Conferences #197 – ( 40min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fr. Ben Luedtke gives the first talk for the Priest’s Retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN, filling in for Card. Burke. He discusses the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice and how this is made present in the Mass by the priest and how this shows the marvelous uniqueness of the Catholic priest.

List of talks for the Priests Conference 2012:

• Hom #1 Mon, Dec 3, Fr. Ben Luedtke, On the Mass
• Talk #1 – Mon, Dec, Conf #197 , Fr. Ben Luetdke, Unique Shepherds
• Hom #2 – Tue, Dec 4, Fr. Ben Luedtke, Becoming Christ
• Talk #2 – Tues, Dec 4, Conf #198, Fr. Ben Luetdke, The Whys of Priests
• Talk #3 – Tue, Dec 4, Conf #199, Fr. Ben Luetdke, Conversion
• Hom #3 – Wed, Dec 5, Card. Raymond Burke, Unite to Him who Sends Us
• Talk #4 – Wed, Dec 5, Conf #200,  Card. Raymond Burke, Saintly Priests
• Talk #5 – Wed, Dec 5, Conf #201,  Card. Raymond Burke, Celibacy
• Hom #4 – Thu, Dec 6, Card. Raymond Burke, St Nicholas, Exemplar of Shepherds
• Talk #6 – Thu, Dec 6, Conf #202,  Card. Raymond Burke, Centrality of Eucharist
• Talk #7 – Thu, Dec 6, Conf #203,  Card. Raymond Burke, Sacred Heart
• Talk #8 – Fri, Dec 7, Conf #204, Card. Raymond Burke, New Evangelization
• Hom #5 – Fri, Dec 7, Card. Raymond Burke, St Ambrose, Good Shepherd

Audio (MP3)

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Conferences #198 – ( 43min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fr. Ben Luedtke gives the second talk for the Priest’s Retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN.

First, recapping his first conference of how the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice is made present in the mass. He then covers the many questions people, and priests, have about the priesthood.

• Why is Christ still on the Cross on Catholic Crucifixes?
• Why crucifixes instead of “Resurectcifixes”
• Why priests wear black
• Why priests wear a white collars
• Why confession is so important
• Why forgiveness of others is merciful to ourselves
• Why forgiveness does not involve feelings
• Why we are not called to like our enemies
• Why happiness depends on simply choosing to be so
• Why going to heaven or hell is a matter of choice
• Why Hell is an expression of God’s mercy
• Why priests are celibate
• Why priests should always show Christ’s mercy in confession
• Why Priests should avoid political correctness like the plague
• Why priests need to find out where their parishioners are “at” first
• Why priests need to talk at their parishioner’s level
• Why sacrifice and prayer is most important for conversion
• Why priests should frequently reflect on the first day of their ordination
• Why keeping death in front of our eyes will make us happy
• Why feelings of unworthiness should not discourage priests
• Why mystical experiences are not important for salvation

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Conferences #199 – ( 30min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Fr. Ben Luedtke gives the third talk for the Priest’s Retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN. He preaches on the need for personal conversion and how this is what is asked for in the Second Vatican Council and the New Evangelization, that before we go and try to change the world we need to change ourselves. Personal conversion should be the habitual starting point for all our apostolic activity.

List of talks for the Priests Conference 2012:

• Hom #1 Mon, Dec 3, Fr. Ben Luedtke, On the Mass
• Talk #1 – Mon, Dec, Conf #197 , Fr. Ben Luetdke, Unique Shepherds
• Hom #2 – Tue, Dec 4, Fr. Ben Luedtke, Becoming Christ
• Talk #2 – Tues, Dec 4, Conf #198, Fr. Ben Luetdke, The Whys of Priests
• Talk #3 – Tue, Dec 4, Conf #199, Fr. Ben Luetdke, Conversion
• Hom #3 – Wed, Dec 5, Card. Raymond Burke, Unite to Him who Sends Us
• Talk #4 – Wed, Dec 5, Conf #200,  Card. Raymond Burke, Saintly Priests
• Talk #5 – Wed, Dec 5, Conf #201,  Card. Raymond Burke, Celibacy
• Hom #4 – Thu, Dec 6, Card. Raymond Burke, St Nicholas, Exemplar of Shepherds
• Talk #6 – Thu, Dec 6, Conf #202,  Card. Raymond Burke, Centrality of Eucharist
• Talk #7 – Thu, Dec 6, Conf #203,  Card. Raymond Burke, Sacred Heart
• Talk #8 – Fri, Dec 7, Conf #204, Card. Raymond Burke, New Evangelization
• Hom #5 – Fri, Dec 7, Card. Raymond Burke, St Ambrose, Good Shepherd

