Catholic Diocese Of Joliet

Bishop Conlon talks about seminary programs as part of the Vatican II Council document: Optatam Totius, the decree on priestly training. He defines the differences between the minor and major seminaries.

Bishop Conlon continues talking about the Vatican II decree on priestly training -- called "Optatam Totius" -- but this time emphasizes that promoting vocations is something that the entire Christian community is called to do, from "the first seminary" -- the family -- to parishes to religious education programs to youth ministry to priests and so on.

Because of the sexual abuse scandal involving priests, there have been a lot of questions asked about priestly formation. In this podcast, Bishop Conlon talks about what the Vatican II decree on priestly training -- called "Optatam Totius" -- was about. The decree details what the fundamental principles are for priestly formations and seminaries.

During the month of the Rosary, Bishop Conlon offers reflections about "Mary the Dawn" and "Mary, the Morning Star," which are both ways to identify the Blessed Mother as the dawn announcing a great light and a star announcing the rising of the sun/Son. We need to remember that we are a light to point to Christ to show people that the real light of the world -- Jesus Christ -- is present as a source of hope and direction.

Bishop Conlon talks about St. Teresa of Avila and how she suggested that we all need different forms of prayer in order to engage in contemplative prayer. And he mentions how prayer is part of our participation in the communion of saints. Persistence in prayer is also important in our life of virtue.

Bishop Conlon talks about St. Teresa of Avila's thoughts on prayer.

Bishop Conlon talks about one of St. Teresa of Avila's faith journey and conversion to a deeper faith life. He shows that it is important to place ourselves in relationships with good people who can influence us and showed her struggle to understand what her vocation was.

Bishop Conlon talks about St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (whose name was Edith Stein before she converted to Catholicism) and shares some of her writings regarding women and the spirituality of women.

Bishop Conlon talks about St. Augustine and reads passages from one of his books in which St. Augustine talks about his struggles with sin. In the end, God's grace can be sufficient but there has to be an openness on our parts, and sometimes there is a great wrestling that goes on in the human heart. So, in short, it's not easy to come to moments of conversion. But there is a great joy to overcome temptations and hurdles and reach a new plateau in our relationships with God.

Bishop Conlon talks about one of St. Bernard of Clairveux's sermons, the main message which concentrates on thoughts. If our thoughts come from our own heart, it will probably be a bad thought. A good thought -- one that comes from the bridegroom (Jesus) -- then it will be inspired from God. So when we have meditations and reflections, we need to make sure they come from God and from the Word of God -- meaning the Scriptures.

Bishop Conlon talks about his life and role as a bishop.

Bishop Conlon talks about one of St. Peter Chyrsologus' homilies on the sacrament of incarnation, emphasizing how Jesus took on human flesh, putting a big spotlight on humankind: God's way of saying that humans are important because God became like man. God made the world to dignify the human person.

Bishop Conlon talks about the Prophet Micah calling us to stand humbly before God and to recognize that each of us is not our own teacher. Accepting that God's wisdom is far greater than ours requires a great deal of patience and sacrifice.

Bishop Conlon talks about one of the readings from July 15, in which th Israelites were just going through the motions with God. The Bishop points out that this reading is important in the sense that it indicates we need to be sincere in our relationship with God.

Bishop Conlon talks about the Vatican II document, Ad Gentes (To the Nations), which offers a clear mandate that it is the Churchs' job -- every member of the Church -- to evangelize to all the nations to offer the chance of salvation to everyone.

Bishop Conlon talks about visiting an abortion clinic and going on mission trips as examples of how we need to stand up to injustices with Christian values and God calls us to make sacrifices so that God's kingdom may come.

Bishop Conlon talks about the importance of religious freedom.

The Bishop offers a brief history of Constantine and the development of the Eastern Church/religions.

Bishop Conlon talks about protecting children, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Charter for the Protection of Young Children and Young People that was passed by the U.S. Bishops. He talks about the pain and anger and confusion involved in the topic. He says people have to be committed to the Charter -- placing the safety of children first; there has to be transparency; we need to be supportive of people who have been harmed; and people need to pray for healing and wisdom and guidance.

On the occasion of the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, the Bishop talks about how the Christian faith is based on the reality of the Trinity, and that the most important truth that Jesus revealed is the existence of God as the Trinity -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He also talks about how our faith in the Holy Trinity is significant because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit and by God since it is the Spirit that is communicating to the Father for us.