Discernment

“Christ Calls Us to Freedom” – Reflection by Ty Taylor

In the epic film “Braveheart,” we follow William Wallace in his struggle against the British. We watch as he ultimately sacrifices his life, bellowing his fierce battle cry: FREEEEDOOMMM! My friends, Christ calls us to pray the Our Father from our heart in freedom.  “Forgive us—as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  It’s tough—the…

“Come” – 2/15 Lenten Reflection

Children often become empowered in their mischief by “don’t” statements. A boy who was perfectly content will be roused to disobedience if his mother shouts, “Don’t touch the cookies that I just made.” Timmy seemed so good, but now he is left disobedient and crying out for more. In a similar fashion, the Israelites reacted…

Hold Nothing Back: Reflection by Fr. Brendan

Christians are crazy!  In a world where most define themselves by what they do, Christians define themselves by whose they are.  Yep, you read that correctly, Christians define themselves by whose they are. The Scriptures on this First Sunday of Lent remind us all that our true identity is found not in our accomplishments, our…

Seminarians Celebrate TET: Experience Other Cultures

At 3:30 pm Monday afternoon, Conception students and staff left their desks and activities to join in the TET Celebration in the Student Union put on by the Vietnamese community at Conception. A yearly event, TET is a shortened version of Tet Nguyen Dan, which is the most important celebration of the Vietnamese culture. It is…

2/13 Lenten Reflection by Hayden Charles

In his commentary on Luke’s account of the call of the apostle Matthew that we hear in the Gospel today, St. Bede says that Jesus “saw [Matthew] through the eyes of mercy and chose him.”  Our Holy Father, Pope Francis chose this phrase as his episcopal motto when he became a bishop, and it remains…

2/12 Lenten Reflection by Ben Rogers

“A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn,” (Ps. 51:17).  I once heard that true humility was recognizing things the way things really are. In reality, we all struggle with temptations. We all have failed in our love for our neighbor at some point. We are selfish, and we don’t even recognize…

2/11 – Lenten Reflection by Chris Davis

Self-knowledge leads to self-mastery; self-mastery enables self-giving; self-giving is living as Christ. This mantra for priestly formation expresses in so many words that the aim of a seminarian’s entire formation is to become like Jesus, a living self-gift of love poured out for others. This progression from self-knowledge to self-gift is far from being exclusive…

Ash Wednesday: Lenten Reflection by Fr. Xavier

We tend to think of the season of Lent as a time when we want to get more serious about changing our lives.  Of course, that is true.  But I suggest that it is helpful if we see it as a time God and the Church gives us to come more deeply into our union…

Saint of the Day: Saint Blaise

Pictures from the blessing of throat today on Saint Blaise’s feast day.

Faith, Fellowship, and Basketball

Experience the seminarians trip to Chicago to compete in the annual Fr. Pat O’Malley Invitational hosted by Mundelein Seminary!