St. Louis Review

On Saturday, June 6, at 10am, Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski will ordain nine men as permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of St. Louis at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.

Faithful are invited to attend the Ordination Mass or tune into the Cathedral Basilica's livestream.

Please keep these men in your prayers as they prepare to receive the sacrament of holy orders.

To learn more about the nine soon-to-be permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, read their full profiles: https://www.stlouisreview.com/story/nine-men-to-be-ordained-as-permanent-deacons/

Portraits by Jacob Wiegand.

As Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozansk reflected on Pope Leo XVI’s new encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” he said the pope is asking us to consider the moral questions of what it means to be human in a digital age.

While artificial intelligence can mimic language and perform astonishing tasks, it is also “soulless” and can never replicate the interior life of the human person or the ability to apply faith and ethics to real decisions, Archbishop Rozanski said.

Want to learn more? Visit stlouisreview.com to read Archbishop Rozanski's full reflection: https://www.stlouisreview.com/story/archbishop-rozanski-pope-leo-magnifica-humanitas-encyclical-highlights/

The rites and symbols of the liturgy are not arbitrary ceremonies but the means through which Catholics encounter God and are formed in faith, Pope Leo XIV said on June 3.

Continuing his series on the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, “Sacrosanctum Concilium,” the pope reflected on the role of rites, signs and symbols in Catholic worship during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Leo cited the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which teaches that their meaning is rooted in creation, human culture and salvation history, and fully revealed in Christ.

He pointed to water as one of Christianity’s most significant symbols, recalling its role in several stories in Scripture.

“When we are sprinkled with holy water, our awareness of the gift received at baptism and our commitment to new life in Christ is rekindled,” he said.

The pope also highlighted symbolic actions such as kneeling and exchanging the sign of peace, saying they foster a sense of belonging and help create “authentic ecclesial relationships.”

Read more of the Holy Father's message from June 3: https://www.stlouisreview.com/story/popes-message-liturgical-rites-and-symbols-reveal-gods-presence/

Every baptized Catholic is marked as priest, prophet, and king.

In addition to this common priesthood, there’s another path to participate in the mission of Christ in a particular way: the ministry conferred by the sacrament of holy orders.

Understanding holy orders starts with understanding baptism, said Father Mark Wedig, OP, a sacramental theologian and president of Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis. Like baptism and confirmation, the sacrament of holy orders imparts a permanent spiritual character on the recipient.

“There’s a radical change in the person themselves, and that has to do with them being configured to Christ in a particular way,” Father Wedig said.

There are three degrees of holy orders: episcopate (bishop), presbyterate (priests), and diaconate (transitional and permanent deacons).

The ministerial priesthood adds a sacred power for the service of the faithful, which is exercised through teaching, divine worship, and pastoral governance.

Through the ordained minister, then, “it is Christ Himself who is present to His Church as Head of His Body, shepherd of His flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth,” (CCC 1548).

Learn more about the sacrament of holy orders: https://www.stlouisreview.com/story/holy-orders-configures-men-to-christ/

📷️: Jerry Naunheim Jr.