diofav 23

Catholic News Herald

Serving Christ and Connecting Catholics in Western North Carolina
Pin It

At St. Joseph College Seminary, we seminarians share a unique bond of fraternity. This bond is important because it is a means God provides for a seminarian’s formation.

It centers and guides him to fraternal charity and self-sufficiency in matters of virtue.

In the midst of fraternal life, a seminarian begins to discover who he is and the truths of his character. This revelation comes forth as he uncovers the depth of his love for God the Father, the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. Furthermore, living as a community under the same roof provides an opportunity for each young man to recognize the treasures that are sincerity of heart and reciprocated love among members of the community. However, if one of us restricted his fraternal interactions to mere pleasantries and shallow dialogue, how could he begin to understand the beauty or joy to be found in genuine fraternity?

This idea especially holds true with the virtues taught to me by my parents. Two particular virtues cultivated by my parents have prepared me for seminary and have kept me close to God: honesty (with God and my brothers) and courage. Honesty keeps the heart pure of self-deceit, and courage provides the strength of soul to accomplish its purpose – namely, sanctification. Moreover, when honesty is developed in one’s relationship with God, humility begins to take root. Fully realized, humility is the subjection of man to God, for whose sake he humbles himself by subjecting himself to others.

In the pursuit of this virtue essential to holiness, we can be sure that our patience will be tested. St. Thomas Aquinas noted in his disputations on the cardinal virtues that “courage includes patience,” for patience is necessary for perseverance (Disputations, De virtutibus cardinalibus, I, ad 14).

If we lack the courage sufficient to be honest when we speak to another, we should take heart and ask for grace where we fall short. Our Catholic faith is built upon courageous virtue, and it is the truth within us that scatters darkness as it pours forth through our speech.

True Catholic brotherhood is essential to our faith. It draws us towards deeper spiritual joy, provides confidence to be men of God, and inclines us to carry words of peace in a world darkened by love for power and violence. The brotherhood we share in Christ is illuminated by the Light of Lights and impelled by love for God, who anticipates us with heavenly grace.

I pray for you all. Be honest, be courageous, and hold dear to the promising fact that our hope and vocations are secured in Jesus. Pax Christi.

James C. Tweed, a member of Sacred Heart Church in Brevard, is enrolled at St. Joseph College Seminary.