#sspx #catholic #catholicism #priesthood Fr. James Chipperfield is a strange man. He is only 26 years old and he is already a priest. That is a strange and rare thing in today’s world. It is what we call the young vocation. The average age of a newly ordained priest in the USA today is 34 years old, but Fr. Chipperfield was ordained when he was still 25 years old. The other Australian who was ordained with him was also 25 and the priests ordained for the SSPX are usually in their 20s. These young vocations are a consolation and a blessing because it means that young person has found his path early in life and been willing to commit himself to it. We know how Our Lord tells us in the Gospel that those who hear the call of God should answer right away, that they should drop everything to follow Him. His words even seem shocking. Here is the vocational direction He gave to someone approaching Him: “I will follow thee, Lord; but let me first take my leave of them that are at my house. Jesus said to him: No man putting his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Lk. 9:61-62) For those who become His priests, Our Lord wants generous hearts. He wants young men who are willing to leave behind a career in the world, leave behind a family, and offer all of their youth and talents to Him unreservedly. When they do that, when they become priests at a young age, it typically means that they will be able to minister to the salvation of souls for a long time. It also provides a powerful example to the world, for the world, which is so enamored with youth and is trying to remain forever young, to see a young man who has turned his back on the world.
