Transitional Diaconate Charlotte Diocese and U.S. Military Archdiocese

Part I of the tripartite Sacrament of Holy Orders: Diaconate. They are on their way to Part II, the priesthood, being available to get out of the way of Christ Jesus, the High Priest, who will manifest His Priesthood through them. Part III, the episcopacy… what a fright! Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen said that no one but no one appreciates how all hell has broken out on Calvary until one becomes a bishop, when the fullness of the battle is laid out to be seen, this being the meaning of “episcopate”, wherein the bishop by definition oversees all.

Meanwhile, there are other battles in this world which are necessary for defense of the innocent from unjust aggression. Those in that battle are also and especially in need of spiritual care. Our bishop has generously allowed now Deacon Darren Balkey (Ensign!) to be “on-loan” to the Department of Defense, which at least back in the day was for a five year period of service. Great. I’m happy for the our Military and for our good and holy deacon. For Ensign Deacon Balkey: Hail Mary…

Meanwhile, I know the wonderfully Catholic family of deacon Aaron Huber. With him we have another good and holy deacon taking up the battle in this ecclesia militans (Church militant) here at home, wherein the battle is most fierce, as it is everywhere. Satan is unleashing attacks more than ever, and I am happy that we have Deacon Huber joining the battle in a particularly intense manner right here at home. For Deacon Huber: Hail Mary…

Jesus is always calling men to Holy Orders. And many are hearing that call of our Lord. But we must make acceptance of that call from God possible:

• It is a command of Jesus to pray that the Master of the harvest sends out laborers to gather in the harvest: that’s a commandment, not a suggestion. So: Hail Mary…
• Families need to raise their children in such manner that they have purity of heart and agility of soul in keeping up with the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion that they can hear the call of Jesus should He be pleased to call one of their sons to Holy Orders.
• Families need to “make it a thing” to pray for vocations within family prayer, daily, say, a Hail Mary, not putting pressure on anyone, ever, but such prayer making it clear that certainly no one is going to complain if a younster expresses interest in Holy Orders.
• Dioceses need to promote vocations. Yes. Not many do this, you know, in protest that women cannot be ordained, and so, if women cannot be ordained, then no one will be ordained. I know a diocese like this. They proclaimed in their diocesan newspaper that it’s good for women to be able to become priests because that will dismantle patriarchal whatever, you know, just like it is good for women to have abortions inasmuch as that dismantles patriarchal whatever. Yep. Just like that. We need bishops to stop this satanic idiocy. We need bishops to promote vocations.
• We have to make it known that priests are married to the Church by way of the wedding vows they themselves recite, acting in Persona Christi, in the Person of Christ, when they recite the Consecrations at Holy Mass, at the Wedding Banquet of Christ with His Immaculate Bride, the Church: This is my body, given for you in sacrifice, my blood poured out for you in sacrifice.
• We have to make for a culture of chastity. The world is extremely aggressive, but it can be done. Remember Blessed Carlo Acutis? He was a computer genius. Did he use the internet for unchastity? NO! Carlo is the best. He died from cancer at just 15 years old, but it is his devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament on the internet that I wish all priests would have as they offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Take a gander at the Wikipedia article on him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Acutis and then at the website he himself created, and about the presentation of Eucharistic miracles which has been making it’s way right around the world, and may be coming to Charlotte Diocese for the Eucharistic Congress, and perhaps even to the smallest parish in North America right here in Andrews if we have a big enough venue: http://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/Liste/list.html
• I’m quite sure our Eucharistic Congress here in Charlotte Diocese, with the Eucharistic Procession right through the city streets, was formative in the vocations of our two transitional deacons, who are now only a year away from being ordained to the priesthood.