Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. So Far
From Joseph Karl Publishing's new documentary and biography for every soul, "This is Catholic Courage: The Life and Apostolic Mission of Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J."
"Jesus Christ instituted the priesthood for two main reasons: to provide the world, through the priesthood, with the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, and to provide the world with the Sacrament (I like the Holy Father's preferred title) the Sacrament of Confession. Can you imagine, just imagine, being still laden with all the sins of your past life? No wonder on Easter Sunday night, Jesus told his apostles, 'Peace be with you,' and repeated, 'Peace be with you,' to ensure the world of that peace of heart, which only those enjoy who have been assured that their sins have been forgiven." ~ Servant of God, Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., "Fifty Years in the Priesthood"
FATHER JOHN A. HARDON, S.J. SO FAR
So far we have learned many things about Fr. Hardon from his spiritual autobiography.
He was born on June 18, 1914 in Midland, Pennsylvania in the United States of America, to devout Catholic parents John and Anna Hardon, and died at the age of 86 on December 30, 2000 in Clarkston, Michigan, U.S.A.
We learned that his father died accidentally at work, while attempting to ensure the safety of his colleagues. He was survived by his young wife and one-year-old son.
Fr. Hardon's newly widowed mother began working just weeks later to provide for her baby and herself, and continued to clean offices for the rest of her life. She participated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass daily, deeply instilled a devotion to the One True Faith in her son with an apostolic mission, and selflessly encouraged him to follow God's will for him while trusting in God's Divine Providence to provide for their needs and then for her needs independent of his.
Anna Hardon lived to see her son become a Member of the Society of Jesus and then be ordained a Catholic priest, but she did not live to see the incredible plan God had for her son - of which she selflessly had such a vital role - come to fruition.
We learned that Father Hardon asked our Lord at the young age of six, on the day he received his First Holy Communion, to make him a priest.
Two years later, at the age of eight and at the occasion of receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, the little boy whose family was no stranger to suffering asked the Holy Spirit for the gift of martyrdom.
We learned that while growing up, the future Jesuit Catholic priest continued to discern the mysteries of his future mission that would benefit countless people through time meaning in the past, at the present time, and in the future until the end of time.
The reach of his God-given apostolic mission extends into eternity.
What wonders!
While discerning through his youth and young adulthood, Fr. Hardon was guided by God's Divine Providence, directly and through those in his life who who wisely counseled, encouraged, and instructed him regarding his vocation to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ as a member of the Society of Jesus and also regarding his life's work as a preeminent orthodox Catholic educator in modern times.
We also learned that while young John Hardon discerned and sought to accomplish God's will as a child, while growing up, and during the years of his formal education, the whole world in general and the Catholic Church in particular had entered a time of intense spiritual combat and ferocious struggle as deceit cloaked itself in regal garb and masqueraded as the truth while seeking the ruin of souls.
The forces of darkness began striking the human family in modern times with much greater earnest everywhere they could, and with the new weapons of mass communication and well-funded media outlets that appeared well groomed, well attired, well educated, and credible but were created for nefarious purposes.
This grave and sinister evil seeking to do the most damage possible aimed right for the heart of humanity: the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and pro-life Church of Jesus Christ.
Mankind had entered into a time of unfathomable human destruction as evil insisted on having its unholy way ,and encouraged people to want their way also instead of listening to God and doing as He says.
Humanity, mostly unaware, remained far too trusting and carelessly non-discerning while being catastrophically distracted, and incorrectly educated, misdirected, and increasingly enslaved within the idolatrous corporate self-interested and money-loving beast system, unaware that it was being led to the slaughter by well-funded people speaking with forked tongues eagerly and short-sightedly working for the wrong master, so many people who for generations surrendered to the enemy without even a struggle, willing and eager to sell out their fellow man - physically, mentally, and spiritually - for their take of the thirty pieces of silver.
Fr. Hardon stated even before the year 2000, following the tremendous worldwide influence of radio, television, and mass marketing campaigns - but even before the influence of the internet exploded and before there were cell phones with 24/7 internet access and cameras in almost every human hand of all ages - "We are a hypnotized nation."
The forces of darkness were allowed by God to begin in earnest their highly organized, well-funded, and impatiently patient worldwide campaign to invert the whole world including everything God had created (nature, animals, and people), and established for our sake, primarily Christ's Catholic Church, Her Sacred Traditions, and Her Holy Sacraments.
This time of tremendous change, a manifestation of the epic battle of good versus evil, which is also the battle for each person's precious, priceless, and immortal soul, is a general brutal battle made up of countless battles with eternal consequences and a final outcome for each soul.
The ongoing battles in modern times, as God allowed and continues to allow, which seek to disfigure, confuse, deceive, corrupt, divide, enslave, and destroy God's creation while blaming its victims, caused God's people to cry out to Him for His Divine supernatural help to do battle with the forces of darkness seeking the ruin of souls and with much more dangerous weapons/personal devices with worldwide reach and extraordinary appeal.
God never abandons His people and one of His answers to their prayers was, is, and remains Servant of God, Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J..
Dear Lord, please help us to accomplish Your most perfect will as You will it, all the days of our lives, come what may, with the holy trust, sacrificial love, and Catholic courage of Fr. Hardon, in imitation of and in union with Christ and His Immaculate Mother.
Fr. Hardon, ora pro nobis! (pray for us!).
BIOGRAPHICAL TIMELINE
1936 - Entered the Society of Jesus as a novice in May of his senior year in college.
1936 - Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from John Carroll University in Ohio.
1941 - Obtained a Master of Philosophy degree from Loyola University in Illinois.
1945 - Pronounced final vows to the Society of Jesus.
1947 - Ordained to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ (at 33 years old).
1951 - Earned a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree from the Pontifical Gregorian
University in Rome, to prepare him to teach men training priests.
WHAT HAPPENED THEN
After receiving his Doctorate in Theology in Rome, Father Hardon, who was in his thirties at that time, was sent back to the United States to teach theology at the Jesuit Scholasticate College in West Baden Springs, Indiana.
UP NEXT: THE REST OF HIS LIFE
Coming soon.
ALL THE MULTIMEDIA MATERIAL FOR JOSEPH KARL PUBLISHING'S DOCUMENTARY AND BIOGRAPHY FOR EVERY SOUL, "THIS IS CATHOLIC COURAGE: THE LIFE AND APOSTOLIC MISSION OF FR. JOHN A. HARDON, S.J." ARE AVAILABLE AT JOSEPH KARL PUBLISHING.
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