What happens in a seminary? I used to suppose that there was to be found an awful lot of praying and thinking of how to follow Jesus in the world outside, and seeking the grace to support chastity and learning about how to hold fast to God, and helping others without the plank of  selfhood blinding vision. 

Lord you know our need for holy pastors please show us how to cleanse those places devoted to forming your priests into sanctuaries of your holiness and banish from them self-idolatry and duplicity.

Yesterday I read that knowledge does not have pride of place before belief; that the only truthful theologian has to believe the object of his study. Our priests learn about Your Church but that knowledge is not to be used for academia and clerical advancement. The first thoughts of the True Shepherd is for his flock; but today we the sheep are again left alone in the wilderness.

Lord you know that I do try to be wise and leave here only words that please me; but let it be true that my heart is longing for the grace that you have bought for us. Veni Spiritu Sancti !