Understanding Priestly Identity

Since the Mundelein basketball tournament, life in Old College has really gone into full swing: the homework load has increased, tests have started, and most of all, formation conferences have become deeper. In Old College, one aspect of our formation consists of weekly meetings on different topics. Our meetings take place every week for an hour and fifteen minutes, and the topics vary from semester to semester. This semester, the topic is priestly identity. The formation conferences vary in style, but the most common meeting consists of a reading from sources like the Bible or the Catechism, and a discussion of what the reading means and how it applies it to our understanding of the specific topic. Formation conferences are a great way to grow in understanding. 

As a freshman, my experience with the formation conferences has been great. This semester’s topic of priestly identity has helped me to learn new information about the origins of the priesthood and how priestly formation has changed over the two thousand years that the priesthood has been in existence. I think one of my favorite passages that we read in one of the conferences was from the Acts of the Apostles. 

“Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:21-26)

I enjoyed this reading because it made a discerning God’s will seem so simple: like casting lots. It seems as if it would be great to discern God’s will instantly by casting lots, but unfortunately, God does not work in that manner too often anymore. Instead, He often reveals His call to us through our desires, and one great way to know what we desire is to learn about His holy priesthood. Through our formation conferences, we are discerning and growing in our understanding of what it truly means to be a priest. As our formation conferences continue to progress and go deeper, I look forward to see how they affect my discernment and my faith.

 

In Holy Cross,

Michael Marshall