Jesus in the Eucharist as the center of the seminarian’s life

Now that I am in my seventh year of seminary formation, I see clearly how central my relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist is to my daily life. As a man pursuing the priesthood, I must know and love Jesus as a friend. This knowledge and love of Christ overflows into every aspect of my life as I have seen in my pastoral assignment. I am currently assigned to a local parish in Maryland where I live in the rectory on the weekends assisting at the Masses and distributing communion to the faithful. This assignment has been spiritually lifegiving for me as I have been able to more immediately bring Jesus to the faithful in the pews. 

When I was first called to enter seminary, the Eucharist was very central to my calling. I was in Eucharistic adoration when I felt strongly convicted about pursuing a call to the priesthood. This devotion to the Eucharist has only grown since I entered seminary formation. The daily schedule at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary has certainly helped foster my continued growth in devotion. With the Eucharist exposed each morning and afternoon, there are plenty of opportunities for me to make my daily holy hour. In this holy hour, I encounter the Jesus in a deeply personal manner as I am speaking to him as I would to a close friend. 

As with any relationship, my relationship with Jesus has grown as I continue to spend more time with him. Additionally, throughout my time in seminary I have seen how important my daily prayer is for my wellbeing. For me, daily prayer is not a “would be nice” but an absolute necessity. I need to pray because it overflows into every aspect of my life. When I miss my time for prayer, everything else crumbles leaving me with a reminder about the true necessity for prayer. It is necessary because, when I pray daily, I can surrender every aspect of my life to the Lord’s care and concern. This daily surrender is paramount for living a healthy, happy, and holy life. 

Understanding this necessity for prayer has helped me also incorporate prayer into the mundane tasks of daily life. I can invite Jesus into everything I do. He is in the classroom with me, He is with me when I exercise, He is with me in my interactions with brother seminarians, and most importantly, He is with me amid the various challenges that arise throughout the day. It has been consoling to know that no matter what happens throughout the day, Jesus is there by my side guiding me along the way. 

This reality of Jesus’ lasting presence has inspired me to share this grace with the faithful at my pastoral assignment. I have had many interactions with people at the parish where I feel my zeal for souls grow. Thanks to God’s grace, I have a deeper desire now more than ever to share Jesus with everyone I meet, even if it is only through my words and actions. Most of all, at my assignment I can distribute Jesus’ body, blood, soul and divinity present in the Eucharist to the faithful at Mass each Sunday.  

As my daily life of prayer continues to grow, I have realized the fruit of this growth overflow in my pastoral assignment. The pastoral assignment has also inspired in me a greater appreciation for the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the Church. The Eucharistic presence of our Lord has been at the center of my life throughout seminary and truly it is the center of the life of a priest, which I pray to be someday. It is through my daily prayer in front of Jesus in the Eucharist that I understand now more than ever how necessary it is for me to always abide in him and remain faithful to him. Through this abiding friendship with God, I have trust that He can work even through me, unworthy as I am.