THE HEART OF A SEMINARIAN

A Roman Catholic Seminarian opens up his Heart and shares the Faith he Loves.

THE INSTITUTE FOR PRIESTLY FORMATION (IPF)

For the next 10 weeks, I am in Omaha, NE for a summer program for priestly formation.  This is an awesome experience in which I know that I will not be the same afterwards.  In these first 2 weeks, I will be taking a course on Christian Prayer and Virtue.

Amazingly true, there are many people that are viewed as very religious (including priests) and really not know how to pray.  Many people can be very knowledgeable intellectually on the faith, but the spiritual aspect of their life is often lacking in understanding.  Constantly, we are told about the essentialness of a strong spiritual life to be holy, but how we do so is not always explained clearly.  This is why this program is so necessary and important especially for seminarians and priests, because a good priest and a strong prayer life work hand in hand.

We all pray in one way or another, but we really never know how to make our time of prayer correctly or the most productive.  This is why I am so excited about this program.  The priest teaching us about prayer is also everyday priest from parishes who are spiritually on fire.  The good news is that I will tell you all about it.  I will share with you everything that I find interesting and helpful.  A strong prayer life is not only for priests.  Hopefully you can join me in this experience, so I will not have to be the only one to benefit from this great program.

posted by: muniz at 22:10 | link | comments |

AN INSPIRATION OF MINE

As baptized Christians, we should all search and strive to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, but it becomes more difficult in some ways as a seminarian or a priest.  As seminarians and priests, we pray more than most, we attend Mass more than most, we know more about our faith than most, and worst of all we are viewed and treated as holier than others.  It is a common situation to lose motivation towards being perfect like God, because somehow it appears that we are better than others in the spiritual life.  It is as if we are so far ahead that we can coast or just relax and be fine.

In my experiences, I find so much motivation in the people.  Maybe I do pray a lot, but the thought of turning someone away from the faith by my actions is one of my worst fears.  When I think of that or come across a person that turn away from the faith by another Christian’s action, this is when I realize that I need to pray more.  This is when I realize I need to be more like Christ.  Maybe I do know more about my faith than others, but do I know it so well that I could not only explain it theologically, but be able to explain it at many different levels and in many different ways.  The thought and the experiences of not being able to clarify or make a teaching of the Church understandable motivate me to learn more.

In my life, I have been lucky to have met many amazing people who truly desire to spread the faith and help people.  Many of these people work so hard and look at me with such hope.  All that I know is that I never want to let them down.  When I get tired, disgruntled, or just plain lazy, I just need to think of the people who work so hard and the people who do not know fully the awesomeness of our faith.  Lord help me to keep moving to goal, so that I may Christ to the world.

 

posted by: muniz at 11:31 | link | comments (1) |

CHRISTIAN HALL OF FAME

ST. BERNARDINE OF SIENA

Saint Berardine was born at Massa Marittima in Tuscany in 1380.  He entered the Friars Minor and, after being ordained to the priesthood, traveled throughout Italy preaching with great success.  He increased devotion to the holy name of Jesus and fostered learning and discipline in his Order.  He also wrote theological treatises.  Saint Bernardine died at Aquila in 1444.  (LOH 1420-21)

posted by: muniz at 00:14 | link | comments |
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THE HEART OF A SEMINARIAN – REOPENED 

First of all, I apologize for the length of time between postings.  The internet access is not the same at my parent’s house as it was at the seminary.  Regardless, I am now working towards a higher consistency in my postings.  Not only that, I am also going to take the advice of a previous comment and share more of my own personal views and opinions on different issues.   I will constantly improve this blog so that it will become a place to learn, interact, and hopefully grow.  I am looking forward to hearing your comments and even your suggestions.  God bless you all and thank you.

posted by: muniz at 23:58 | link | comments |

CHRISTIAN HALL OF FAME

ST. JOHN I

Saint John was born in Tuscany and elected bishop of the Church of Rome in 523.  He went to Emperor Justin in Constantinople as an ambassador of King Theodoric.  On his return he was captured by the king, who was displeased at the outcome of the embassy, and cast into prison at Ravenna where he died in 526.  (LOH 1418)

posted by: muniz at 23:34 | link | comments |
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CHRISTIAN HALL OF FAME

ST. MATTHIAS - FEAST – May 14

Because he had been a witness to the Lord’s resurrection, Saint Matthias was chosen by the other apostles to take the place of Judas.  The Acts of the Apostles (1:15-26) tells of how he was numbered among the Twelve. (LOH 1414)

posted by: muniz at 23:31 | link | comments |
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CHRISTIAN HALL OF FAME 

ST. PANCRAS – May 12 

Saint Pancras, martyr, died at Rome probably during the Diocletian persecution.  His tomb over which Pope Symmachus built a church is preserved on the Aurelian Way.  (LOH 1412)

posted by: muniz at 23:27 | link | comments |
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CHRISTIAN HALL OF FAME

ST. NEREUS and ACHILLEUS – May 12

Saint Nereus and Achilleus were at first enrolled in the military tribunal, but both left the military once they had converted to the faith.  For this faith they were condemned to death, probably during the reign of Diocletian.  Their sepulcher is preserved in the cemetery on the Ardeatine Way, where a basilica has been constructed in their honor.  (LOH 1410)

posted by: muniz at 23:23 | link | comments |
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VOTE ON THE TITLE OF THIS BLOG

Recently, I was wondering whether or not I should change the title of the blog or not, so I decided to try a new one out.  What do you think?  What should I name it?  Here are a couple factors that I am considering with the title: 1) The title should reflect the writing and attitude of this blog.  2) The key words in title are hopefully ones that people can Google such as "Faith", "Life", "Heart", "Seminarian", etc. 

