For Priests and Seminarians

Priests must be united in Christ

The New Theological Movement blog was created with the particular intention of being useful for the theological formation of priests and seminarians. While we do hope that the articles are accessible to all people of faith, there are certain articles which really are written mostly for the benefit of those called to the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

On this page – “For priests and seminarians” – we will collect links to those articles from NTM which we hope to be of the greatest benefit to priests and seminarians. These articles will focus primarily upon themes touching upon the administration of the sacraments and other aspects of priestly life.

The articles will be listed according to themes, and some articles will be listed under multiple themes. This page will be updated as new articles are written.

Baptism

Why only water can be used for this sacrament - Because water washes, baptism forgives sins [here]
On the primary minister of this sacrament, who is Christ himself – What John did not know about Jesus [here]

On the three forms of baptism: Blood, desire, and water – The Holy Innocents received the most excellent form of baptism [here]

On the simple and absolute necessity of this sacrament – St. Francis Xavier, on the necessity of baptism for salvation [here]

Confirmation

The necessity of this sacrament – How necessary is confirmation? [here]

Why confirmation should be given to youths – Should confirmation be delayed? A reflection on the restored order [here]

The Most Holy Eucharist

On the bread of life discourse – Four reasons why the bread of life discourse cannot be a metaphor [here]

The sacramental presence of Christ in the Eucharist – The only difference between the body of Christ in heaven and the body of Christ in the Eucharist [here]

On the “Body” and “Blood” of Christ – If the whole Christ is present under both species, why do we say the “Body of Christ” and the “Blood of Christ”? [here]

On Eucharistic miracles – Does the Real Presence remain after a Eucharistic miracle? [here]

The Mass

The use of black vestment at Mass – Why black must come back (in the liturgy) [here]

On Passiontide – Why veil the cross and other images during Passiontide? [here]

On concelebration (a theological defense from St. Thomas Aquinas) – Holy Thursday: The first concelebrated Mass [here]

On Good Friday – There is no Mass on Good Friday and there is no Mass in heaven [here]

The sacrificial nature of the Mass – How the Mass is a sacrifice and why so many deny this doctrine [here]

On celebrating the Mass with devotion – St. Joseph teaches priests how to offer the Mass [here]
If there is an error in the words of consecration - What if the priest misspeaks the words of consecration? [here]

Confession

Books every confessor should read – For priests: How to be a good confessor; The example of St. John Vianney [here]

How to be a good confessor – The good confessor, according to St. Alphonsus [here]

On giving advice in the confessional – Is confession a time for spiritual direction? An answer from St. Alphonsus [here]

Instructions for the penitent – How to make a good confession [here]

Anointing of the Sick

This sacrament is only given in danger of death – Anointing of the Sick is called the sacrament of the dying [here] 
Only the sick can receive this sacrament – When should I receive anointing of the sick; or How sick is sick? [here]

When surgery may occasion this sacrament – Should anointing of the sick be given before surgery? [here]

Only priests can confer this sacrament – Why can't deacons confer Anointing of the Sick [here]
Young children can’t receive this sacrament – Why can’t young children receive anointing of the sick? [here]

Holy Order

On clerical continence – Clerical continence: The requirement for worship [here]

On the authority of bishops – On the authority of bishops, from St. Ignatius of Antioch [here]

On the sin of ambition – The ambition of a priest desiring to become a bishop [here]

Clerical blogging – Does a parish priest have time to blog? [here]

Matrimony and family life

Natural family planning is not contraceptive – Natural Family Planning with a “contraceptive mentality”? [here]

On media and family life – Mass media and the duty of parents [here]

Spiritual direction

The importance of spiritual direction – Is spiritual direction really for everybody? [here]

A good spiritual director – What to look for in a spiritual director [here]

Parish priests must be experts in the spiritual life - Parish priests need to make the time for spiritual direction [here]
If there is no possibility of spiritual direction – When you cannot find a spiritual director [here]

Preaching

Preaching about contraception – Someone should have told Mother Teresa... [here]

Additionally, there is the Thomistic Scripture Commentary series [here] which contains dogmatic reflections on the Sunday readings (usually posted on either Friday or Saturday morning).