Fr Ogundipe Sdv

 THE PRIEST IS A HUMAN NOT A SPIRIT Fr Ogiator CDA Introduction My dear brothers, we gather not as angels disguised in cassocks but as men who have been looked upon by mercy. Before the altar and before the people, the priest stands as one who has been chosen, called and consecrated. Yet he remains profoundly human. This recollection invites us to return to a simple and liberating truth. The Catholic priest is not a spirit pretending to be human. He is a human person raised, healed and strengthened by the grace of God. Forgetting this truth wounds the priest and quietly harms the people entrusted to him. The Danger of Pretending to Be a Spirit There is a subtle temptation in priestly life to appear permanently strong, permanently prayerful, permanently in control. This temptation is often rewarded by applause and silence. But it slowly hollows the priest from within. Assuming to be a spirit leads to emotional repression, spiritual pride and moral vulnerability. The Directory for th...

 A Silent war begins when a Priest no longer trust his brothers My dear brothers, I speak to you from my experience, as a brother struggling among you, carrying the same oil of ordination and the same fragile humanity. There are moments in our priestly journey when the wound is not directed inward, and not even primarily toward the people we serve, but toward one another. There are moments when a priest discovers, sometimes painfully and sometimes quietly, that he no longer trusts his brother priests. This reality is rarely admitted aloud, yet it can deeply shape the way we live our priesthood. When trust among priests is weakened, something essential in the Body of Christ suffers. The priesthood was never meant to be lived in isolation. From the day of our ordination, we were inserted into a presbyterate, not as independent contractors of grace, but as brothers sharing one priesthood in Christ. Presbyterorum Ordinis reminds us that priests form one presbyterate and are bound toget...

  Fr Lawrence Ogundipe, SDV Historical Roots and Theological Foundations One of the beautiful and sometimes misunderstood traditions of the Catholic Church is the celebration of the *eve* of certain solemnities, such as Christmas Eve, Easter Vigil, and the vigil of major feasts. For many Catholics, the celebration on the night before appears almost as important as the feast day itself. This practice is not accidental, nor is it merely cultural. It is deeply rooted in history, Sacred Scripture, and the Church’s theological understanding of time, worship, and salvation. The Biblical Understanding of Time: “Evening Came, and Morning Followed” The foundation of celebrating a feast from its eve is found first in Sacred Scripture. In the Book of Genesis, the rhythm of creation is described repeatedly with the phrase: Evening came, and morning followed” (Genesis 1). In the biblical worldview, a day does not begin at midnight, as in modern civil reckoning, but at sunset. This Jewish unders...

DOCTRINAL NOTE ON MARIAN TITLES: MOTHER OF THE FAITHFUL, NOT CO-REDEMPTRIX Implications for Marian Devotion and Our Traditional Prayer Booklets Fr Lawrence Ogundipe SDV The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has recently offered an important doctrinal clarification on the way the Church understands and speaks about the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mystery of salvation. While reaffirming her unique place as the Mother of God and the most exalted member of the redeemed, the document emphasizes that the faithful should refer to Mary as “Mother of the Faithful,” not “Co-redemptrix.” This clarification is not a demotion of Mary in Catholic devotion. Rather, it aims to protect the central truth that Jesus Christ alone is Redeemer and that Mary’s role, although singular and incomparable, always remains subordinate and dependent on the saving work of her Son. This doctrinal note helps the Church speak with precision, avoid misunderstandings, and ensure that our Marian devotion r...

  A SUMMARY  on “Una Caro. In Praise of Monogamy by Fr Lawrence Ogundipe SDV *Una Caro* is a doctrinal reflection that explains why the Catholic Church upholds monogamous marriage as the original and God-given form of human love.  The document begins by grounding monogamy in Scripture, showing how God created man and woman to become “one flesh,” a union marked by exclusivity, permanence, and mutual belonging. It explains that this unity is not just a social arrangement but a divine plan that reveals the dignity of both spouses. The document highlights that Jesus restored marriage to its original beauty by rejecting divorce and selfishness, teaching that true love is faithful, self-giving, and lifelong. Monogamy, therefore, is not simply a European or Western idea but a universal human good that reflects God’s own faithful love for His people. It is also the form of marriage that best expresses the sacrament, which mirrors Christ’s exclusive love for the Church. The text a...

 Infidelity in the Catholic Church: A Deep Examination Fr Lawrence Ogundipe SDV  The issue of infidelity has been a significant concern within the Catholic Church for centuries. It is not just a matter of personal betrayal between spouses, but also a theological, moral, and ecclesiastical dilemma that the Church has grappled with throughout its history. The Catholic Church’s teachings on marriage, fidelity, and the sanctity of the sacrament provide a framework for understanding the gravity of infidelity, both in terms of its impact on individuals and the community.  The Catholic Church’s Teachings on Marriage In Catholic theology, marriage is considered a sacrament, a sacred covenant between a man and a woman that reflects the union between Christ and the Church. According to the *Catechism of the Catholic Church* (CCC), marriage is not only a natural institution but a divine one. It is "a partnership of the whole of life, ordered toward the good of the spouses and the pr...

  The Tabernacle is Not a Sepulchre Dear Brothers in the Priesthood, Grace and peace in Christ Jesus our Lord, who gives Himself to us in the Most Holy Eucharist. I write to you as a brother and fellow servant at the altar, out of deep reverence for the mystery we celebrate each day and out of concern for how we treat the sacred Body of Christ reserved in our churches. In some parishes, the tabernacle has quietly become a place of accumulation rather than adoration. This calls for our reflection and renewal. The tabernacle is not a sepulchre. It is not a place for storing many sacred species as if Christ were to remain enclosed without purpose. The tabernacle is a place of presence and prayer, a dwelling of the living Lord who remains with His people out of love. As *Redemptionis Sacramentum* reminds us, “The reservation of the Holy Eucharist in the tabernacle is principally for the sick and those who cannot participate in Mass” (RS 130). This means that what is reserved should be ...

Sustainability and Professional Ethics in Digital Evangelization Ogundipe O Lawrence SDV  This lecture will examine sustainability and professional ethics in the context of digital evangelization from a Catholic perspective. Drawing from magisterial documents such as *Inter Mirifica* (1963), *Communio et Progressio* (1971), and *Ethics in Internet* (2002), it highlights three interconnected dimensions of sustainable and ethical digital ministry: maintaining a healthy digital presence, observing Church standards and copyright laws, and developing long-term evangelization strategies. By integrating theological reflection with practical guidelines, this study proposes a model of digital ministry that is incarnational, collaborative, and grounded in ecclesial ethics. Introduction Digital transformation has profoundly shaped how the Church proclaims the Gospel and engages with society. The internet, according to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, represents “a new forum f...

  A Summary on Pope Leo XIV Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te. By Ogundipe O Lawrence,SDV The Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te by Pope Leo XIV, issued on October 4, 2025, focuses on the Church’s call to love and care for the poor. It builds on the teachings of Pope Francis and the Church’s long tradition of prioritizing the needs of the marginalized. Below is a simplified summary of its key themes:  Introduction The title Dilexi Te means "I have loved you," reflecting Christ’s love for the poor and marginalized. Pope Leo XIV continues Pope Francis’ vision of linking Christ’s love with the Church’s mission to care for the poor. Key Themes  1. Love for the Poor as Central to the Gospel Jesus’ love for the poor is inseparable from his mission. His life, from birth to death, was marked by poverty and solidarity with the marginalized - Acts of love for the poor are acts of love for Christ himself (Matthew 25:40). 2. Historical Witness of the Church. Saints like Francis of Assisi...