April 25,1977
CELIBACY AND TRUE PRIESTHOOD
B: Marriage is not at all easy. We whisper to the Catholic priests: “You are missing out on a lot, if you remain faithful to celibacy; if you do not drink to the bottom of the cup of joy!” That is what we insinuate to the priests all the time, with so much insistence, so much perseverance, until the priest... It is enough then for a... We don't want to say anything, nothing at all.
E: A “dream woman”?
B: ...a “dream woman” comes prowling around the priest. That blasts the bottom out of the barrel... We whisper to them: “Don't say your breviary any more, it is a waste of time.” If they were still to say their breviary, these temptations would come less frequently. We know very well what actions to take...
E: So, the breviary should be said every day?
B: If all priests, without exception, were to devote one hour each day to their breviary, as used to be the case formerly, then we would have very little power. There would only be a few of them who would fall; but they would come back sooner as they would not be blinded to the point of marrying this “dream woman”. They would think about it well beforehand if they were to say their breviary every day (ironic laugh).
E: And the women who seduce priests?
B: Most of the time, they carry an even greater responsibility... they are well aware that this is a Catholic priest and what an abundance of blessings... we do not want to speak.
E: You must say what the Most Blessed Virgin wishes!
B: ... they know what an abundance of blessings the priest has, and how important his function is. That is why they should absolutely not prowl around him. These are grave sins, very grave, whose punishment will not be far away.
Therefore, when these priests marry... many are almost immediately plunged into misfortune. We will put this idea into their heads, among others: “If you take this “dream woman”, you will have a share of Heaven!” E: A share of Heaven?
B: A share of Heaven. We cannot give Heaven in its completeness. That is not within our powers.
E: Not even to promise it?
B: Nobody would ever dare to promise it completely. But a share - that is what we trumpet into their ears. We put these ideas into their heads. Then we make one of these erotic fancies whirl all around him, and we tie up all the threads, until the barrel loses its bottom completely!
Then when he is already in a state of grave sin, the priest thinks... then we do not let him off so easily. We do everything to make him think: “It would be wonderful if we had children.” Then we whisper to him again: “Since you have gone so far, whatever else you may still do is of no consequence.” And they continue along the road of sin, until they are completely stuck in the mire, and can no longer either advance or retreat.
E: And they must be rescued?
B: And even then, they still imagine that everything will go well for them. This flighty - Excuse me - but this woman who has little enough character to pursue a priest, will have no more character when married. Do you believe she has any virtues at all, that she is an angel of virtue? Then the mask drops; then the cloak falls away; Then one can see what lies underneath - nothing but filth and - we do not want to speak any more!
E: In the name of the Father...!
B: Many priests soon bitterly regret their actions and there are quarrels. Because the priest has studied theology and has been molded in a certain way, and as he is not a crude sort of person, most of the time he does not let himself get too involved in these quarrels. But what cannot be changed continues to screw him up, gnawing at his heart like a cankerworm. Many priests soon bitterly regret...
We must say this in addition: everything spiritual, everything which is concerned with higher things, with religion, with doing good, is as far above sensuality as Heaven is above the earth. That is what the Blessed Virgin makes me say. The flesh only lasts a short time, and then with... Ah! We do not want to speak!
E: With many miseries!
B: You have guessed it. Just think of the divorces, etc... We hold out bright prospects to them of a Heaven on earth. In reality, many will have a terrible mountain to climb. Sensuality is a tremendous distance below spirituality. If the priests could know what they are losing by giving in to themselves! They would tear out their hair, they would travel miles to escape from such a woman and to avoid the temptation.
God's grace is great and powerful, more universal and more exalted than all sensuality and all the pleasures of the world. Just think, about the legend of Venus and Tannhauser. Better Sermons would soon be found in that than those of many of today's priests. The profound repentance of this man would still be seen, and how he almost melted away with suffering for having taken himself off to be close to this Venus in the mountain. That would indeed be a better sermon than many actual sermons of today...
This is still valid today. The times have not changed. In Heaven time does not exist. It is an eternal NOW. All this is still valid today. All this still retains - in our place down below as well as up there (he points upward) - its full validity, although today's man believes he must have a much easier life, that one can sin as one likes... that he will no longer be held to account for it so rigorously. That is not the case in the sight of Heaven. They (he points upward) have quite a different idea, a different opinion, altogether.
E: Not: two heavens, one down here and one up there?
B: You have hit the nail on the head, you are absolutely right. Up there, They are of the opinion that Heaven should be merited through many crosses and self-denials. Priests and lay people must become aware of that again. Heaven, with all its sweetness and all its grandeur, can only be merited through heavy crosses, sacrifices, self-denials, and everything which puts restraints on, and runs counter to, one's own nature. But when it is merited, it brings an infinite beauty and dignity to all those who will have followed the narrow path.