Lector Institution

On Sunday January 16, 2011 I and 53 of my brother seminarians were instituted to the ministry of Lector.  This means that we are now officially appointed and called by the Church to proclaim the word of God in the context of the Sacred Liturgy.  As Archbishop O’Brian said in his homily during our installation, the Church uses the institution as Lector, then later as Acolyte (serving at the Altar), to allow us to take gradual concrete steps toward the altar, culminating in ordination to the Deaconate at the beginning of our fourth year and ultimately in priestly ordination after the fourth year of theological studies.  I would like to share a few reflections that I have had since being instituted and carrying out my new office in the Church.

As I mentioned to some of my brother seminarians, “I went straight from high school to the pros”!  My first assignment for carrying out my duty as Lector was to read the second reading at our Sunday mass for the seminary community.  Not only was I scheduled for a Sunday mass, but it just so happened to be the day designated for the newly appointed Cardinal Burke to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving here at the college for his being elevated to the College of Cardinals. 

The day was great.  Since being instituted God has really called me to reflect on my new ministry and to continue to go deeper into the Sacred Scriptures.  The 2^nd reading from the Office of Readings Sunday morning continued this call.  It was taken from the Vatican II document on the Scared Liturgy entitled “Sacrosanctum Concilium”.  One line that particularly struck me was that when Scripture is read in the Liturgy, it is in fact Christ himself who speaks through the minister.  What an honor it is to be able to carry out such a role in the Church.

As with my first meeting with Cardinal Burke, I was quite impressed.  In just a few minutes of being around him, it becomes apparent the he is a very prayerful and humble priest of Jesus Christ.  His words in his homily were very comforting for me.  He spoke several times of the tremendous weight of the responsibilities which he has taken on by virtue of his elevation to the College of Cardinals.  In his humility, he stated that the only way that he can carry out his responsibilities is to remain faithful to and utterly dependent on Christ and his Church.  He focused, in particular in his reliance on prayer, both on his own prayerful relationship with our Lord, and the prayers of all of the faithful for him and his ministry.

Lately, I have realized more and more what great responsibility comes along with being a priest.  At times, I have been worried, wondering if I will be able to live up to so noble a calling.  The answer to my question is no; I cannot live up to the call to be a priest of Jesus Christ.  However, this is the beginning of being a faithful servant.  I know that there is nothing that I can do to minister to God’s people, it is only by moving aside and letting God work through me that I will be a good and faithful servant.  I must continue to realize that I can do nothing without God’s help and with this knowledge, I must allow myself to be totally dependent on Him.

Thank you all for your prayers for me.  Please continue to pray that I will be a humble servant for our Lord and that I will always seek to know and follow his will.  Please know of my prayers for all of you.

In Christ,

Patrick