When the long-term history of the spiritual life of the priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is written, two names will emerge as the essential leaders of the movement towards full spiritual renewal among the clergy: Cardinal Timothy Manning and Father John McAnulty, S.J.

From his earliest days as a priest of Los Angeles, the late Cardinal Manning was always known as a man of prayer, a priest of extraordinary spiritual depth, and a priest fully committed to Jesus Christ, his own discipleship with Jesus, and his love of the Church.

That deep desire for a deeper life in Christ led to a years-long relationship of Cardinal Manning with Father McAnulty, a Jesuit priest who was fully committed to the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits - the Society of Jesus.

That Ignatius Spirituality became the very core of Cardinal Manning's own spiritual life, and he was eager to share that same wondrous spirituality with other priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Cardinal Manning then decided to make this same spirituality available to the priests working within the Archdiocese, and established a special House of Prayer for Priests on Waverly Drive in the Los Feliz area on the property of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart.

A previous guest house at that property was chosen for the location of this House of Prayer, and Father McAnulty undertook this apostolate as his personal ministry to the priests serving within our Archdiocese. Initially, the House of Prayer served primarily priests who would come for spiritual direction and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But eventually, priests were welcome to stay there for retreats as well - but with a maximum of four given the size of the facility.

As the years went by, so many priests were coming for spiritual direction and retreats that the original small house was inadequate. Fortunately, the Archdiocese was able to construct newer buildings on the same property, so that now there are guest rooms for 22 priests, as well as special rooms for individual spiritual direction and confession. Some 45 Priest Prayer Support Groups use the House of Prayer monthly, not counting the many who come for spiritual direction and confession.

The new buildings were formally dedicated in 1995 and named The Cardinal Timothy Manning House of Prayer for Priests.

Father McAnulty continued to serve the new House of Prayer until failing health required him to enter retirement three years ago.

The deepening of the spiritual lives of the priests of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the result of the prayer and the constant spiritual work of Father John McAnulty. When he was not counseling priests or offering them the Sacrament of Reconciliation, he was praying for them and for all of the people of our Archdiocese. I can recall on innumerable occasions when Father McAnulty would contact me to tell me that he was offering three days, or seven days, or even more, of prayer for the needs of our Archdiocese, our priests, and our people.

We are blessed today to have one of a handful of houses of prayer for priests across this country, and in my opinion, one of the finest in terms of the spirit, the Ignatian spirituality, and the welcoming attitude of those who carry forward the vision and mission of Cardinal Timothy Manning and Father John McAnulty, S.J.

Had our Archdiocese had in place such a grace-filled house of prayer for priests many decades ago, I am confident that we would not have experienced the sad and terrible lapses of many priests in the sexual abuse scandal.

Fortunately, thanks to the vision of Cardinal Manning and Father McAnulty, we now have a means readily available for all our priests to focus continually upon their discipleship with Jesus Christ and to help them avert modern temptations against their priestly vocations.

Father John McAnulty, S.J. will be remembered by many priests at his Funeral Mass on Friday, April 17, 9:30 a.m., at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. All are welcome to this special Mass.

May the prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola, which has been my daily year for so many years, inspire us all:

Take, Lord, and receive
all my liberty, my memory,
my understanding, and my
entire will, all that I have
and possess. You have given
all to me. To You, O Lord,
I return it. All is Yours,
dispose of it wholly
according to your will.
Give me Your love and Your
grace, for this is sufficient
for me.

Thank you, Lord, for the presence, the gifts, and the spiritual depth of Father John McAnulty, S.J., your priest and your instrument of life and love for so many priests over these past decades. May he and Cardinal Manning continue to intercede for us before your heavenly throne!