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Whenever I have a spare moment that isn't occupied by writing papers, I've been spending it in our wood shop. In the basement of our gymnasium's auditorium, what used to be the dressing room is now an art room / work shop. I built a table during finals week last semester - it was my method of stress relief to punctuate my studying and decompress after an intense exam. I made a desk for the chair in my room during midterm week. And to combat the effects of burnout and writer's block, I've taken to ring-making. They're quick, simple, and easy to make, and allow me to experiment with all sorts of techniques like different kinds of stains, wood burning, carved designs, and scale.
As word has spread of my new hobby, whatever my latest project is becomes a meal-time discussion topic. I'll show my work to anyone who asks, and I've taken some requests for projects. One of the guys asked me if spending time woodworking has changed my devotion to St. Joseph. I had to think about that for a moment. St. Joseph must have been an amazing carpenter. I'm sure he could have made a lot of money if he invested himself completely in his work. But Joseph had priorities. He realized his first calling was for his family, and worked because he loved them. I'm sure he involved them in his work as much as he could: working with Jesus, showing and giving his handiwork to Mary, and being inspired by his love for them. He wouldn't have been ambitious to grow his business if it ever took his attention away from his family - if it stopped being at the service of Jesus and Mary and started being self-serving. I've greatly enjoyed taking the occasional break from my studies to craft and imagine, and sharing my joy with my brothers. But while wood-working has been a refreshing hobby, I have to take care to make sure it continues to point me back toward Christ, my studies, and my brothers.
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Recently, we had some visitors at the Pontifical College Josephinum. 17 young men from the dioceses of Columbus, Ogdensburg, and Steubenville came to stay with us for a couple days to participate in our schedule of daily life for a "live-in." They prayed and ate with us, sat in on some of our classes, and met with our spiritual directors and external formators. The whole school becomes so much more lively with that younger presence. I noticed it most during the singing and responding parts of the liturgies. I hope they noticed it as well, it's a reminder that they could fit in here, if it's where God calls them, and I pray that they continue the discernment that they've lived out here.
It was a real joy for me to help host these guys. I remember when I was in their shoes, when I was inspired by the witnesses of seminarians and priests to pursue Christ's call in discernment and prayer. My formators talk a lot about "ministry of presence." It's something every Christian, and particularly every seminarian, deacon, or priest knows well. Simply by being present and expressing the love, joy, and peace that come from a deep relationship with Christ, one is ministering to everyone around them. I remember a game of pool I had with a couple seminarians years ago. I remember witnessing their joy and their genuine Christian brotherhood. It dawned on me that I've come full-circle after I played a game of pool with a couple of our live-in guys. Sometimes, you don't see that you're growing until after you've grown. Now, I'm seminarian-brothers with the guys who inspired me and I've been given the opportunity to inspire in the way I was inspired. I'm also a marginally better pool player now than I was then... One of the questions that first year seminarians get very frequently is "why are you studying philosophy? Don't seminarians study theology?" Believe me, I've been asking myself the same question. Last week, I had a midterm about Pre-Socratic, Socratic, and Platonic philosophy. Should a future parishoner ever ask me which Pre-Socratic philosopher believed that everything in the world was made of water, I'll be prepared. It's Thales, by the way.
Yesterday, I was creating an outline for a large philosophy paper due at the end of the semester. I had selected the exploration of Justice as found in Plato's Republic because it seemed like it would be the easiest to research. I wasn't even particularly interested in the topic. In the Republic, Socrates is arguing with a group of men about what justice is. Socrates argues that justice is the virtue of rational self-mastery that orders the soul toward the good of society, and that because it's a virtue, it is innately good. His opponents argue that it is better to practice injustice because all justice will cause is pain and suffering. One opponent, Glaucon, tells a story (360b-361d). There were two men, one who lived a life of perfect justice, and one who lived completely unjustly. Each possessed a magic ring that could make him invisible when worn. (Yes, Tolkien borrowed the idea from Plato.) The unjust man steals, kills, and commits every kind of sin in complete secrecy. In order that his life is as unjust as it could be, he is praised, loved, and has a magnificent, shining reputation. He will die prosperous. The just man lives a simple, virtuous life and isn't particularly wealthy. Because justice is the opposite of injustice, Glaucon argues, the just man will be despised for his virtue, dishonored, calumniated, and have a reputation for injustice, and yet suffer silently and remain virtuous until he dies. At the end of his life, Glaucon asks, who will be happier? While Glaucon intends for this to be an argument for injustice, this story prefigures Christ instead. Jesus is the model of perfect justice. He was born to poor parents, in a lowly stable. He was given a death reserved for the worst criminals, treated like he was completely unjust. But through his suffering, he justified us. In his own way, Plato seems to pick up on this, and spends the rest of the Republic defending the goodness of justice, virtue, and an orderly life. He sees something Godly and supernaturally rewarding in the humble, virtuous life, and in a just society. Good philosophy points back to Christ. The greek word φιλοσοφία literally means "the love of wisdom." For a seminarian, studying philosophy is loving and seeking the source of wisdom Himself. As is traditional for Catholics during Lent, everyone at the seminary has made Lenten resolutions relating to the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Sunday's first reading is a great way of thinking about the Lenten penances we've begun. Here's a snippet:
"[saying] 'He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders; and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. Therefore, I have now brought you the firstfruits of the products of the soil which you, O LORD, have given me.' And having set them before the LORD, your God, you shall bow down in his presence." (from Deuteronomy 26:4-10) The first time I read it, I was struck by that word "firstfruits." You've probably seen it in other places in scripture: Cain & Abel, all throughout the Books of the Law, and symbolically throughout the New Testament. Literally, it means the best produce of a crop. Perhaps we don't have crops to give God, but Lent is a time to remember the amazing things the Lord has done for us. I look at my own life and how God has provided for me to be here at seminary, how he's shaped my heart thus far, and how well he's taken care of me. When I was at my nursing home apostolic assignment yesterday, I was asking some of the patients what intentions of theirs I could pray for. Several patients responded, "you can pray for me, but there are so many people worse off than I am. Pray for the conflict in Ukraine!" It is easy to reduce the purpose of Lenten mortification to a growth in humility or a detachment from worldly goods - both of which are genuine and important reasons for penance. But we give back to God and neighbor because we rejoice in what God has done for us. We pray because we've been blessed with time. We fast and give alms because God is taking care of us. Our Lenten commitments are meant to be gifts of loving worship, not gloomy obligation, to the powerful God who is always inviting us into his arms. |
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