To Be, Or Not To Be: A Seminarian

I was glad to have the chance, while on Easter break, to head to Catholic Underground with a good-sized group from my parish. With a caravan of three vehicles in tow, we headed out. One of my passengers was an eleven years old young girl fairly new to the youth group. During the drive, I heard her whisper to another young girl “pay attention to that side of the street; I’ll show you something.” And just as we passed a Sex shop, she pointed and said “you know, we have to pray that place closes.”

I was shocked: firstly that she recognized the place existed: obscure and hidden–as it was– under a bridge overpass. But I was also surprised at the conviction in her voice. In her voice I heard the angst of a daughter who sees her father leering at women, the uneasiness of a fiancee whose future spouse kept a collection of dirty videos, the sadness of a mother who finds her son’s stash. In the moment that this young girl spoke, the fervor on her lips could have just as well uttered: “My Dad doesn’t really love Mom,” “my guy doesn’t really love me,” or “my son is not going to be prepared to love his wife.” I heard pain.

Snapping me out of my reverie, the young girl said “I think the people who go in there have no life.” Then, hesitating a bit to correct herself, she added “…no real Life.”

And that’s just it. A life which uses and exploits, a life separated from true, self-sacrificing love is no real life at all. And that’s when I identified the young girl’s real pain: she saw souls separated from Christ who loved chastely and entirely, devoting Himself to the Father and to the service of mankind. At her tender young age she probably knows little of what really goes on behind those closed doors.

Whatever it is, she’s determined, it is not Christ and without Christ we are nothing.  Doesn’t our Lord tell us clearly “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me” (John 6:56-57)?

It was great for me to see our Lord alive and enlivening this young girl to seek Him, to feed on Him and to mourn those who starve without Him. Her pain is really a fuel, converted in the fire of love, into the driving force of evangelization. May He inspire many women and men to the religious life and men to the priesthood who burn with the pain of knowing Jesus and knowing so many who do not know Him.

From Msgr. Charles Fink, Spiritual Director of St. Joseph’s Seminary:

The worst that can be done–the killing of God–and it’s undone on the third day. Corrie Ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, said, “No matter how deep the darkness, the love of God is always deeper.” On this day, let us remember that God’s last word to us is not Good Friday, but Easter; not death but life. We are destined to share in the risen life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, a resurrected, glorified life that will never end and never be subject to suffering of any kind. No wonder Jesus said so often, “Do not be afraid.” So why are we?

The Gospels and the rest of the New Testament are the great testimonies to who Jesus is and what He stands for, but we are blessed to have the works of men and women who knew and loved the Lord and who tried to describe His life and teaching based on their own reading, research, prayer, and reflection. their insights and talent make their books wonderful supplements to our study of the scriptural texts. Here ares one you may find particularly informative and inspiring.

To Know Christ Jesus by Frank Sheed

Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen

The Lord by Romano Guardini

Jesus and His Times by Henri Daniel-Rops

The Man Born to be King by Dorothy Sayers

Hidden Victory by Herbert Smith, S.J.

Editor’s note:

The suggestions above come from Mgsr. Fink. Permit me to make my own suggestion, for meditations on the life of the Lord. The images used throughout this week’s reflections come from the works of James Tissot, an amazing artist of the 19th century. If you make a Google search of any subtitle or scene in the Gospel narratives with Tissot’s name, you’re almost certain to find a wonderful image on which to dwell and meditate.

A Day of Silence and prayer and waiting. How are we when God’s ways are not ours, when things don’t seem to make sense, when our hopes and dreams are shattered, and failure and humiliation seem to be our lot? How deep is our trust? Are we only fair-weather friends of God? If saints like Maximilian Kolbe and Edith Stein could radiate such bright faith, hope, and love in a place like Auschwitz, why can’t we do our share in much less trying circumstances?

The Watch over the tomb. By James Tissot

From Msgr. Charles Fink, Spiritual Director at St.Joseph’s Seminary:

There’s a story about an artist who poured his heart and soul into a painting of the crucifixion. When the painting was displayed to the public, everyone who looked at it saw his face in the crowd, usually in less than a flattering posture. Where would we be in that crowd? And what do we make of the cross in our lives?