What is your vote?

1) FINDING FAITH IN LIFE: A Roman Catholic Seminarian opens up his Life and shares his Faith in Christ.

2) THE HEART OF A SEMINARIAN: A Roman Catholic Seminarian opens up his Heart and shares the Faith he Loves.

3) Your Idea for a title.

I have finals this week, so blogging will be light until the weekend.  Pray for me.  I am looking forward to reading your ideas (hopeful there are responses). Thanks.

posted by: muniz at 00:24 | link | comments (6) |

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CATHOLIC FAITH 

This is just an opportunity for anyone to ask questions about the Catholic faith or anything else pertaining to faith.

Also, this is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts on the blog and the ways that it can improve.

Finally, thanks for reading my blog.  I really do appreciate it.

posted by: muniz at 00:05 | link | comments (2) |

CHRISTIAN HALL OF FAME

ST. PHILIP AND JAMES

Saint Philip was born at Bethsaida .  At first a disciple of John the Baptist, he became a follower of Christ.  James, a cousin of the Lord and son of Alphaeus, ruled over the Church at Jerusalem , wrote an epistle and converted many of the Jewish people to the faith.  He led an austere life and suffered martyrdom in the year 62. (LOH 1810)

posted by: muniz at 23:49 | link | comments |
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CHRISTIAN HALL OF FAME

ST. ATHANASIUS

Saint Athanasius was born in Alexandria in 295.  He accompanied Bishop Alexander to the Council of Nicaea, and succeeded him as bishop of Alexandria .  He fought courageously against the Arian heresy.  For this he suffered many hardships and was exiled several times.  His writings are outstanding in their explanation and defense of the true teachings of the faith.  He died in 373. (LOH 1807)

posted by: muniz at 23:18 | link | comments |
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HISTORICAL FACTS OF CELIBACY

This past semester, I took a course on Celibacy.  Before celibacy was something that I just accepted and could roughly expalin, but I have grown to embrace this discipline.  Have you ever loved someone so much that you were willing to do anything for?  This is how I feel about you and everyone else and the Church.  I want to devote my life to this like a person devotes their life to their spouse.  In regards to celibacy, one of the biggest points of confusion is the historical nature of it.  This is a quick and brief overview of Celibacy.  If you have any question, then just ask. This is worth reading!  

Throughout the history of Christianity, Christians have strived to obtain holiness by the imitation of Christ.  In the 4^th century, the pre-eminent way of imitating Christ was virginity.  During this time, records have shown that there were unmarried men in the ministry, but more commonly, married men were ordained to ministry after pledging with the spouse’s agreement perpetual continence which is the traditional word for sexual abstinence.  This is evident in the Council of Elvira in 305 where they restored continence, which insinuates the practice as already well-known in the Church’s life, after a breakdown in Church life due to the persecutions. Also, this discipline has been enforced by the First Council of Arles (314), the Synod of Rome (386), and the Second Council of Carthage (390) and such writers as St. Cyril of Jerusalem (313-386), St. Jerome (347-419), St. Ambrose (339-397), St. Augustine (354-430), St. Caesarius of Arles (470-543), and in the East, Epiphanius of Constantia in Cyprus (317-403) and St. John Chrysostom (344-407).  Not to mention, The Council of Nicea (325) forbidding bishops, priests, and deacons to live with women other than blood relatives, which was reaffirmed by the Popes Siricius (384-399), Leo the Great (440-61), and Gregory the Great (590-604).

During the Gregorian Reform, Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) reconfirmed the requirement of continence, which lead to the last stage of the development of celibacy.  In the Second Lateran Council (1139), the Church decreed that the marriages of clerics contracted after ordination were invalid, and that candidates for priesthood who were already married might not receive higher orders unless they severed all relations with their wives which was confirmed by Pope Alexander III (1180) and Pope Celestine II (1198), and reiterated by the Council of Trent (1545-1563).  From that point on, the ancient practice of clerical continence became the strict celibacy of today.

In the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), the Church reiterated the reasons for this historical commitment.  Celibacy is:

--a dedication to the new humanity born not of flesh but of God (see John 1:13);

--a consecration to Christ in a new and excellent way, allowing greater freedom and wholeness of heart (1 Cor 7:32-34);

--a recollection of the mystical marriage by which the Church holds Christ as her only spouse (Eph 5:25, 32);

--a living sign of the world to come, in which there is no marriage (Luke 20:35-36).

Also, celibacy in correspondence to the meaning of marriage is:

--both a sign and a motive of pastoral charity, just as marriage involves the union of spouses in love.

--a source of spiritual fruitfulness in the world, just as marriage involves the generation of children.

As it is shown through historical facts, celibacy was not an innovation of the medieval Church, and it is not motivated by a disdain for sexuality or by a concern for preserving Church property.  As Cardinal Lustiger of Paris observes, celibacy represents a spiritual choice of the Church, made in freedom.  A choice made in freedom for the sake of the Kingdom.

posted by: muniz at 11:25 | link | comments |

CHRISTIAN HALL OF FAME 

ST. JOSEPH, THE WORKER - memorial

Saint Joseph is the foster father of Jesus, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit without a human father.  According to the Gospels, Joseph, the husband of Mary, was a carpenter; people occasionally called Jesus “the carpenter’s son.” Jesus apparently learned that trade at Joseph’s side. 

posted by: muniz at 08:09 | link | comments (1) |
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