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Conferences #200 – ( 59min) >>> Play

Audio Only

Cardinal Burke gives the the 4th talk at the Priest’s Retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN. He reflects on the lives of saintly priest, namely St. John Vianney, Bl. Miguel Pro, St. Damien of Molokai and St. Maximilian Kolbe, and how they give a great example to priests in our challenging times. St John Vianney says we need to open up our hearts to the Sacred heart of Jesus revealed in the Holy Eucharist in order to be spiritual fathers.

Hermenuetics of rupture

• 1968 issues in the Church all things old were considered out of place. Shift to all things new and some of these things are problems, including undue familiarity that is meant to be a means to connect with people but blurs the idea of father figure that reflects our relationship with God. Some of this is a false humility where priests are acting as if they are just like anyone else when they are not.
• The source and ultimate meaning of the Priests life and ministry in the holy sacrifice of Mass where the Sacred Heart is pierced for the salvation of souls.
• Bearing the sufferings of the ministry that are becoming more frequent in our increasingly hostile, secular world is born by uniting ourselves to the sufferings of the Sacred Heart surrounded by the crown of thorns.
• Importance of reverent celebration of the Eucharist to help the world to know that the Lord is present. Should be Christ centered not priest centered and this is what the Second Vatican Council actually teaches.
• Cure de Ars arrived in Ars where the faith was in bad shape must like today. It was not innovation but Eucharistic adoration and confession that changed the place.
• Catechisis and priestly ministry is not separate, contrary to some modern thinking. Both through CCD programs and homilies.
• Bl. John XXIII underlines importance of preaching in St. John Vianney
• Holy hours for priests very important, a mini daily retreat from our incessant activities to recharge and unite.

List of talks for the Priests Conference 2012:

• Hom #1 Mon, Dec 3, Fr. Ben Luedtke, On the Mass
• Talk #1 – Mon, Dec, Conf #197 , Fr. Ben Luetdke, Unique Shepherds
• Hom #2 – Tue, Dec 4, Fr. Ben Luedtke, Becoming Christ
• Talk #2 – Tues, Dec 4, Conf #198, Fr. Ben Luetdke, The Whys of Priests
• Talk #3 – Tue, Dec 4, Conf #199, Fr. Ben Luetdke, Conversion
• Hom #3 – Wed, Dec 5, Card. Raymond Burke, Unite to Him who Sends Us
• Talk #4 – Wed, Dec 5, Conf #200,  Card. Raymond Burke, Saintly Priests
• Talk #5 – Wed, Dec 5, Conf #201,  Card. Raymond Burke, Celibacy
• Hom #4 – Thu, Dec 6, Card. Raymond Burke, St Nicholas, Exemplar of Shepherds
• Talk #6 – Thu, Dec 6, Conf #202,  Card. Raymond Burke, Centrality of Eucharist
• Talk #7 – Thu, Dec 6, Conf #203,  Card. Raymond Burke, Sacred Heart
• Talk #8 – Fri, Dec 7, Conf #204, Card. Raymond Burke, New Evangelization
• Hom #5 – Fri, Dec 7, Card. Raymond Burke, St Ambrose, Good Shepherd

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Conferences #201 – ( 62min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Cardinal Raymond Burke gives the the 5th talk at the Priest’s Retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN. He finishes his talk from this morning on the good example of saintly priests and specifically priestly celibacy. He starts with the reference to Jesus’ statement on the those who give up things of this world for the kingdom of God will receive a hundred fold in this world and in the next. This is for all people but especially for those who enter the ordained priesthood.

