Imago Trinitatis

The closer you get to the light, the more you see the shadows. I’m not sure exactly where I first read the above quotation.   It was likely from Blessed Mother Teresa or St. Teresa of Avila, but, then again, when searching this phrase on Google to find its source, I found that it’s heavily associated with the video game series Kingdom Hearts, which I’ve never played . . . Anyway, wherever it comes from, I find a lot of truth in it.   As I’ve journeyed in my faith and discernment over the past few years, along with discovering many things about God, I’ve discovered so much about myself.   Some of these things are beautiful – my identity as a beloved son of God, the many strengths I have, the path toward priesthood I’ve been called onto, and the relationships and friendships I have developed over time.   However, I’ve also seen many painful truths about myself – my weaknesses, inauthenticity, sin, shame, and seemingly insurmountable barriers I feel like I can’t...

 Photo credit to Conception Abbey. For more photos from Conception, see listenmyson.wordpress.com I’ve begun my eighth and final semester at Conception Seminary.   Certainly I’m ready for graduation to come, yet a growing part of me is becoming aware of what I’ll be leaving behind.   The friends I’ve come to make here will be difficult to say good-bye to, but what will also be difficult is leaving behind this beautiful Benedictine environment. Anyone who visits Conception notices one thing immediately: we’re literally in the middle of nowhere.   This is often difficult for those who come from larger towns as I did.   Being twenty minutes from the nearest Wal-mart and unable to leave campus except for weekends and special times can seem very restraining.   Yet this is precisely one of the reasons I was attracted to Conception in the first place.   I find myself walking between century-old buildings, looking out over the rolling hills, listening ...

Panorama photo from Sunday Mass At the beginning of the month, I attended FOCUS’s SEEK 2015 conference in Nashville, TN.   Close to 10,000 young Catholics gathered together for prayer, fellowship, formation, and fun, and I personally received many graces from this blessed time.   However, in this post, I want to limit myself to this question: what does this gathering mean for the universal Church?   Why should Church members all over the world pay attention to what happened in Nashville?   The students who came to this conference were in many different places in their faith lives.   Some had been raised strongly in the faith and already had a deep relationship with Christ.   Others weren’t even Catholic but were invited by friends to partake in this adventure.   Many others had growing faith but had encountered specific struggles and doubts in their journey.   Every person had a unique story to share and was seeking different fruits f...