Letter to Priests No. 1
Dear Reverend Father!
This letter is primarily intended for all those priests who have made contact with the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X. Some have known us for many years; others have only received a publication from us or have met us on one of our missionary trips. But whoever might read this, I thank Divine Providence for giving me, perhaps by the means of elaborate secondary causes, the honour of addressing you.
Our Unity
One reason why I dare to write to you is this great truth: that, essentially, all priests share the same Priesthood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore, we are essentially united in our source, in the sacramental character, which made you and me an “alter Christus” (another Christ) – a participant in his Eternal priesthood. However, if we are united in Him, it is only logical that we should be united among ourselves. How much Our Lord desired this spiritual union, when, in His sacerdotal prayer, He asked the Eternal Father that “they may be one, as you in me, and me in them!” (Jn. 17:21)
Our Isolation
Today, however, it seems that many priests are isolated, maybe not physically, but spiritually. True union among priests depends upon their union to the Eternal High Priest. And the more we encourage one another to be united with HIM, the more we are able to help one another in this dangerous world.
You know probably better than me the attacks made on the Holy Priesthood. From all sides (particularly in the modern secular media) we hear of the priesthood being held up to ridicule, or being denounced for its opposition to progress, to women, to human rights, to the dignity of man, to freedom, or being a sanctuary of the most despicable perversions etc.. The world seems not to understand us anymore. We have become strangers and suspect individuals because somehow we do not fit the patterns of the world’s ideals. “Vae soli”, says in Ecclesiastes (4:10): “woe to him that is alone”, because it is almost too difficult to resist such pressures always and everywhere. Hence, the necessity to join and help one another, to keep or to find again the beauty and greatness of our priesthood, to fix our eyes constantly upon Jesus Christ, our “One and All”, according to the motto of Saint Francis of Assisi: “Deus meus et omnia!” (My God and my All).
We Need Faith
There are two means by which we keep our priesthood alive in our souls and vanquish the attacks of the world; St. John teaches us the first means with great clarity: “this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith” (1 Jn. 5:4)!
Unfortunately, faith is in great decline in the world today. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI spoke many times about the crisis of the faith. It is easy to see that, in the last 50 years, we have lived through a total change of orientation within the Church. Generally, the message of the hierarchy is now turned towards the world, towards man’s life, his sorrow and joys in this world. The eternal truths are no longer on top of the list of subjects to be meditated and taught, and a number of these truths are even considered to be outdated. Just two examples amongst many: over the last 50 years, only once did a pope (Benedict XVI) use the term “Church militant”. Similarly, the doctrine of the “novissima” (the Last Ends) has been totally eclipsed - a profound silence envelops the important truths about judgment, hell, purgatory, consequence of mortal sin, the permanent wounds of original sin left in us etc..
We cannot survive as priests if we do not try to lift our hearts towards eternal truths. The truth must occupy us, fascinate us. If we do not keep the flame of faith alight, we will no longer understand our own priesthood, which is eminently a mystery of faith. It follows, therefore, that “the world does not understand us, because it does not understand Him” (1 Jn. 3:1).
I think that it is not temerity if I say that we need to be strengthened in our faith. You certainly know the deep crisis of the priesthood: so many priests have abandoned their priesthood, so many priests live in a state of depression and disillusionment in front of a frustrating collapse of Christian life.
Another reason why our faith is at risk is because we are all in danger of seeing things on a merely natural level: “others live an easy life and can be Christians, so why do I have to be alone and despised? Others have legitimate pleasures and compensations for their efforts, so why should they be forbidden for me?” Therefore, some priests demand that they be allowed natural comforts that were forbidden before: for example, so many no longer want priestly celibacy. Others fall because they gratify themselves to excess with things that are not expressly forbidden: it is so sad to see so many of our confreres addicted to alcoholism, dependent on the internet and movies, always looking for money, for holidays and for a comfortable life… The consequences are often disastrous: a double life, the abandon of priesthood, apostasy.
It is so important to strengthen our faith, to enter the high regions of eternal light and truth given by Our Lord! This supernatural REALITY of the faith will open our eyes and give us the light to detect the illusions and false ideologies which undermine the faith and make the people slaves of evil.
We Need Holiness
The second means by which we keep our priesthood alive in our souls and vanquish the attacks of the world is sanctity. In St. John’s Gospel, Our Lord begs the Father: “Sanctifica eos!” (Sanctify them!) (Jn. 17:17). The priest is a consecrated being; he holds in his hand and keeps in his heart the MOST HOLY. To him particularly, Our Lord says: “Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48). If we are aware of the awesome greatness of our priesthood, which puts us above all the angels and makes us accomplish miracles that no man and no angel can accomplish, then we must have an immense desire to “imitate, what we accomplish” (Imitamini quod tractatis). Hands, which touch the Most Holy, should be hands of a holy man. Therefore, above all we must have a profound desire of union with God and lead a life of prayer and so “taste and see how good He is” (Ps. 33:9). With admiration we consider our elder brother priests who lived a holy life. In times past, such priests converted whole countries and brought millions of souls to eternal salvation. We have a lot to learn from them, and if we follow their footsteps, Our Lord promises that we may accomplish similar things.
The Source of Faith and Holiness : The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Now, the most perfect expression and means of realization of both faith and sanctification is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Here we are at the very heart of our priesthood, here we are at the reason of our being, as revealed to us by Our Lord on Maundy Thursday. On this day, He ordered us to accomplish exactly what He showed us: “Hoc facite in meam commemorationem” (Do this for a commemoration of Me) (Lk. 22:19).
The Church Needs Faithful and Holy Priests
Saint Gregory the Great wrote: “the greatest harm for the Church are unfaithful priests; the greatest good for the Church are fervent and holy priests.” Our Lord wanted His kingdom to be hierarchical, and His holy will is to give God’s light and graces mainly through the priests, who are called by St. Peter “forma gregis ex animo” (a pattern of the flock from the heart) (1 Pet. 5:3): the souls of our flock depend upon the pattern we give them.
You have probably heard of the saying of Saint John Mary Vianney: “Holy priest – good parish; good priest – average parish; average priest – bad parish; bad priest – no parish”.
The Church needs holy priests with a firm faith perhaps more than ever before. The Church needs us to console her and heal the wounds inflicted upon her (from inside and from without). The Church needs us to win back her children who have been betrayed by unfaithful priests, she needs us to restore her and work for her increase.
The Mother of Faithful and Holy Priests
Wherever we see faithful and holy priests with an edifying and successful apostolate, we can be sure, that every one of them relies expressly upon the help of their priestly mother, Our Lady, the Immaculata! There are many priests who I know personally who declare openly that, without HER, they would have abandoned everything, and others, who say that they overcame terrible crisis thanks to the Rosary, etc.
Spread the Word
To strengthen the bond between us by helping you see and realise the grandeur, the beauty, the necessity and the foundations of your priestly life is the reason why I dare to send you this letter, dear confrere. If this letter pleases you and you think that it might do spiritual good to any of your fellow priests, then please pass it on to be read, or send me addresses so that it may be sent directly. If possible, I would prefer to contact you via email as it is the easiest, quickest and surest way to communicate.
Asking humbly your prayers, I promise you mine; wishing you grace and strength from Our Lord Himself, that He may fortify you in all your trials and console you in your sorrows, and that Our Lady, the best of all mothers, may constantly protect you from all enemies of our salvation.
Yours thanksfully,
Fr. Karl Stehlin