• Non-celibacy in the priesthood is the exception
• Ancient practice and teaching, New Testament onward, Paul, Jesus
• Identify with Jesus
• Considered a great act of love for Christ, undivided heart, a positive thing
• Living celibacy with generosity leads to a generous regarding poverty and obedience.
• A witness of supernatural grace.
• A bond with married faithful not a condemnation of marriage or procreation
• Priests are to have spiritual children
• Unmarried man concerned exclusively with the Lord.
• Both marriage and virginity for the kingdom of God are from the Lord, Catechism
• Book by JPII, “Gift and Mystery” and Litany for priests
• Book “A Priest is not his Own” by Fulton Sheen

Audio (MP3)

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Conferences #202 – ( 45min) >>> Play

Cardinal Raymond Burke gives the the 4th talk at the Priest’s Retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN. This talk is on the Eucharist and how it should be the center of the life of the priest. He covers:

• Eucharist is central to priesthood and priesthood is central to the Eucharist
• Mass should be the center of a priest’s day
• Need Eucharistic Devotion to help keep this Eucharistic perspective
• “Spirit of Vatican II” downplayed this when documents say the opposite
• Central to St. John Vianney. Pope Benedict XVI Letter. Rejuvenated his parish.
• Confession related to Eucharistic devotion. e.g. St. John Vianney
• Both Confession and Eucharist focuses on need for forgiveness, virtuous circle
• Relation to daily examination of conscience
• Real presence teaches how Our Lord thirsts for our salvation.
• Meditation on the offertory prayers, Priests and victims
• Laxity in ministry related to laxity at Mass
• Catechisis important for Eucharistic devotion and fervor of priests and laity
• Cardinal Newman: objective teaching important for forming conscience and devotion.
• JPII: priests unite heaven and earth at the Eucharist Encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia sec 5. “authority given him to consecrate”
• Priest should be anxious to distribute Eucharist as well as consecrate
• St Thomas Aquinas: Eucharist contains universe and all the Jesus did for us
• Good to keep in mind when assailed by feeling of inadequacy in today’s trying times
• Priestly office is direct continuation of that conferred on the Apostles
• JPII 2nd year “Summit of priestly ministry” Ecclesia de Eucharistia and Gift and Mystery
  • Church was born from the Eucharist even more so the priesthood
  • Can see humility of Christ like at Bethlehem
• Benedict XVI 2005 Christmas discourse Hermeneutic of Rupture and the bad effect on Eucharistic devotion
  • Importance then to adopt Hermeneutic of Continuity to go forward.
• Connection of Eucharist with devotion to Our Lady
• St John the Apostle is representative all priests at the foot of the Cross
• Things related to Mass and Eucharist should be well kept as a reflection of our faith
• Encourage the faithful to participate frequently and fervently in Mass

List of talks for the Priests Conference 2012:

• Hom #1 Mon, Dec 3, Fr. Ben Luedtke, On the Mass
• Talk #1 – Mon, Dec, Conf #197 , Fr. Ben Luetdke, Unique Shepherds
• Hom #2 – Tue, Dec 4, Fr. Ben Luedtke, Becoming Christ
• Talk #2 – Tues, Dec 4, Conf #198, Fr. Ben Luetdke, The Whys of Priests
• Talk #3 – Tue, Dec 4, Conf #199, Fr. Ben Luetdke, Conversion
• Hom #3 – Wed, Dec 5, Card. Raymond Burke, Unite to Him who Sends Us
• Talk #4 – Wed, Dec 5, Conf #200,  Card. Raymond Burke, Saintly Priests
• Talk #5 – Wed, Dec 5, Conf #201,  Card. Raymond Burke, Celibacy
• Hom #4 – Thu, Dec 6, Card. Raymond Burke, St Nicholas, Exemplar of Shepherds
• Talk #6 – Thu, Dec 6, Conf #202,  Card. Raymond Burke, Centrality of Eucharist
• Talk #7 – Thu, Dec 6, Conf #203,  Card. Raymond Burke, Sacred Heart
• Talk #8 – Fri, Dec 7, Conf #204, Card. Raymond Burke, New Evangelization
• Hom #5 – Fri, Dec 7, Card. Raymond Burke, St Ambrose, Good Shepherd

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Conferences #203 – ( 46min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Cardinal Burke gives the the 7th talk at the Priest’s Retreat at at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN.

