This week’s reading touches upon the second praesidium requiring special mention: the seminary praesidium.
What makes a seminary praesidium different from a regular senior praesidium? As its name suggests, a seminary praesidium consists exclusively of seminarians. Due to the nature of its members, the works suggested to them are slightly different. For instance, the time spent on active works is about one hour instead of the usual two, owing to the seminarians' busy schedules. Despite the shorter time, this work should still be rich and full of spirit. Additionally, there are a few other administrative adjustments to cater to the unique circumstances of these Legionary seminarians.
Why did Frank Duff find it appropriate to have a special praesidium for seminarians? In his essay, "The Priest Must Have Members," Frank Duff highlights the pivotal role of priests in the Legion.
“The Legion of Mary is the priest's organisation par excellence. It pivots upon the priest. It declares that it is an extension of him.”
Duff believed that seminarians, as future priests, could benefit greatly from Legion membership through leadership training, apostolic work, and the Marian spirituality that the Legion emphasises. A separate praesidium would provide seminarians with a distinctive environment to grow in these areas, preparing them to better lead and form lay Catholics once ordained.
Furthermore, Duff saw the importance of fostering seminarians who would later become priests with a strong connection to the laity, and at the very least, sympathy for the Legion. By engaging with the Legion during their formation, seminarians could deepen their prayer life, outreach efforts, and interaction with lay members. Their dedicated praesidium would help them focus on this mission while still in seminary.
St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests, stressed the critical role of priests in the Church. In his Catechism on the Priesthood, he says:
“The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself, he is for you. After God, the priest is everything. Leave a parish twenty years without priests; they will worship beasts.”
This underscores how vital it is for seminarians to be well-formed, both spiritually and pastorally, so that they can lead with grace and strength when they enter the priesthood.
On that note, let us also pray for more vocations, especially for holy priests, so that they can faithfully guide us toward eternal life. Let us pray that those called will recognize their higher calling and respond with abundant generosity.
St. John Mary Vianney,
Pray for us.
Comments