Minor Defensio Insitutionis Sacredotii - A Minor Defense on the Institution of the Priesthood
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Happy Pentecost Sunday!
Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,
1,991 years ago today the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles and the Blessed Mother as they were in the Upper Room and the Church had her first birthday and was ready to begin to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ.
When those in the Upper Room received the Holy Ghost they went forth into the world and testified that anyone who believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was baptized could be saved, and those who did not would be damned—that same message which had been passed down and is still consistently being proclaimed almost 2,000 years later.
On Pentecost, it is good to remember the Sacrament of Confirmation which leaves an indelible mark, an indelible character upon the soul. Just as those in the Upper Room were sealed with the Holy Ghost on Pentecost, we at our Confirmations our sealed with the Holy Ghost. We officially become Soldiers of God, Soldiers of Christ, and members of the Christian Army.
At our Baptisms, we became Children of God, at our Confirmations we became Soldiers of God.
As the old song goes, “Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war” and so too we are marching off to war and fighting on the side of good against the forces of evil. We know, that in the end, who will have the ultimate victory. Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Our Savior, and Our King, will win the fight and the Christian Army of Christ will be victorious!
Many have attempted to destroy Holy Mother Church throughout the ages, but let this short reminder remind the world of what has happened every time:
“The Jews tried to destroy it and they in turn were almost totally destroyed in AD 70.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS STILL HERE.
The Romans tried to destroy it, but they were in turn destroyed and their entire empire collapsed in AD 476.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS STILL HERE.
The Moslems tried to destroy it in the Middle Ages and failed.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS STILL HERE.
The Protestants tried to destroy it in their revolt and failed, and look what happened to them. The ‘Church’ of Protestantism, which Luther founded, was from the beginning cracked and splintered. Look at Protestantism today, over 39,000 splinters, with more cropping up every day.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS STILL HERE.
Hitler tried to destroy it and failed. Where is he and his 1,000-year Reich now?
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS STILL HERE.
Communism tried to destroy it and failed and where is Communism today?
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS STILL HERE.
So, if all of the above much more formidable foes tried and failed to destroy the Catholic Church, what makes you think you will succeed?”
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, that is so true. The nearly 2,000-year-old promise that Christ made to His Bride when speaking to Pope Saint Peter of how the gates of Hell will never prevail against her has remained unbroken and will continue to remain unbroken as the ages roll (Matthew 16:18)!
Happy Pentecost!
May God Bless You,
Christ is King,
God Love You,
Lawrence T. Westfall
Born a Protestant, I converted to the Catholic faith at the age of 18 during my senior year of High School. I was baptized a United Methodist, became an American Baptist, and when I got my license I began to serch out other Churches and denominations. At 16 to 17, I was placed in the pulpit of a non-denomational church and preached a total of two sermons in the span of three months, before ultimately beginning the long and somewhat bumpy journey of converting to Catholicism. I was received into the Catholic Church on September 4th, 2021 and was confirmed on September 19th, 2021 by the Most Reverend Mark E. Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. For my patron saint, I was lucky enough to take the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who deeply inspired my conversion to the Catholic faith. I am currently discerning what God has in store for my life and what He will lead me to do. I am just beginning to publish articles that I have written. As St. Paul tells us, "Whatever you do...do it for the glory of God!" That is exactly what I intend to do. God Love You!
