Main Menu
RC DAILY MEDITATIONS
RC DAILY MEDITATIONS

October 22, 2024

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest

“Ask a Priest: Why Would the Clergy Bristle at Questions?”

/ Ask a Priest
Q: In my life I have had some doubts. It seems to me that when questions are raised, clergy of many denominations are defensive or take offense. I want to be clear that I would never mock anyone for having a belief. So why do some clergy take offense at questions? I do not understand why combativeness or defensiveness or insults come into play. Why can’t we all have open dialogue? – W.B.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: I’m sorry to hear about your experience. I can’t speak for all Catholic clergy, of course, much less those of Protestant denominations.

Ideally, Catholic clergy should be able to offer answers or at least point someone in the right direction. They should take up the advice of Scripture and “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15).

Being human, though, they might be caught off-guard in the middle of a difficult day. Or a question stumps them, and they feel bad about not being able to offer an adequate reply on the spot. Not everyone has mastered the art of apologetics.

Another factor could be the way a question is posed. Some inquirers, without realizing it, might come across as combative themselves.

So the reasons for the cold shoulders could vary. This isn’t to condone any bad behavior. But clergy are human and make mistakes too.

In any case, it helps to remember that we are here to help one another get to heaven. We want to stay focused on Jesus.

Where there is disunity, the devil is usually lurking in the background.

 

“Ask a Priest: Why Would the Clergy Bristle at Questions?” Read More »

Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Uncle Eddy

St Donatus

/ Uncle Eddy

Dear Donald,

I am glad that you continue to pray about your vocation.  At least that shows your awareness that God has a mission for you in this life.  That in itself is a formidable blessing – so many people go through life thinking that it’s just up to themselves to invent some kind of meaningful existence.  Nevertheless, I detected a certain unhealthy anxiety in your last note. You don’t need to know everything right away. You know already what God’s will is for you today and tomorrow (the faithful fulfillment of your current duties), and you have begun to follow the steps of prudent vocational discernment (that vocation.com Web site is, as you say, an excellent resource in this regard).  Now all that remains is for you to follow through; worrying won’t make God act any faster. If it’s any consolation, today’s saint will at least remind you that your vocation, whatever it is, is truly YOUR vocation, reserved for you by God.

Donatus was an Irish pilgrim who made his way to Rome out of devotion and penance in the ninth century (penitential pilgrimages were popular back then – I wish they still were).  On his return trip he passed through the small hill town near the Arno River called Fiesole (close to today’s Florence). It just so happened that on that day the people and clergy of Fiesole had gathered to choose a new bishop.  They were in the church fervently imploring the Holy Spirit to guide their choice when the humble pilgrim, a small man, poor and soft-spoken, entered the sacred building. He would have gone unnoticed among the crowd, except that as soon as he crossed the threshold the bells began to ring of their own accord and all the lanterns and candles spontaneously burst into flame.  All this caused quite a reaction among the pious Italians, and they took it as a clear sign from God that Donatus was the Holy Spirit’s choice for bishop. He served the Church with dedication and distinction, and he always had a special place in his heart for pilgrims.

You may not receive such dramatic signs in your process of vocational discernment (though you may – don’t count them out, anyhow), but you can rest assured that even though the whole path isn’t clear to you now, God knows exactly where he’s leading you.  Just keep going, one step at a time.

Your devoted uncle, Eddy

St Donatus Read More »

Silence

/ Regnum Christi News, Weekly Message, Weekly Message Blog

Dear Friends,

Here in the formation center it is “ordinary time.” The seven new consecrated have arrived, the community is settling in and theology classes at the University of San Damaso have begun. The days are getting shorter, and the temperatures are dropping. The liturgy, the routine of daily life and even the weather invite us to live silence and recollection in a deeper way. As much as we desire to enter this season, it is always easier to evade the ordinary and find escapes in noise and distraction.

To help my community with this, I prepared a reflection based on our constitutions and rule about the use of social media and means of entertainment. We read and discussed five numbers from our proper law about prayer, interior life, asceticism, chastity and the use of means of communication, and we shared in small groups how we feel called to live this. Coming back together from our perseverance teams to the larger community, there was a common desire and renewed commitment to protect times and spaces for silence and solitude.

“Listening and meditation are nourished by silence. … A discovery of the importance of silence is one of the secrets of practicing contemplation and meditation. One drawback of a society dominated by technology and the mass media is the fact that silence becomes increasingly difficult to achieve” (St. John Paul II).

Perhaps this is a good time of year for all of us to listen to the gentle call of the Lord to renew our good habits of prayer and silence and to continue responding to the desires of our heart for greater depth and intimacy in our relationship with Him.

Yours in the heart of Christ,

Glory

Silence Read More »

Scroll to Top

Events

Donate

Looking for another country?

Contact Regnum Christi near you

News & Resources

Main Menu

News & Resources

The Regnum Christi Mission

The Regnum Christi Family

The Regnum Christi Identity

Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!