existing Catholic high schools
and colleges under the care of one
of the teaching orders of the Church,
where they were associated with other
youths preparing for professional or
business career and who had no voca-
tons for the clerical state.
But everywhere, and particularly in
= our Large Glties,C We found, that year
after year, though the number of our
people was increasing, the number of
those who knocked on the door of the
seminary and asked to be enrolled in
the body of the clergy was not grow
ing apace. And not today or yester.
day, but for many years past, has the
conviction entered the minds of watch
full pastors of souls, that the time had
come when something must be done to
protect the tender shoots of priestly
vocation as soon as they showed them
selves in the clean, pure hearts Of
good, bright young boys in our schools
to shelter them not only from the kill
ing blasts of sinful temptation, but
also from the chilling atmosphere Of
modern materialism, the selfish crav
ing for ease, the inordinate love Of
money, the exaggerated spirit of indie
pendence, which comes not only into
our schools and colleges, but enters
right into the heart of the home itself
And so we have learned lessor
from the religious orders of the
Church, who long ago provided spe
cial schools, preparatory novitiates
monastic scholasticates, in which the!
taught and trained and prepared from
early boyhood those who aspire tt
lead this more perfect life as member
of their order. And we have argued
and probably with great deal o
truth, that, if it be necessary SO t,
shelter, watch and carefully trail
those who will live their lives in TIL
community. of their brethren in re
ligion and be protected by a specia
approved rule of life, how much NOR
is this necessary for the secula
priest, who so often stands alone,
shining mark for the enemies of re
ligion, who must be dux populi and
flamma ignis, of whom it is require
that, though he be in the world, we
that he be not of it.
1t is for this reason that in severs
of the dioceses of the country tn
bishops have established the NOR
modern form of the preparatory sen
mary, where the young boy selecte
from among his companions by tn
pastor or confessor, who discerns i
him the probable signs of vocation
the piety, intelligence and application
which is required for the candidate flo
the holy priesthood, even while r,
naming in the sacred circle of til
home and under the watchful eye of
pious mother. is placed apart and edi
Gated with those only who look fol
ward to that same great work in lift
the priestly field Of labor, keepin
daily before his mind the sublime voc;
ton of the priesthood. preserving hil
pure and pious by constant exhorti
ton, by daily assistance at the Hol
Sacrifice and by frequent reception {
the sacraments.
J +. !.