Rev. John Trigilio, Jr., PhD, ThD, serves as pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel (Marysville, Pennsylvania) and St. Bernadette (Duncannon, Pennsylvania). He also works part time a few days a week as adjunct spiritual director and formation advisor at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland. Father Trigilio is President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, a national association of priests and deacons. He co-hosts with Fr. Brighenti several weekly programs on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN): Web of Faith, Council of Faith, Crash Course in Catholicism, Crash Course on Pope John Paul II, and Crash Course on the Saints. He is a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) in 1988. Father Trigilio can also be found on Catholic Answers Radio. He preaches retreats, gives parish missions, and speaks at Catholic conferences across the U.S. and Canada. His personal website is www.trigilio.com.
Rev. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD, is Vice Rector and Assistant Professor at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and University (Emmitsburg, Maryland). He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy. Father Brighenti also served as a U.S. Naval Reserve Chaplain for ten years and in 1988 was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Metuchen (New Jersey), where he served as pastor of St. Ann’s Parish (Raritan, New Jersey) for more than eight years. Fr. Brighenti has coauthored the following books with Fr. Trigilio: Women in the Bible For Dummies, John Paul II For Dummies, Saints For Dummies, Catholic Mass For Dummies, Everything Bible, and Catholic Answer Book: 300 of the Most Frequently Asked Questions.
This book is dedicated to Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, and Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church.
To Pope Saint John Paul II, of happy memory, who inspired us to work on this project by his life and pontificate.
To His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and to Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ, Supreme Head of the Catholic Church, and the Servant of the Servants of God.
To His Eminence, Raymond Cardinal Burke; Most Rev. Ronald Gainer, Bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Most Rev. James Checchio, Bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey; Rev. Msgr. Walter Rossi, Rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC.
In loving memory of Reverend Mother Angelica, PCPA, founder of EWTN, who despite her many sufferings (both physical and by persecution) never stopped loving, hoping, and serving the Lord Jesus in His Holy Catholic Church by spreading the Word and teaching and defending the faith through electronic modern media and telecommunications.
In memory of Rev. Fr. Robert J. Levis, PhD, mentor and beloved friend, who preserved and formed my vocation to the priesthood, and Rt. Rev. Msgr. Ennis Connelly, pastor.
We also dedicate this book to our loving parents, who gave us life and love and shared their Catholic faith:
Percy and Norma Brighenti
John and Elizabeth Trigilio
Finally, in loving memory of the following faithful departed:
Percy Brighenti (1921–2016), father
John Trigilio, Sr. (1927–1998), father
Elizabeth L. Trigilio (1934–2013), mother
Joseph P. Trigilio (1964–1997), brother
Michael S. Trigilio (1966–1992), brother
Mary Jo Trigilio (1960), sister
Rev. Fr. Stefan Katarzynski, (1978) cousin
Father Brighenti and Father Trigilio are indebted to the following for their assistance, encouragement, opinions, guidance, advice, and input throughout this project:
Rev. Msgr. Andrew Baker, Rector, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary (Emmitsburg, Maryland); Rev. Frederick Miller); Rev. Fr. Thomas Nicastro, Jr.; Rev. Fr. Dennis G. Dalessandro; Louis and Sandy Falconeri & family; Doctors Keith and Christina Burkhart & family; Thomas & Bridgette McKenna; Michael Drake; Dr. Elizabeth Frauenhoffer; and a special note of thanks and gratitude to the parishioners at Our Lady of Good Counsel (Marysville, Pennsylvania) and Saint Bernadette (Duncannon, Pennsylvania), and the faculty, staff, and students of Mt. Saint Mary Seminary (Emmitsburg, Maryland), and the priests and deacons of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.
We are also grateful to the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration (Hanceville, Alabama), the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word (Irondale, Alabama); the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles; the Religious Teachers Filippini (New Jersey), the Discalced Carmelite Nuns (Erie, Pennsylvania), and the Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) for their prayers and support throughout our seminary formation and sacred priesthood.
Publisher’s Acknowledgments
Senior Acquisitions Editor: Tracy Boggier
Project Manager: Michelle Hacker
Development Editor: Corbin Collins
Copy Editor: Corbin Collins
Art Coordinator: Alicia South
Technical Editor: Scott D. Moringiello, Department of Catholic Studies, DePaul University
Production Editor: Tamilmani Varadharaj
Cover Photos: Konstantin Yolshin/Shutterstock