Sunday, August 03, 2008

ad multos annos


Father Robert J. Levis, PhD, celebrates his 60th Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood and is in good health

















GOD GRANT HIM MANY YEARS
GOD GRANT HIM MANY YEARS
GOD GRANT HIM MANY HAPPY YEARS





Father Bob Levis celebrated Mass of the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite on Saturday, August 2nd, at St. Ann Church, Erie, PA. A packed church came to offer thanks to God for six decades of priestly service (and many more to follow) given by this unsung American hero. The former Director of the Pontifical Center for Catechetical Studies is also professor emeritus at Gannon University and president emeritus of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy. He was one of the founding fathers of the same CCC and hosted several television and radio series on EWTN. Father Levis is best known and beloved, however, for his consistent, staunch orthodox preaching and teaching and for his indefatigable defense of the Magisterium and the Roman Pontiff amidst a culture and climate of dissent, apathy, scandal, irreverence, infidelity, et al.

I first met my mentor while in minor seminary. Before the Catechism (1992) existed, Father Levis had his graduate students do linear critiques on the various catechetical textbooks being used in parochial school and CCD programs across the USA. Using the General Catechetical Directory and the National Catechetical Directory as a litmus test, they demonstrated the horrible deficiencies in most religion books at that time. Dogmas such as Original Sin, Real Presence, Sacramental Grace, Immaculate Conception, Papal Infallibility, etc., were conspicuously absent from some or all grade levels. Children were not taught all seven sacraments or that Jesus Christ was one Divine Person with two natures, human and divine. Almost everything their parents and grandparents had been taught at the same age level by the infamous Baltimore Catechism were now deemed 'too complicated', 'too technical', and of course, 'too traditional'. Memorization was seen as draconian since experiential formation was seen as superior to catechetical formation. Ironically, those same kiddies were being asked to memorize elements from the Periodic Table, States and their capitals, and all the Presidents in order. Learning the Ten Commandments in order, on the other hand, was seen as being 'pre-Vatican II'

Many of my generation remember when we went from Baltimore Catechism content to butterflies, clouds and balloons. While my parents learned O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo, I had to learn the insipid Kumbaya. I received my First Holy Communion on the tongue from the altar rail. By the time I graduated from eighth grade, however, the second graders were receiving in the hand and while standing. Deo Gratias, I met Father Levis who introduced me to the National and General Catechetical Directories and to Denziger's Enchiridion Symbolorum. I had clandestinely studied the 1917 Code of Canon Law on my own while in minor seminary and remember a professor once saying the next edition will be radically different. I graduated from college seminary the same year the 1983 Code was promulgated and eagerly awaited the upcoming 1992 Catechism. Father Levis got a copy of the French edition and was asked to give comments to help the American bishops at their next national conference meeting. While vindicated by both golden treasures of JP2, no one recognized that orthodox priests like Levis had remained faithful all along and never deviated one iota from the deposit of faith. The same could not be said of many of his contemporaries who dissented from Humanae Vitae, who advocated women's ordination, who embraced every liturgical innovation and abuse while disdaining every legitimate rubric.

When my vocation was being tested (on numerous occasions), it was Father Levis who preserved and saved me. I would not be a priest today were it not for his example, support, advice, prayers and friendship. It took me three seminaries and three dioceses to finally get ordained a priest in 1988 but had it not been for the tireless role model Father Bob exemplified, I would probably be doing talk radio today and nothing else.

Though he has never received any ecclesiastical honors or offices, he has always been a good, holy and devout priest. His orthodoxy is only outdone by his compassionate, priestly heart. He alone would visit my little brother Michael (who was wheelchair bound from Muscular Dystrophy) once a month to bring him Holy Communion and hear his confession. Fr. Levis drove through blizzards and snowstorms to anoint people their own pastors neglected. He always has time for divine mercy. The only time you would ever find him not wearing his Roman Collar was when he was on his sailboat, the Scrimshaw. A twenty-six footer, he would sail Lake Erie but usually take a small crew of potential seminarians or some uncommitted agnostics or a fallen away Catholic or two. While in the middle of a great lake, he would hear confessions, teach the faith and save souls as a true FISHER OF MEN. I was his worst first-mate since I could not swim and committed a mortal sin of boating: one time I had one foot on the boat and one foot on the dock and two began to separate. "Fall in" he said "and I'll fish you out." "I CAN'T SWIM!!!" He stood there incredulous and replied, "well, I'll bless you as you go under and preach a good sermon at your funeral Mass."

