Another Wedding Reflection

I had the opportunity to serve a wedding Mass for my friend this past weekend, and I had a new set of takeaways helped me envision what my future will look like. For starters, this was the wedding of one of my old buddies from Ohio State, and a majority of the congregation was old friends that I hadn't seen in a few years. Many of them got married right after college, so a few of them already had children with them! It was kind of wild because in my eyes, especially with deciding to continue with school, I feel like all my graduating class and I are just a bunch of college students still, but that is clearly not the case. I was able to serve in a roman collar per local custom of the diocese I was in, so it was extra fun to greet everybody who I hadn't seen in a long time. It was clear that I was in a different state in life from everybody else, but at the same time, nobody's quirks or personal interests had changed a bit. It was beautiful to observe the contrast present. 

​The next moment that stood out to me was the time between the Nuptial Mass and the reception. I was invited by a few people to go to a pub to kill the 90 minute gap time, but I had this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I should pray my breviary. I must have built enough virtue with the liturgy of the hours this semester for me to actually listen to this invitation to pray. I walked over to the other seminarian present and asked if he wanted to pray instead of going out for drinks. He said that it was a great idea, so he joined me. For the next 90 minutes, the prayer was quite lacking in consolation, but the most important thing was that it happened. I was able to catch up with my breviary for the day and even get my holy hour in. All I could think of was this image of a stereotypical priest where all they do is sit in a church and pray instead of having fun. In seminary, we do our best to destroy this idea, but sometimes, it is simply the reality. We are called to a uniquely celibate and intimate relationship with Our Lord, and that is going to demand something from us. I then thought about the young parents who were present who had to run back to the hotel to put down the kids for their afternoon nap. They weren't having fun either, and they probably wish they had more time to pray like I did.

Towards the end of my prayer time, the pastor walked into the church to start hearing the Saturday afternoon confessions, and right away a long line built up. That right there is my new future. I won't be able to "hang with the boys" all of the time because there are other souls who need the sacramental presence and mercy of Our Lord. Likewise, I had to leave the wedding reception right after the dinner because I had a three hour drive back to the seminary. My friends were sad to see me leave so early, but that is the cost of obedience to the church for me; in this case that is obedience to the seminary handbook. Luckily, I am quite the introvert at weddings, so I didn't really mind missing the loud music and awkward dancing. 

Diaconate ordination is getting closer... I am only 29 months away. Please pray that I may be open to the virtue and formation that Our Lord wishes to bestow upon me through the instrument of the seminary. Our Church is in need of holy priests, and I hope to be one someday.  

Amen