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November 1, 2021Fra. John (Alec Clark) is studying for the priesthood at the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate in Italy.
This semester, he is studying philosophy, which is required to become a priest, followed by a pastoral year of practicing ministry and missionary work and then theology. “When I was at Michigan Tech, I studied a bunch of calculus so philosophy is going to be something completely new to me.”
Fra. John said he is excited to be studying in Italy, the heart of the Church. “You meet people from all over the world, especially in my own order,” he says. “It's inspiring to visit ancient shrines and tombs of the saints.”
This year, Fra. John’s daily routine begins Mass, morning prayers, breakfast, then a commute to school, returning for lunch to eat with the rest of the brothers. The evenings include study, praying Vespers and the Rosary. “My favorite part of the day is that bit of free time in the evenings,” he says. “To me it's a breath of fresh air to take time to be alone with Jesus in the Tabernacle.”
He encourages those who are discerning the priesthood, to pray and have a daily routine. “Seriously strive, despite all the obstacles, to live a life of prayer.”
He says that routine should include visits to the Blessed Sacrament, praying the rosary every day, attending daily Mass, going to Confession regularly, beginning the day with a morning offering and reading and meditating on Sacred Scripture.
But he says anyone discerning needs to be active and patient. “You should strive to know the will of God by taking all the external steps necessary to do so. And, you should know that God will not fail to put you on the right road if you earnestly seek His will for your life and He will do this at the proper time.”