All kidding aside, having Father Levis at my ordination and vesting me and then at my First Mass the following day, was a great honor and joy for me. He asked me to preach at his 50th anniversary, which was the same year as my 10th. Imagine, a ten year ordained priest preaching at Golden Jubilarian! What an honor. I was asked again this year to preach at his 60th as I just celebrated my 20th. I expect my mentor to preach my Silver anniversary and seeing what good shape he is, had better prepare another sermon for his Diamond Jubilee fifteen years from now. In the meantime, I ask all of you to pray for Father Levis and to thank God He blessed the Church with such heroes. Vilified, shunned, ignored, persecuted, ridiculed, ostracized, maligned, misquoted, misunderstood, harassed and harangued; nothing could stop this priest from being the Alter Christus he was ordained to be so he could act in persona Christi to teach, to sanctify and to lead. I have heard many attack his character, his reputation and his honor yet I have only witnessed solid orthodoxy, manly piety and a huge, generous priestly heart. When my mother had to bury her second and third child and then her beloved husband of 39 years, only Father Levis and Mother Angelica could console her with their solacing words of wisdom. If I could be at least 1/10th the man and the priest Father Robert Levis IS and HAS BEEN for over 60 years, I would be grateful. I could never follow in his footsteps but I will do my best to emulate his example and his priestly zeal.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this priest, too.

Thank you for bringing this happy news, and for sharing.

Kit said...

Beautiful post, Father - lots of prayers of thanksgiving for Fr. Levis, his vocation, and his shining example of a well-lived and clearly loved vocation. Please send warmest wishes to him from my small contingent of his legion of fans!

Pax tibi,
Kit & family

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to Father Levis on his 60 years as a faithful servant in the vineyard of the Lord! Thank you for your beautiful tribute to him too, Father. May he continue to inspire us all in striving to live up to the teachings of the Magisterium and remaining steadfast in our loyalty to our Holy Father,
Finola in California

Sarah - Kala said...

I am so grateful for Fr. Levis - and you, Father. What a blessing it is to the Family to have such fine priests leading by example. God bless you both!

Unknown said...

In my long, slow, return to grace, Father Levis (and Father Trigilio) and their Web of Faith TV program on EWTN were very instrumental in rekindling my faith properly.

Thank you, Father Levis! And you, too, Father Trigilio.

Laura The Crazy Mama said...

That was such a beautiful tribute. I first saw you two on Web of Faith and fell in love with both of you and the way you interact with each other. I didn't know your history together until just now. Happy Jubilee(s)!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful and well deserved tribute to Fr Levis. With Fr Levis as your role model, after Christ of course, you can't go wrong Fr Trigilio.

Adrienne said...

Wow!

irene said...

Congratulations to both Fr. Levis and Fr. Triglio. I celebrate their service to my church.

As a side issue, I would hope that no one would confuse a medical condition (obsessive-compulsive DO) with either faith or reverence.

Anonymous said...

God bless you and Mary keep you-both!! (to use your words)
We really enjoy watching Web of Faith too, and you both have a great sense of humor! Keep us in your prayers and we do pray for all Priests and Religious daily while praying our Holy Rosary.
Thank you both for being such faithful Priest

Joe of St. Thérèse said...

Congraulations....both of you serve as an inspiration to me.

May God bless you both and always cling to the mantle of Our Lady

Gil F said...

Deo gratias for Father Levis' tenure and yourself, Fr. Triglio as well. I pray you can contimually immolate his love of Roman Catholic Tradition, sometimes very hard to find these days!

Philacav said...

Father Trigilio:
Both you and Father Levis provide such a witness to the Faith with your work on "Web of Faith." The passionate belief you both have in our Faith is moving and comforting to those of us who watch. I was thinking about your mentioning that Father Levis had never received any titles or honors over the years. While that's certainly not the purpose of the priesthood, I can't think of a priest I have heard on television that so often reminds me of what a good bishop should sound like, as Father Levis does. Please know that while both of you may not yet have been called to be "shepherds" in terms of being bishops, you shepherd us who yearn for the Truth through your ministry. Many blessings!

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