The best years of my life

William Fuller

Contributor

My time in seminary has been the best years of my life. Nowhere else have I been as encouraged and as enabled to grow as a man, a student and a child of God.

I began discerning the priesthood as a small child when I realized that there were certain “boring” jobs that none of my peers wanted to do when they grew up, such as being a garbage man, or even a priest. I considered that somebody needs to become a priest, and it could be me.

Obviously, my understanding of vocation has matured and developed since then, but the priesthood had always been on my heart since this consideration. As I was nearing the end of high school, the priesthood was still on my heart and I loved serving the Mass. Therefore, I decided to enter seminary with the Diocese of Covington to discern whether the Lord was calling me to this vocation.

I entered seminary right out of high school at 19 years old, and I was nowhere near ready for the priesthood. In fact, I didn’t even know how to pray the Divine Office or participate in the devotional life of the Church. I was still very much a teenager.

Thankfully, the seminary formators understood where many of my classmates and I were coming from. All first-year seminarians are required every day to attend Mass, pray certain hours of the Divine Office, pray the rosary, make a Holy Hour and other formational activities. Keeping up with these expectations was not always easy (especially the academic classes). Nevertheless, these practices instilled the virtues we need for further formation.

Growing in formation with a fraternal community has been one of the greatest blessings in my time in seminary. Being in an environment where everyone earnestly strives to grow closer to the Lord was a brand new experience for me. These men have become my brothers in the Lord, and together we grow as men of sacrifice in imitation of the Lord Jesus.

In my first year, we adopted a motto that will stick with us forever: “Esto vir!”, which is Latin for “Be a man!” We study, pray, work, eat meals, play football and more, all together. In even ordinary moments, we call upon each other to strive for holiness.

Another novelty for me was living in close proximity to a chapel. Most urban parishes unfortunately cannot keep the church building open for visitors, but at seminary, I can visit the Lord anytime. We are encouraged to sit in the presence of the Eucharistic Lord throughout the day. A quick visit to the Lord before an exam or in the middle of a study session grounds us in what is most important: our relationship with God.

I wasn’t too sure how long I would stay in seminary when I first entered. Although I felt drawn to the priesthood, I did not yet understand what the spirituality of the priesthood looked like. It is said that nobody knows their vocation with certainty when they enter seminary, and this rang especially true for me. Over time, however, I received a significant number of consolations confirming I am where the Lord wants me to be.

First and foremost, the Blessed Virgin Mary has been my life, my sweetness and my hope. Her intercession and nurturing love have allowed me to grow in my imitation of Christ by being her child in Bethlehem. What better formator can I have than she who raised the Lord?

It is a little hard to describe, but growing in union with the Blessed Virgin and learning to love her as Jesus loves her opens me up to receiving her motherly consolation. Being in the parish, serving the liturgy, and catechizing children as a Totus Tuus missionary have also provided me with some great consolations.

I am currently a senior in college seminary. After graduating this spring, I will likely have four more years of formation before priestly ordination. Even now, I recognize that I am not ready to be a priest.

Nobody can possibly prepare himself for that life by his own strength, but the prayer of the Church is a powerful thing. Therefore, I ask you all in the Diocese to pray for me as I continue my formation, that the Lord instills priestly virtues in me and brings me closer to conformity with the Lord Jesus.

William Fuller is a seminarian for the Diocese of Covington, Ky., in his third year, Discipleship Stage, of formation at the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio.