Ministerial Priesthood In The Third Millennium

Many Christians struggle to balance the religious and secular elements of Christmas, but the history of the feast shows that this is nothing new. The religious Christmas has changed over the centuries and, contrary to many critics, is thriving today. This brief, accessible account will explain that: The first Christians did not celebrate Christmas at al. The earliest mention of the feast occurs in the fourth century. In the Middle Ages Christmas moved into northern Europe where it became a major winter festival, competing with the pagan Yule. During the sixteenth century some Christians objected to Christmas because they claimed it had no biblical foundation. In England and New England the Puritans made it a crime to celebrate it! The modern secular Christmas arose in the nineteenth century, but the religious Christmas continued to grow in popularity and meshed well with the developing emphasis on Christmas as a day for family and friends. In today's world rampant consumerism threatens the religious Christmas, but it continues not only to survive but to flourish, taking on new life and new forms. By tracing these and other aspects of the religious celebration of Christmas through the centuries, Joseph F. Kelly does much more than provide us with interesting facts. He reassures us that though the religious Christmas may not be in its traditional form, it is indeed alive and well 'and has a bright and promising future. Joseph F. Kelly, PhD, is professor of religious studies at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. He is author of The Origins of Christmas, An Introduction to the New Testament for Catholics, The Collegeville Church History Timeline, The Birth of Jesus According to the Gospels, and The Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church, al published by Liturgical Press.

Priesthood begins with God's invitation, but it develops out of man's response. What does it take to respond enthusiastically, wholeheartedly and faithfully to the call to serve? In this attempt to answer these questions, the author clearly sets forth what it takes to be a Catholic priest in the third millennium. Whether he is stressing the necessity of regular Confession, the need to celebrate daily Mass, say the Liturgy of the Hours, or discussing priestly celibacy in frank, realistic terms, he emphasizes true priestly identity by presenting a life worth living, a life worth sharing, a life worth offering up to the Father through Christ and in the Holy Spirit. Because it is pastoral, practical and thoroughly Catholic, this book will renew the joy of being Catholic in the hearts of seminarians, priests and the people they serve.

"Publication no. 5-367, United States Catholic Conference, Washington, D.C."--Page 4 of cover. Includes bibliographical references.

Born from the side of Jesus, pierced on the cross, the church is the living body of Christ. Like Jesus himself, it is both eternal and temporal, spiritual and material, spotless and wounded. Constituted as an integrated, living body, the church is the sacrament of Christ; that is, it reveals Christ to the world and makes him present in the world. It exists in order to evangelize and does this most effectively when its diverse members are united in love. This collection of chapters from scholars from diverse fields offers a fresh approach to Catholic ecclesiology. It is hoped that the reader of this book will discover anew the beauty of the church, a living body always old and ever new.

What is Catholicism? Where is the Church headed in the third millennium? These questions provide the structure for this book, which combines a faithful presentation of the tradition as well as a critical theological reflection of where the Church is today and where it might be moving.

This important book examines priestly identity as it has evolved within Anglicanism over the last 15 years, including the ways in which the once nearly synonymous terms “English” and “Anglican” diverged over the years. In the process, the author delineates an intellectual and social history of modern Anglicanism.

"This book collects a series of talks of Pope John Paul II on the Priesthod. This catechesis is inserted in a larger cycle dedicated to the Church, as of July 1991. (This book) contains Pope John Paul II's expectations for the training of priests at the dawn of the year 2000. It should be a helpful reference for bishops, priests, seminarians and those working with future priests. ...." [from back cover]