by Fr. Brian Kane
Rector, St. Gregory the Great Seminary;
Director of Seminarians
Special pilgrims arrived at St. Gregory the Great Seminary last week. I received a phone call when they were about 10 miles away, asking if we were ready for their arrival. This is not very unusual, except that these pilgrims were carrying Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in a specially equipped van. As they pulled up to the seminary and got out of the van, each pilgrim genuflected and waited for the chaplain to carry the Blessed Sacrament into the seminary Chapel to be reserved in the tabernacle during the visit. The pilgrims are part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage crossing the U.S., headed to the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis next month.
We were excited earlier in the year when we learned that the seminary would be a unique stop on the journey where the 10 pilgrims would have a day to rest and be on a quiet retreat. They had a chance to enjoy the seminary grounds, facilities and beautiful chapel, resting and preparing for the next leg of the journey.
It has been inspiring to see coverage in the news and on social media as the pilgrims walk across Nebraska. At each stop, large numbers of people have joined the procession, desiring to be a part of something different, something bigger than themselves.
It is fitting that they stopped at the seminary. Our mission of forming men for the priesthood is also a pilgrimage with Jesus. The men at St. Gregory the Great Seminary also desire to be part of something different, something bigger than themselves.
This spring, the seminarians who completed their first year of formation in the Propaedeutic stage made a pilgrimage to Italy, stopping in Rome, Assisi and at two sites of Eucharistic miracles, Lanciano and Orvieto. The Church acknowledges both Eucharistic miracles which center on a struggle with belief in the real presence of Jesus in the consecrated host. In Lanciano, the consecrated host turned into heart muscle as the priest raised the host above the altar during the consecration. In Orvieto, the host bled onto the altar cloth during Mass. Both miracles are gifts that help us deepen our belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
This real presence is Jesus fulfilling his promise that we read in the Gospel of John (14:18), “I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.” This promise has drawn many to Jesus for 2,000 years.
It is good to see so many young people participate in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, walking with Jesus, lining the routes where he passes. It is also exciting to see how Jesus’ Eucharistic presence is an important part of the discernment of young men entering the seminary. Their application autobiographies often reveal that the time they spent before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is an important juncture during which they heard Jesus’ voice invite them to follow him.
We’re seeing more and more young men respond to this call. This fall, we are planning to welcome 20 new men to St. Gregory the Great Seminary to begin their pilgrimages toward the priesthood for their home dioceses. We will share more about their discernment journeys in a future column.
