Are today's seminiarians and newly ordained priests really more orthodox?

[Lepanto]

I hear and read in many places that today’s seminiarians and newly ordained priests are more orthodox than their immediate predecessors.

But, is this conventional wisdom based on secondary information? Is everyone just repeating this because they heard it/read it from someone else (and want to believe it)? Or do they have first-hand information by knowing some seminarians and/or new priests?

Are today’s seminiarians and newly ordained priests really more orthodox than those ordained from approx the 1960s-1990s???

 

[jpjd]

I hear and read in many places that today’s seminiarians and newly ordained priests are more orthodox than their immediate predecessors.

But, is this conventional wisdom based on secondary information? Is everyone just repeating this because they heard it/read it from someone else (and want to believe it)? Or do they have first-hand information by knowing some seminarians and/or new priests?

Are today’s seminiarians and newly ordained priests really more orthodox than those ordained from approx the 1960s-1990s???

I can personally attest to personally knowing (in fact one is our current pastor) 2 priests who were ordained about 6 years ago, and they are as orthodox as they come. I feel extremely blessed to have him as our pastor. There is another priest I am familiar with who was ordained 2 years ago who subs for ours when needed, and judging by his Mass and homilies, he is also orthodox.

That’s why I think there is indeed a “new springtime” in the air, as JPII once put it.

 

[1ke]

It is my first hand experience. I’ve not met a single priest or seminarian my age (40) or younger who is not orthodox. And, I’ve met a fair number of priests in my former large city parish, at conferences, and traveling for my job.

 

[CollegeKid]

I have to echo what everyone else has said. Every priest I’ve met (or almost every one, at least) who is roughly 35 or younger seems quite orthodox. Even one in this age range whom I thought (before getting to know him better) might be a bit less orthdox because of the seminary he came from was happy to hear about a local traditional parish where they have the Tridentine Latin Mass and Confession daily. He said he wants to learn to offer the Novus Ordo in Latin and perhaps the Old Mass as well.

 

[mark_a]

Makes sense because the more orthodox dioscese are getting more men into the seminaries.

 

[stadre]

One of our new priests was ordained in May. I went to him for confession yesterday–what an awesome experience! I pray that he does not lose his love for the sacrament or his “children”. He took a long time and there was a long line.

 

[baltobetsy]

One of our new priests was ordained in May. I went to him for confession yesterday–what an awesome experience! I pray that he does not lose his love for the sacrament or his “children”. He took a long time and there was a long line.

I have had nearly the same experience with a priest ordained two years ago. He always has the longest line, and takes plenty of time with everyone. And he gives great advice. And he is absolutely GIRM-perfect when he says Mass.

The other associate in the same parish has been ordained a little bit longer, but he is also very reverent when he says Mass, and has not said anything questionable in a sermon that I have noticed in the past year.

And they both genuflect whenever they pass in front of the tabernacle.

Things are good in my little corner of the world.

Betsy

 

[chicago]

I think that what has happenned is that there has been a general renewal of devotional practice in the Church. There is also a greater attentiveness to detail and understanding of things which were perhaps put aside a bit in recent decades. The inspiration and direction of John Paul II along with a certain ministerial take on things for young people has changed perspective, also. And, of course, the issuance of the new universal catechism in the mid 1990s has made a difference.

Many of the young men who came up in the 60s/70s/80s/ even early 90s, however, were coming out of a culture and mindset which was more focused on something of an emphasis with experiences and reflectiveness which wasn’t so significantly tied to doctrine and devotion. Of course, too, there was all the liturgical upheaval of that period, the “openness” of Vatican II, a particular focus on social justice, and a general sociatal malaise. There was often a hostility or bitterness to anything perceived as “old fashioned”.

So the differences in culture and exposure to unique eras of Catholicism, I think, has much more to do with what we are seeing than anything which might be considered more or less “orthodox”.