Vocations One day at the Seminary of Denton
Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary is one of two major seminaries of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. It is situated in Nebraska, diocese of Lincoln.
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The day’s prayer in common begins with Lauds, the praise of God, a sign of the profound orientation towards the Lord which every priest and future priest should cultivate. At the end of this office (around 6:45 a.m.) there follows twenty minutes of silent meditation or personal prayer. |
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The community Mass ordinarily follows the meditation period. However, Sung Masses, which are chanted on second class feasts, and Solemn Masses which are sung on first class feasts, are celebrated immediately after the morning office. While the community Mass is being said, the other priests of the seminary say their own private Mass at altars located throughout the building. |
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Breakfast is eaten in the seminary refectory between 8 and 8:20 am. During the week, breakfast is taken in silence to maintain recollection after the reception of Holy Communion. Grand silence ends after breakfast. |
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Classes start at 8:40 a.m.; each class lasts for 45 minutes. They are offered to meet the academic requirements of the seven years of formation: year of spirituality (1 year), philosophy (2 years) and theology (4 years). Weaved into the academic curricula are classes in Gregorian, which prepare seminarians to sing the Office and Holy Mass. |
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In the middle of the day, the community comes together to recite the office of Sext, followed by the Angelus, in the seminary chapel. Recitation of the Holy Rosary is done in common on Thursday and Saturday afternoons. On these days Sext is recited in private. |
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Lunch, like the other meals, is usually taken in silence except on Sundays, major feast days, and on Wednesday afternoon (a time of recreation). Silence lasts until the last 10 minutes of the meal, after which there is an opportunity to talk to one’s neighbors. While eating in silence, the community listens to a reading from a book chosen by one of the priests: usually a work of historical or contemporary interest or a novel describing the life of a saint. |
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Afternoon recreation lasts for an hour and a half. During this time athletically inclined seminarians can play that day’s designated sport (basketball, soccer, or football). Those who prefer to read a newspaper or simply take a walk are afforded the time to do so. |
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The afternoon is usually reserved for classes or private study. Those seminarians who do not have afternoon classes work on reading assignments either in their rooms or in the library. |
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At 5:30 p.m. the community comes together, in union with the whole Church, to sing the office of Vespers. On first class feasts, Solemn Vespers is chanted with ceremonies. |
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Before dinner is served, grace is sung and the lector of the week reads from the Roman Martyrology. Then, the meal is eaten in silence while a literary work is read in the refectory. Conversation is allowed during the last 10 minutes of the meal except during Lent, when the entire meal is taken in silence. |
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The evening recreation period lasts for an hour. Seminarians are free to play indoor sports in the recreation room (ping pong, billiards, football), read, or study. |
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The office of Compline marks both the end of the day and the silence of the night. The community comes together for the last time until morning to sing praise to God and to entrust its intentions to the Lord and to the Mother of God. Compline is followed twice a week by a spiritual conference given either by a resident or visiting priest at 8:00 p.m. Grand Silence follows Compline and ends after breakfast in the morning. |
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Seminarians are expected to be in their rooms at 10:00 p.m. Lights out at 10:30 p.m. |
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6:20 a.m.: Lauds
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