SEMINARIANS - PRIEST-IN-THE-MAKING.

MY BELOVED BROTHER PRIESTS-IN-THE-MAKING (SEMINARIANS) BY Fr Paul Ik Ogujioffor Reunion 2008

  I HUMBLY WISH TO USE PRIESTS-IN-THE-MAKING BECAUSE I SEE IT AS A CONCRETE AND TOUCHING WORD TO US, FOR I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO SUCCESS IF SUCCESSORS ARE NOT SEEN, AND THE JOY OF SUCCESS IS IN THE CONTINOUS STRUGGLE TO SEE THE SUCCESSORS. IN ALL THIS "AD MAYOREM GLORIAM DEI".

   I WISH TO WELCOME YOU ALL FROM THE JOY AND SORROW OF THE APOSTOLIC WORK EXPERIENCES AND HOLIDAYS. IN THE JOY AND SORROW OF THE APOSTOLATE WE RE-ECHO WITH THE PSALMIST,"NON NOBIS DOMINE, NON NOBIS SED TUA NOMINE DATUR GLORIA". FOR I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT,"ADJUTORIUM NOSTRUM IN NOMINE DOMINE, QUI FECIT CAELI ET TERRA". IN THE WORDS OF ROSE OF LIMA, " THE LORD OUR SAVOIUR RAISED HIS VOICE AND SPOKE WITH INCOMPARABLE MAJESTY. LET ALL KNOW THAT AFTER SORROW GRACE FOLLOWS; LET THEM UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF AFFLICTION ONE CANNOT ARRIVE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE BURDEN OF GLORY; THAT THE MEASURE OF HEAVENLY GIFTS IS INCREASED IN PROPORTION TO THE LABOURS UNDERTAKEN. LET THEM BE ON THEIR GUARD AGAINST ERROR OR DECEPTION; THIS IS THE ONLY LADDER BY WHICH PARADISE IS REACHED; WITHOUT CROSS THERE IS NO ROAD TO HEAVEN".

    MY BELOVED BROTHER PRIESTS-IN-THE-MAKING, I HUMBLY AND SINCERELY WISH TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE GOAL OF SACRED PRIESTHOOD IS THAT TOTAL DEDICATEDNESS IN SACRIFICE, OBEDIENCE AND HOLINESS OF LIFE. IT IS NOT IN ANY WAY A FORM OF JELLY-LIKE OR COSMETIC OFFICE, BUT A VOCATION FROM GOD FOR SERVICE. THIS SERVICE MAKES PEOPLE SEE CHRIST IN YOU, AS I HAVE AS MY HUMBLE MOTTO: "SENTIAM CHRISTUM IN VITA MEAM". YOU WILL BE AN "ALTER CHRISTI" ACTING IN "PERSONA CHRISTI", BY THESE YOU BECOME A VICTIM, OBLATION AND SACRIFICE FOR THE GOOD AND SANCTIFICATION OF THE PEOPLE AND YOURSELF TOO. BY YOUR ADAPTABILITY AND APPRECIATION OF THE SEMINARY FORMATION, GOD IS ALREADY ACCEPTING YOUR RESPONSE TO THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD, UNTIL THE DAY OF YOUR ORDINATIONS, WHEN YOU WILL ANSWER,"I AM PRESENT, READY AND WILLING". THEREFORE, NEVER LOOK BACK OR GET TIRED IN YOUR FORMATION, LET NOTHING WORRY YOU EXCEPT LIVING IN UNION WITH CHRIST. THIS UNION SHOULD BE MANIFESTED IN YOUR DAILY CONDUCTS. IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE, LIVE LIKE THE MONK, WHO GOES TO THE DESERT WHERE, SEPARATED FROM ALL AND BOUND TO ALL BECAUSE UNITED TO GOD WHO IS ALL IN ALL, HE DOES BOTH GOD AND ALL HIS BROTHER MEN. YOU SHOULD LOOK TOWARDS GOD ALONE BECAUSE HE WHO DESIRES GOD ALONE, WHO APPLIES TO GOD ALONE AND WHO WISH TO SERVE GOD ALONE, IN PEACE WITH GOD, BECOMES A CAUSE OF PEACE FOR OTHERS. ACCORDING TO POPE PAUL VI, "ASSIST THE CHURCH BY YOUR SERENE SPIRITUALITY, QUIET, UNCHANGEABLE, RICH IN INTERIORITY AND IN AUSTERITY. BE AWARE OF THE MISSION THAT YOU HAVE TO FULFIL WITHIN THE CHURCH. SHARE ITS NECESSITY AND SUFFERINGS, DO PENANCE AND GIVE THE WORLD THE EXAMPLE OF YOUR LIFE IN THE ORDER TO AWAKEN IT AND DRAW IT TOWARDS YOU". IPSO FACTO, BEING A SEMINARIAN IMPLIES:

S- SANCTITY AND SERIOUSNESS IN SEASON AND OUT SEASON.

E- ENDURANCE DURING THE COURSE OF YOUR FORMATION AND ALWAYS.

M- MATURITY OUGHT TO BE EXHIBITED ALWAYS.

I- INDUSTRIOUS IN YOUR INTEGRAL AND HOLISTIC FORMATION.

N- NO TO SIN ALWAYS.

A- ADORATION TO THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT.

R- READY TO OBEY AND SACRIFICE EACH MOMENT.

I- INSISTENT IN DOING GOOD.

A- ACQUIRE VIRTUES IN YOUR LIFE.

N- NEARNESS TO GOD IN A NORMAL AND ORDINARY WAY