Number of new priests expected to rise in 2007

AP ^ | June 1, 2007

[NYer]

WASHINGTON — This year's new crop of Roman Catholic priests in the United States averages 35 years of age and includes a large number of foreign-born priests and men who entered the seminary with college degrees, a study shows.

The survey, closely watched because of the country's well-documented priest shortage, was conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Researchers gathered information from 282 seminarians, or about 60 percent of the 475 candidates for the priesthood in 2007.

Although final numbers will not be available until next spring, a rise in ordinations is possible.

This year's projected class would be an increase over 431 ordinations in 2006, according to Georgetown researchers.

Even so, ordination classes remain smaller than in decades past.

The total number of priests serving in the United States has declined 29 percent in the past 40 years, while the Catholic population has grown 40 percent.

Among the characteristics of the 2007 class:

One in three candidates for the priesthood was born outside the United States, with the largest numbers coming from Vietnam, Mexico, Poland and the Philippines.

Seven in 10 report their primary race as white or European-American. Asian priests are overrepresented when compared with the U.S. Asian population. The survey found that Hispanic priests are underrepresented.

The average age of 35 is approximately the same as in 1998, the first year for which data are available.

More than six in 10 completed college, and one in five had attained a graduate degree in fields such as law, medicine and education.

The surveyed seminarians included 221 men studying to serve for dioceses and 60 studying to join religious orders.

One respondent did not indicate an affiliation.

[NYer]

Good news bump!

[AFPhys]

I have two young neices who decided to become nuns over the last ten years. (Females greatly outnumber males in my family)... I haven’t doubted this movement toward the religious life is on the part of both sexes, though.

[eastforker]

Not being a catholic I have a question.What is the significance of rosary beads? Ihave aquired a set of 54 beads with several medalions. One of them being “Our Lady of the Airways”. Does this mean anything? It appears the beads are wooden and the medalions are sterling silver.

[Nihil Obstat]

Good news - Lord make them holy.

[markomalley]

Not being a catholic I have a question.What is the significance of rosary beads? Ihave aquired a set of 54 beads with several medalions. One of them being “Our Lady of the Airways”. Does this mean anything? It appears the beads are wooden and the medalions are sterling silver.

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Glad you asked!

What is the Rosary?  |  How to Use the Rosary  |  Rosary Prayers

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The Rosary is the story of our salvation in Jesus Christ, demonstrated by the his life.  This is done in three sets of five Mysteries.  The first is called the Joyful Mysteries.

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation - Luke 1:26 - 38

2. The Visitation - Luke 1:39 - 56

3. The Nativity - Luke 2:4 - 20; Matthew 2:1 - 11

4. The Presentation - Luke 2:22 - 28

5. The Finding in the Temple - Luke 2:41 - 52

The second set of Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, puts the Cross in the center of our prayer life, as it was central in the life of Jesus Christ.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony of the Garden - Matthew 26:36 - 46

2. The Scourging - Luke - 23:13 - 16

3. The Crowning with Thorns - John 19:2 - 3

4. The Bearing of the Cross - John 19:17

5. The Crucifixion Mark - Mark 15:23 - 38

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection - Matthew 28:1-10

2. The Ascension - Luke 24:50 - 51

3. The Coming of the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:13 - 14, 2:1 - 4

4. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary - Dormition

5. The Coronation of the Virgin Mary - II Timothy 4:8

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How Do You Use The Rosary?

1. To begin the Rosary, holding the crucifix in your right hand, make the sign of the cross - this is done by taking the fingers of your right hand and touching your forehead saying, "in the name of the Father," then touching your chest and saying, "and the Son," then the left shoulder, "and the Holy" and finally the right shoulder, "Spirit. Amen" - and repeat the Apostles' Creed. This is the creed of our Baptism.
   
2. Moving up the pendant, holding the first bead above the crucifix, say the Our Father (The Lord's Prayer).
   
3. Moving up the pendant, say the Hail Mary on each of the next three beads, for the intention of the increase of the gifts of Faith, Hope, and Charity. On the chain, in the space before the next bead, say the Glory To The Father.
   
4. The next bead right before the medal is the Our Father bead that begins the first mystery. Holding the bead, recall the mystery you wish to offer, then begin the Our Father.
   
5. Moving past the medal, start up the right hand side of the circle, gently reciting the Hail Mary, on each of the next ten beads.
   
6. After the Hail Mary on the last of the ten beads, say the Glory To The Father, etc. on the chain.
   
7. Moving to the next bead which begins the next mystery, recall the second mystery in the series, and repeat the recitation as above for the first mystery. Begin with the Our Father, then ten Hail Mary's ending with the Glory To The Father.
   
8. Continue all the beads until you arrive back at the medal.
   
9. To the end Rosary, the prayer for the feast of the Annunciation may then be said on the medal.
   

As you become more familiar with the handling of the Rosary and the memorizing of the prayers, you will be able to carry it in your pocket, or wake at night and, by touch find your way around this familiar form of repetitive prayer.

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Rosary Prayers

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father (The Lords Prayer)

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gloria To The Father (The Gloria Patri)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever, Amen.

The Collect for the Annunciation

Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may be his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spriit, on God, now and forever. Amen.

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[markomalley]

As an aside, I should add that there were some innovations added in the 20th Century, such as the “Fatima Prayer,” and the “Luminous Mysteries,” but the above reflects the Rosary as it had been said for hundreds of years prior.

[siunevada]

We just said farewell to a seminarian who did his year’s internship at our parish. Another two years of seminary and he will be ordained. Plays the guitar, but no Kumbaya.

[Squire of St. Michael]

And in case you were curious. The five mysteries of that wonderful 21st century innovation that is prayed by Catholics all over the world are:

The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
The Wedding Feast at Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom and the Call to Conversion
The Transfiguration
The Institution of the Eucharist

His late and great Holiness, Pope John Paul II was inspired to add a mystery that focused on Christ’s public ministry - thus we are blessed with the option of praying the Mysteries of Light or the Luminous mysteries.

I hope you try it out eastforker. My college roommate who was a solid and very well-educated Calvinist began “experimenting” when his girlfriend (now wife) had become an agnostic. He was ready to call off the relationship, but thought he would try a rosary or two as a last ditch effort and Mary came through for him!