To Jesus Through Mary

For most college students, it was a typical Wednesday night. The end of classes and finals were quickly approaching, most would be calling it a night, turning out the lights to rest for yet another Thursday of classes to come. The lights were indeed turned out, and things were dark on Taylor Street at St. John Paul II Seminary. However, the seminarians could not be found in their rooms sleeping, in the library finishing up papers, or even in the refectory for a late-night snack. Instead, they were all filed in the darkened chapel with one light illuminated upon the altar. It was the eve of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and the seminarians of St. John Paul II seminary were ringing in this joyous celebration by adoring Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament. 

The Immaculate Conception was declared as one of the four Marian dogmas in 1854 by Pope Pius IX. This declaration declared that “most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin.” This was to fulfill her role as the Mother of God. With this solemnity, the Church bids us, it implores us to celebrate the perfection of our Mother and to evermore implore her intercession.

From retreats to formation talks, to homilies, and dinner conversations, the name of Mary is seldom without mention amidst our everyday life as seminarians. Our relationship with her as seminarians in formation, Christian men in the world, and as possible future priests are intrinsically tied to our relationship with others, the Church, and Christ. She is our very model of holiness, especially as we celebrate her Immaculate Conception, in which she is set apart by the grace of God from the rest of the world as most pure, most blessed.

Living amidst this constant Marian environment that the seminary fosters has been and continues to be a great blessing. It has offered me the opportunity to know my Mother, our Mother. In the past, I have found it hard to “pin down” or “perfect” my relationship with Mary precisely because I was thinking too abstractly. Formation and the environment at St. John Paul II have taught me to think otherwise. Precisely because she is the Immaculate because she is preserved from the stain of all sin, she is the one who is most near to me and to all of us. Our relationship with her in some ways is very simple as we acknowledge her unfailing presence in every waking moment of our lives. It is in this acknowledgment that we then implore her help and fly unto her in all matters both difficult and joyful.

As Adoration was closed with Benediction, the one light that was illuminated over the altar was replaced by a light illuminating the statue of Mary in the chapel and the seminarians sang the great hymn, “Alma Redemptoris Mater” (Loving Mother of our Redeemer), to our Lady. For she who is the Mother of God is our own Mother, and every sure prayer, every tireless intercession directed towards her will ultimately lead us ever deeper in our relationship with Christ her son. Through Mary to Jesus, our lives will be changed. This is how we strive to live our lives in the seminary. Lives marked by the journey to continue the Incarnational “yes” of Mary upon the altars throughout the world.

Mr. Johnson is a College IV seminarian for the Diocese of Rapid City.