Fr. Louis Guardiola, C.P.M.

The priest is an authorized, ordained mediator who offers true sacrifices in acknowledgement of God’s supreme authority and dominion over human beings and in expiation for their sins. A priest’s mediation is the reverse of that of a prophet, who communicates from God to the people. A priest mediates from the people to God.

Christ who is truly and fully both God and man, is the first, the last and the greatest priest of the New Law. He is the eternal High Priest, who offered Himself once and for all on the Cross, a victim of infinite value, and He continually renews that sacrifice on the altar through the ministry of the Church.

Within the Church are men who are specially ordained as priests to consecrate and offer the Body and Blood of Christ in the Mass. The Apostles were the first ordained priests, when on Holy Thursday night, Christ told them to do in His memory what He had just done at the Last Supper. Memorial has an entirely different meaning in ancient Hebrew and Greek meaning “continuation” and “to be cause to become present again”, that is The Lord’s Body and Blood. (See Fr. Mitch Pacwa). All Bishops and priests trace their ordination to The Apostles. Their second essential priestly power, to forgive sins, was conferred by Jesus on Easter Sunday night, when He told The Apostles, “For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained” (John 20:22-23).

All the Christian faithful, however, also share in the priesthood by their baptismal character. They are enabled to offer themselves in sacrifice with Christ through the Eucharistic Liturgy. They offer Mass in the sense that they internally unite themselves with the outward offering made by the ordained priest alone.

 

About Fr. Lou Guardiola

Father Louis was born March 23rd, 1953 into a Mexican-American family in Detroit, Michigan. He has been a member of the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima since 1967. He attended Loyola University of Chicago, graduating Cum Laude in Scholastic Philosophy and Classical languages in 1976, having studied four years of Latin and five years of Greek. He taught Religious Education for many years in Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky and Connecticut as a layperson, novice, religious brother, Deacon and Priest. He studied under Fr. John Hardon as a Lay Catechist for seven years (1989-96) assisting him in research for his articles, books, and catechisms and in coordinating conferences with bishops and cardinals. Father Louis entered religious life with the Fathers of Mercy in 1996. He studied at Holy Apostles Seminary 1997-2001, graduating with M.A. in Divinity and M.A. in Theology, Magna cum Laude and class valedictorian. He was ordained May 31st, 2001, then assigned as assistant Pastor of Sacred Heart Church and interim Pastor of St. Peter?s church 2001-2. Father now resides at the Fathers of Mercy Generalate in South Union, Kentucky when he is not preaching missions, retreats and 40 hours devotions. Fr. Louis, and other members of the congregation, in conjunction with The Real Presence Association , is available to: Come to your parish as Eucharistic Speakers to promote Perpetual Adoration and Education Come to your parish to conduct a 40 hours devotion Come to your parish to conduct a week-long Eucharistic mission or retreat