The Crucifixion By James Tissot

The Passion narratives take up more than a quarter of each of the four Gospels. Clearly, for the evangelists the Cross was central to who Jesus was and what He came to do. Is it central for us? Have we slipped into espousing a cross-less Christianity?

Let’s think about these things today. And let’s think of Christ’s love for us, and ours for Him.

My Soul is sorrowful unto death. By James Tissot

From Msgr. Charles Fink, Spiritual Director at St. Joseph’s Seminary:

Wonderful and horrible things happen on this day, but one of the things that is stunning is the weakness and incomprehension of the apostles after all the time they’ve spent with Jesus. Should we be confident that we are stronger and more comprehending than they? Today it might be worthwhile to reflect on how well we’ve mastered the lessons of the Master and how faithful we are in living them out.

From Msgr. Charles Fink, Spiritual Director at St. Joseph’s Seminary:

“This day is known in some circles as ‘Spy Wednesday’ because it’s the day Judas arranges to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. This was the price appointed

Judas goes to find the Jews. By James Tissot

by God (Exodus 21:32) to be paid to the owner of a slave gored by an ox. By contrast, the ointment Mary of Bethany poured over Jesus’ feet was worth three times that much. The Son of God was betrayed for a pittance. in fact, all sin is an equally bad bargain, but how easily we make it. Today it would be worthwhile to reflect on the insanity and stupidity of sin and how often we enter into such foolishness.

From Msgr. Charles Fink, Spiritual Director at St. Joseph’s Seminary:

Widow's Mite. By James Tissot

“On this day, the widow makes her meager offering to the Temple treasury, and Jesus paints His magnificent and frightening portrait of the Last Judgment. Bishop sheen said that ‘The Lord measures the gift not by what we give but what we have left after we give.’ Mother Teresa said that at the Judgement, Jesus will take us by the hand and, counting out the words on our fingers, will say, “You did it to me.” This is a day to reflect on the generosity of out hearts, or the lack thereof.”

From Msgr. Charles Fink, Spiritual Director:

“Josephus said that in the time of Jesus the population of Palestine was about two million. Pharisees numbered perhaps 6000; there were even fewer Sadduccees.

Pharisees. By James Tissot

It didn’t take a majority to see to  Jesus’ death, just a vocal, relentless minority and a fearful or apathetic silent majority. Edmund Burke famously said that ‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that enough good men do nothing.’ Today is a day to reflect on our complicity with evil, either through our actual deeds or through silence in the face of known evil.

From Msgr. Charles Fink, Spiritual Director:

“What a contrast? From the adulation of the crowds on Palm Sunday to the cries of “Crucify him” only five days later. This is a good day to meditate on the fickleness of human affections: marriage vows cast aside; promises or ordination broken; cheering one’s team while it’s winning, booing when it starts to lose. We’re a sorry lot. St. Philip Neri used to pray, ‘Watch out for Philip, Lord; he will betray you.’ “

The Spiritual Director of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Msgr. Charles Fink, reminded us today that Holy Week is exactly that: holy. It’s supposed to be the most

privileged time throughout the year for people to grow closer to the Lord.

But in order for the whole people of God to grow holier during this week, the stagehands (parish volunteers) and main players (priests and deacons) get run down in rehearsals, preparation, logistics, and a lot of work. Anyone whose been remotely involved with Holy Week preparations in a parish knows this.

In the seminary, there’s little difference: schola practices, Tenebrae practices, Mass of the Lord’s Supper practices, Easter vigil preparations, and three diocesan Chrism Masses for us to attend!

Added to all that, we have Fr. Robert Barron (of the acclaimed Word on Fire Ministries and Catholicism series) giving the next installment of or “Year of Faith” Lecture series on Wednesday. And Cardinal Dolan will pay us a visit on the same day to share reflections from his experience at the papal conclave.

Let’s not forget the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and our usual offices: Morning and Evening Prayer.

Yeah, it’s busy. But beautiful.

Albert Houthousen Crown of Thorns

So Msgr. Fink has given us a number of short reflection to carry with us through the week. This way if all the hustle and bustle distract us from focusing on the readings at Mass, a proper meditation before Mass, or the psalms at our daily offices, we can have at least one cord tying our day together.

He composed them for seminarians but they seem applicable to almost anyone caught in the flurry of this week. We hope the following reflections will help you, in all your activity, to pause a few times during the day and refocus on the great mysteries of this week.