A summer to grow in authentic priestly spirituality

This summer I was blessed to take part in the Institute for Priestly Formation (IPF) program for seminarians in Omaha, Neb. It’s a nine-week formation “boot camp” focused intently upon fostering a deep, real, and living relationship with God in the hearts of future priests. I’d like to share some of my thoughts on my experience.

The program began with a week-long crash course on honest and open prayer. Then we dove immediately into an 8-day silent retreat. During this retreat, we were all obliged to make four holy hours every day! I was surprised how natural it was for me to engage in those holy hours. At first, I thought there would be way too many. For me, this was an incredibly beautiful time of tranquil relationship with the Trinity and the Holy Family. There were many graces and encounters with God that laid the foundation for prayer throughout the summer and beyond. We also had daily spiritual direction and evening conferences on various aspects of retreat to keep each seminarian from going “off the rails,” since the Evil One likes to tempt and disturb during these intense times. Overall, I was very refreshed and consoled by the unique way that God loved me through those eight days.

Right after the retreat, we began a class on prayer and priestly identity. Much of it was a review of prayer, to solidify the fruits of the retreat to last through the more active routine. We explored various aspects of priestly identity and ways that the heart of the priest is conformed in its desires and longings to Christ’s. These identities were chaste spouse, divine physician, loving father, good shepherd, and the all-important foundation: beloved son. Of these, beloved sonship had already been God’s focus in my prayer and formation, and it will continue to be. In a new way however, divine physician and loving father resonated most poignantly with my heart. I was particularly touched by the example of our priest teachers. They illustrated generously the way in which these identities had blossomed in their own hearts so that it was spontaneous for me to recognize them in mine.

Then, we had a class on masculinity in Christ, which focused more on the natural humanity of each seminarian as it should be founded in relationship with Christ. My section was taught by a psychology professional who also happened to be a priest. There were many fruits and lessons gained from his experience of priesthood and of celibacy. We also read a book on celibacy called Virginity: Celibacy for the Sake of the Kingdom. I appreciated its contributions to giving celibacy a relational foundation with Jesus Christ.

Finally, we had a class on living the Liturgy—that is, living every moment in light of God’s all-conquering and all-surpassing work of love through all history and all existence, culminating in the paschal mystery. It sounds like a lot, and it was! Essentially, it was a class on living in joyful and powerful surrender. The class was based on the book The Wellspring of Worship by Jean Corbon, who wrote the section of the Catechism on prayer. I would highly recommend it, though it is demanding.

Throughout the summer, there were 156 seminarians all staying together in one dorm building on the Creighton University campus. It was such a gift to enjoy each others’ presence and to meet seminarians from other seminaries and dioceses. Our fraternity was vital to keeping me sane through the program as well. God comes close through others. The priests and faculty were uniquely gifted people, and I understood why they were invited to help us grow in authentic priestly spirituality. The schedule was well-suited to promoting prayerful leisure and contemplation, and there were various activities available for sport or apostolic work.

Overall, I am glad that God gave me this summer before entering my first year in major seminary. There was so much growth and preparation for the challenges and blessings ahead, and I have a much more crystallized view of discernment and formation as I move toward the final years before ordination. God be praised.