Seek the Things Above But Smell Like the Sheep

In his 1992 Apostolic Exhortation, “Pastores Dabo Vobis” (I Will Give You Shepherds), Saint Pope John Paul II detailed the principal foundations of priestly formation, which are human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral. These four dimensions or pillars create a comprehensive structure of formation of a seminarian discerning a call to the ordination of the priesthood of Jesus Christ. During my eight years of taking part in this formation, I can assure you that the process may not be perfect, but it is reliable in creating healthy, happy and holy priests.

I had the honor of studying philosophy at Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park and theology at Mount Angel Seminary and Abbey in Oregon. At both of these institutions, I was given the tools to grow in the four pillars of formation. However, in saying that, some of the tools given to us could be considered dull and clumsy to maneuver, even sophomoric in their approach to the reality of marriage and especially in regards to NFP. This is not necessarily a fault of the formation that I received; there are just so many hours in the day, days in the month, and months in the years for formation.

In general, most of a seminarian’s studies deal with “the things that are above”. (Indeed, the motto of Abbot Jeremy Driscoll of Mount Angel Abbey, proclaims “seek the things that are above,” which is taken straight from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. (Col 3:1) In this light, seminarians focus more of their energy on such topics as Aristotelian ideas, Augustinian arguments for the Holy Trinity, the hypostatic union of Christ’s divinity and humanity, not so much, sad to say, on the things that are “below.” I believe if you asked any well-rounded seminarian what he would rather focus his energy on in his studies, NFP and the marriage chamber would be far from the top, including mine.

But the reality is, I’m called to “seek the things above,” while at the same time, as Pope Francis reminds us, I must try to “smell like the sheep”. In this way, I am to lead my future flock to be healthy, happy, and holy not only in spiritual matters, but also in living the sacrament of marriage concretely and virtuously. Being aware of the needs of my future ministry, what the seminary did not prepare me for, I had to seek elsewhere. One of the greatest choices I made was going on a Pre-Cana weekend retreat with the Oblates of Saint Joseph in Loomis, California. The retreat was run by married couples from newly married to the gracefully seasoned. A priest was present during the entire retreat which had the effect of validating and blessing everything that the couples explained about NFP. Each couple spoke about a different topic and how NFP moved their minds, hearts, soul, and body to love fully for the other and for God. The more convincing arguments came from couples who at one time in their marriage had practiced contraception, but after going on a previous retreat found the freedom and selfless love of NFP. In the end, each couple expressed how NFP transformed their marriage into a healthy, happy, and holy expression of God’s love. I am forever grateful for this retreat, it allowed my eyes to be opened to the sacredness of marriage that a textbook and the seminary could not provide. I would encourage all couples, engaged or married, and especially seminarians to attend a retreat like this one.

Ad Jesum Per Mariam