Seminarian moves to college in Rome to continue preparation for priesthood

Intermountain Catholic

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By Stephen Tilley

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

This summer marks a notable transition for me as I journey toward the Catholic priesthood for the Diocese of Salt Lake City. I am transitioning from studying philosophy and literature at Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon to studying theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

When I arrived in Rome, I was amazed at the litany of events that were scheduled to prepare me for this transition. These experiences were profound and forced me to contemplate my vocation in Christ.

One of the first events was the renewal of our baptismal promises in the Lateran Basilica’s Baptistery, one of the oldest in all of Christendom. The baptismal font was enormous, easily fitting more than 60 men, with plenty of room to spare.

A detail that stuck with me was the shape of the structure, an octagon. This shape reminds us about Christ’s resurrection because Christ was resurrected on the eighth day, and in our baptism we share in both the death and resurrection of our Savior.

The opportunity to renew my baptismal promises in such an amazing setting moved me deeply because it was in our baptism that we entered into our faith, and the study of theology requires one to look through the lens of faith.

The following day I had the opportunity to explore the catacombs of Rome and attend a Mass where some of the earliest church martyrs were laid to rest. This experience brought to life the early witnesses of the church. The walls in the catacombs whispered a vivid testament of the early church. While we were receiving our tour, we were elated to encounter the oldest known image of Mary. The image of the Madonna itself was not aesthetically awe-inspiring, yet the image left me in awe because it momentarily connected me in a very real way to the Christians from over 1,700 years ago. The catacombs have a way of shaking you out of your complacency and focusing you on the sobering reality of the Christian vocation. The Christian is called to live, die, and rise with Christ. Christ requires all.

On the third day of orientation week, we made a pilgrimage to a Eucharistic miracle in a town called Orvieto. A corporal containing drops of blood from a host is still encased above an altar on the side of the church. The experience was a stark witness to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. As I looked upon this great miracle, I pondered how often I have allowed the Eucharist to slip into the backdrop of my spiritual life. As a follower of Christ, the Eucharist needs to be the central focus of my spiritual life. After all, the Eucharist is one of God’s greatest signs of love and communion.

We traveled to San Clemente on the final day of orientation, to a basilica built on top of a second-century pagan temple. Although these particular pagan ruins were never converted into a Christian church, the ruins’ presence reminded me of Rome’s pagan past and God’s transformative power. In a similar way, God has an amazing way of using our own inadequacies and transforming them into something that gives glory to Himself. I pray that during my time of theological studies that I allow myself to become vulnerable in Christ’s transformative grace.

I consider myself extremely blessed to have had all of these amazing experiences. They have helped spur a necessary spiritual transition that I must constantly undergo while I am being formed to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your constant support and prayers.

Stephen Tilley is a Diocese of Salt Lake City seminarian.