United in Prayer

It would be impossible for me to accurately describe how life in the seminary works. Some people say that Disney World is the happiest place on earth, but I beg to differ. Each day, I rise within the walls of St. John Paul II Seminary surrounded by 53 of the most kind and joyful men on the planet. Halfway through my first semester of seminary, the Lord has shown me that it is prayer, and my relationship with Him, that fosters joy. 

Seminary formation is focused on discernment and discipleship. We seek to begin and end our days asking for Christ’s aid to see His will for us. We hope to further discern each day whether God is calling us to serve his church, to give ourselves to Him as His priests. This disposition reminds us that we can achieve nothing without prayer: we cannot properly understand how to serve the Lord without first knowing how He is looking at us and hearing His voice. 

Before seminary, I could not have imagined what seminary brotherhood would be like. We are united in all things not only because we are united in Christ, but also because we each understand the struggles which our brothers are having in their discernment, because we all have them. Some may experience more of these struggles than others; some may experience them in greater magnitude; but we all have some taste of each of the issues which the enemy puts in front of us. We are united in the same cause, interceding on behalf of our brothers; we are united in prayer. 

Seminary has taught me that I cannot understand what God is asking me to do with my life if I do not put my relationship with Him first. Prayer is how we communicate with God. All relationships require communication, and our relationship with God is no different. Prayer is heart speaking to heart; it is the only way to maintain the loving relationship He desires for us.. 

Seminary has made me appreciate the time that I spend in prayer even more. Before, prayer sometimes felt like a burden, an hour which I “have” to spend with the Lord. Now, I see it as an hour that I “get” to talk to God about what he is asking of me and receive His love. This outlook does not come naturally, and I must first fight the idea that I could be doing something more important. This is especially important, with midterms just around the corner. But then I realize there is nothing more important that I do each day: not my schoolwork, my reading, or  even the time I spend with friends. To become like Christ is the preeminent goal of the Chrisitan life, and so prayer must be primary in my day. Only through that dialogue can I come to find Christ’s salvation offered to each of us. 

St. Padre Pio famously said, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.”  It’s hard to believe the Lord has taught me so much in my first semester, but Padre Pio echoes the best, yet simplest, lesson I’ve learned: God speaks, and He listens!

Mr. Derico is a College I seminarian for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.