Card. Burke gives his reflection on the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and how it can foster and make fruitful a priestly vocation. He starts with his own experience growing up in his parents house.

• Helps inspire to embrace a vocation
  • Teaches richness of the faith
  • Children are impressed with the dedication of priests, Sacred Heart helps them to see this.
  • Devotion helps focus on the essence of the Church and so fosters vocations to the priesthood
  • Sacred Heart helps see a priest as an identity rather than a profession
• Helps live the vocation once embraced
  • Outpouring of Christ’s own life in the pierced Sacred Heart helps priests do the same
  • Foster theo-centric understanding of the Mass combating the tendency to man-centered view we all have
  • Sacred Heart shows sobriety in era of confusion
  • Teaches Divine Mercy in the form of preaching to the hungry flock
  • Avoids the selfrighteous attitude that condemns those who have wondered afar
  • Helps sustain and encourage a priest in time of trial and temptation
  • Loving people with a celibate and priestly heart
  • Helps avoid impatience with others
  • Zeal in teaching, preaching and celebrating Mass
  • and avoidance of discouragement in failures in zeal
  • To find in Jesus alone rest for our souls
  • To forgive others as Jesus did, “Forgive them for they know not what they do”
  • Spiritual Fatherhood is not giving up of manhood but to be spiritual fathers
  • Avoid self pity by seeing the unconditional love of Jesus, like a good father
  • leads to a spiritual bond with the Immaculate Heart of Mary
  • And with all the saints
  • To be with Mary at the foot of the Cross
  • Completing what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ
  • To see how Church is the mystical body of Christ
  • Reminds us of second coming and how membership in the Church will be all important
  • To love Jesus and not be fearful of him

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Conferences #204 – ( 62min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Cardinal Burke gives the the 8th and final talk at the Priest’s Retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center in Bloomington, IN.

The topic is the “New Evangelization and the Priesthood” which is related to the Year of Faith for the 50 anniversary of the first session of the Second Vatican Council and covers:

• Misconception that the discipline in Canon Law is somehow antithetical to pastoral considerations
• Three fold aspect

