A Glimpse of Redemptorist Seminary Life During Lent
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March 31, 2022During Lent, we are all called toward prayers, fasting, and almsgiving. However, as postulants, who belong to the Redemptorist Formation Program, we are called to self-discipline as well.
Some may see us as people who are secluded and after being formed for ten years in isolation, we will walk out of the seminary ready for ministry. Although it is indeed true that we devote time to prayer and the liturgy, we are also deeply involved in the Church during our formation. Whether it be through discussions, teaching catechism, or hosting volunteer events, we are being prepared spiritually, mentally, and physically to serve God and His people.
Just as a U.S Marine must undergo a rigorous program in order to be trained for physical combat, postulants in the Redemptorist Formation Program must be trained to help serve the people of God. Lent is a time dedicated for us to practice self discipline and to imitate Christ, who spent forty days and forty nights in the desert praying, fasting, and resisting the devil’s temptation.
As Jesus' followers, we are called to shed our old self and take up a new self in Christ. We strive to be the image of Christ for others by turning away from our bad habits, from negativity, and from the allures of this world’s vanity.
Here in the Bronx community, there is a collection box where we are encouraged to put the little money that we have into the box to support Ukraine. It takes dedication and self-discipline in order to save that money that we get each month.
Along with this, the formation program only serves soup and bread on Wednesday as a penance meal. But what is not important is how much one gives, but rather, the love for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters that comes from the heart. Just as Jesus taught us how it is not the things from outside which defile us, but instead, it is the things that come out from within which defile a person.
I believe this line of reasoning can be applied in the same way with regards to sanctity. Our outward actions alone do not sanctify us, rather it is the love from within that overflows and makes us true imitators of Christ in thought, word, and deed. St. Mother Teresa recognized that it is better to do little things with great love than to do great things with no love, so she taught us that, “If you can't feed a hundred, then feed just one.”
We truly believe that when the Lord looks deep into our hearts, he may find a peaceful and gentle heart, full of love for all people. Even though we are still lacking and in need of formation, we give our best efforts to serve others because we see Jesus in them.
We hope to continue to be involved with the community during our years of formation and to continue serving even after completing this program. When we see Jesus face to face, may He welcome us with open arms into our heavenly homeland and tell each one of us, “I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, you and a stranger welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).
In addition to these small acts that we practice during Lent, we also participate in a retreat for young adults on Good Friday. Involvement with today’s young adults is more necessary than ever before as today’s pop culture tends to draw people away from God and their faith. We are blessed to be given the opportunity to teach the next generation in our Catechism classes and help them learn more about Christ.
With our busy schedule, I finally made some time, along with one of my fellow seminarian brothers, to discuss with him why he decided to give up all his dreams to follow Christ. My fellow brother, Andrew, and I both came up with the same conclusion, concisely summed up by St. Sebastian Valfre, “When it is all over you will not regret having suffered; rather you will regret having suffered so little, and suffered that little so badly.”
Everything in this world will one day pass away, so live your life as if today is your last day. What will you change? How would you act? Are you ready to return back to your true home? May Christ and Our Mother of Perpetual Help bestow their graces upon you always.
