"A time will come when the decisive battle between the kingdom of Christ and Satan will be over marriage and the family. And those who will work for the good of the family will experience persecution and tribulation. But do not be afraid, because Our Lady has already crushed his head.”

I want to be a good spiritual father to my boys. They will look to me for a model to follow. This means being prepared for life. Physically prepared – exercise and diet; mentally prepared – keeping my mind agile; but mainly spiritually prepared. This, like exercise and a good diet, must be ongoing and developing. It is not good enough to be “comfortable” in faith.

A main issue in our life is to capitalize our sorrows and joys for eternity. Too many sufferings and consolations are lost for heaven. The method to sanctify sorrow and joy is to endure them all patiently and to offer them up in union with Mass celebrated throughout the world joined to the intercession of Mary Immaculate and St. Joseph for the salvation of the dying.

Celibacy is another way of living, but ultimately if it doesn’t make you more loving, then it’s going to have a negative effect. It’s about finding how to use those energies in a more loving way for other people and to deepen your relationship with Christ.

If you want to become a priest to avoid becoming a father, then you shouldn’t become a priest. Being a spiritual father involves many of the same tribulations as being a biological father and, in some sense, fewer consolations. But a priest should have that desire to be a father, quite strongly. It is the first vocation of a man to be a father. Every man must find a way in which to fulfil the vocation of paternity.

The answer came back, “Edward, I want you to be a priest!”. And, sitting there, at 21 years old, I said, “Ok, that’s an interesting thought – do You have anything else? Are there any other options You have for me?” I thought, this is probably just me running away from the fact that I don’t know what I was going to do with my life. But over the years, the call carried on like a drum beat, getting louder and louder.