1. Reach new people,
2. Help existing Christians grow,
3. hHelp those Christians who have wandered far off.

• Christifideles Laici post synodal letter
  • Faithful are being put under test by onslought of atheism and indifferentism especially in First World  where consumerism is prevalent
  • Secularism portrays Religion as just a side show
  • Urgent repair is need to stem secularism
  • Do what we can to uphold Christian aspect of US culture
  • Mend Christian fabric of society but first must fix Church interiorly
  • Separation of faith from daily life, “Personally opposed but…”
  • Need to hear gospel with freshness of first apostles
  • Society says all authority should be restricted and questioned except the authority of myself
  • But need to take up the cross and do the Father’s will
  • Specifically priests, must involve entire people of God.
  • Need to be immersed in mystery of Christ
  • Good way for his is Devotion to Sacred Heart of Jesus
  • Catholics will respond to their priests and seek for their leadership
  • Devil does not rest. Be vigilant, especially priests
  • Zach 13:7 strike the shepherd and flock will scatter
• Good synthesis Close of Jubilee Year Novo Millennio Ineunte paragraph 29
  • There is no Magic formula but rather a person, Jesus, alive for us in the Church
  • Gospel and Living tradition
  • This program does not change but does take into account changes in society
  • Holiness is key, starting with Baptism, but then must deepen our spirituality
• Extraordinary nature of our ordinary life, very important
  • Holiness makes ordinary lives extraordinary
  • JPII’s large number of canonizations was meant to underline this
  • “The high standard of ordinary Christian living”
  • This holiness in ordinary, living people is noticed by others
• New Evangelization included in Paul VI Evangelii Nuntiandi Dec 8 1975
  • Paul VI sad over problems in the Church
  • Homily Sts. Peter and Paul 1972 through a fissure smoke of Satan entered the church
  • Restlessness that disregarded the Church and her wisdom and turned to the World and the media
  • Instead of fresh air…
• Mother Mary Francis Poor Clare Collotine Ignatius Press
  • Energy should not be put into workshops should be on community formation and mental hygiene
  • The holy spirit is true councilor
  • To talk from a stump of censure is not the answer
• Hermenuetic of rupture
  • Must renew Church as if all that happened in the Church since apostles was mistake
  • Dec 2005 two interpretation of the Council: Rupture or Reform with the past councils, magisterium v.
  • Fruit of rupture, misunderstand that the council was given some sort of mandate to form a new constitution. But no such mandate by the people, Our Lord has already established new constitution
• Canon Law
  • 1998 Casa Santa maria residence in Rome ran into many priests across the country
  • Did not really want cannon law but out of obedience
  • Most all priests considered canon law as useless and something they thought was done away with
  • This is part of the hermeneutic rupture
  • Discipline is in continuity with pastorship
  • Council did not do away with canon law
  • No dichotomy between canon law and
  • Great harm was done by this spirit against the Church discipline
    • Catechisis
    • Religious life
    • loss of Catholic nature of Catholic charitable institutes
    • Loss of the meaning of marriage in the face of disregard of canon law
    • Against idea that the Church is the mirror of justice
• Canon law is not against pastoral as popes have repeatedly said to the Roman Rota
  • JPII in 1990, 2005 to Roman Rota
  • BXVI 2006, 2007, 2010
  • Pastoral without discipline (cannon Law) is pseudo pastoral and does harm
  • Natural link between what is good for the individual and the truth of the status of the individual in regard to salvation
  • E.g. Catholic Hospitals and their Catholic Identity
    • doing immoral operation, sterilization etc.
    • Are they Catholic or not? Principle of non-contradiction comes in which is a principle of objective truth irregardless of religion.
• Conclusion
  • Canon Law is helpful to the New Evangelization
  • big part of remaining of the Catholic fabric
  • Task of doing this is formidable.
  • Mary Immaculate and saints unceasingly intercedes for us.
  • Let us invoke her as Speculum Justicia, Mirror of Justice
  • Justice is actually a minimum standard for the life of charity
  • Can not have charity if we can not even uphold justice
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe end of the unjust Human sacrifice of the Aztecs
  • Resulted in the lasting union of the new people of Mexico in America
  • Sent Juan Diego to Bishop, respecting Church hierarchy
  • JPII apostolic constitution Sacrae Disciplinae Leges
  • Canon Law needs to be once again given the role it had

List of talks for the Priests Conference 2012:

• Hom #1 Mon, Dec 3, Fr. Ben Luedtke, On the Mass
• Talk #1 – Mon, Dec, Conf #197 , Fr. Ben Luetdke, Unique Shepherds
• Hom #2 – Tue, Dec 4, Fr. Ben Luedtke, Becoming Christ
• Talk #2 – Tues, Dec 4, Conf #198, Fr. Ben Luetdke, The Whys of Priests
• Talk #3 – Tue, Dec 4, Conf #199, Fr. Ben Luetdke, Conversion
• Hom #3 – Wed, Dec 5, Card. Raymond Burke, Unite to Him who Sends Us
• Talk #4 – Wed, Dec 5, Conf #200,  Card. Raymond Burke, Saintly Priests
• Talk #5 – Wed, Dec 5, Conf #201,  Card. Raymond Burke, Celibacy
• Hom #4 – Thu, Dec 6, Card. Raymond Burke, St Nicholas, Exemplar of Shepherds
• Talk #6 – Thu, Dec 6, Conf #202,  Card. Raymond Burke, Centrality of Eucharist
• Talk #7 – Thu, Dec 6, Conf #203,  Card. Raymond Burke, Sacred Heart
• Talk #8 – Fri, Dec 7, Conf #204, Card. Raymond Burke, New Evangelization
• Hom #5 – Fri, Dec 7, Card. Raymond Burke, St Ambrose, Good Shepherd

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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