Today I am happy to present my GUEST BLOGGER who comes to us all the way from ROME. Seán is a seminarian for the Diocese of Colorado Springs and is studying at The Pontifical North American College (PNAC) in Rome. He is a first year theologian and will be ordained to the priesthood in 2016. I am very thankful that he has taken the time from his studies to send us a reflection from Rome. I hope that we will be able to hear from him again from time to time. Please keep Seán in your prayers as he pursues his vocation to the priesthood. Without further ado, I present Seán…
When I arrived in Rome this past July to continue my studies and formation for the Priesthood, I never imagined that my first year would entail so many historic events at the neighboring Vatican Hill. This past Wednesday was without question, one of those memorable days. I was blessed with the opportunity to be in St. Peter’s Square as the white smoke started to come out of the chimney over the Sistine Chapel. The crowd itself was great witness to the life of the Church. In the crowd there were many young people and many others from all over the world. Some of the other seminarians from my college encountered people ranging from Protestants to atheists. It is incredible to see how the Holy Spirit draws souls into the life of the Body of Christ. When the new pope was named, I am sure that you readers back home knew more about what was going on than we did. No one knew who it was or where he was from. The scene of St. Peter’s façade, wet from the rain, aglow with the many lights, and a man in white, our Pope, standing in the center was incredible. When he asked for a moment of silence for us to pray that God would bless him in his ministry to the Universal Church, not a sound was heard; a truly incredible feat for a crowd so large and diverse. This Lent in the Eternal City has been a unique and historic time for our Holy Mother the Church. May the Holy Spirit ever continue to guide the men that are placed as the shepherds of so many souls. May our Mother Mary be with Pope Francis as he succeeds Pope Emeritus Benedict in the Petrine Office. Viva il Papa!
In Christ,
Seán McCann
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