Vocations One day at the Seminary of Wigratzbad
The International Seminary of St. Peter in Wigratzbad, Germany, was the first seminary founded by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, its first house established canonically and the site of its General House. It is situated on the ancient frontier of Bavaria and Swabia, a short distance from Germany’s borders with neighbouring Austria and Switzerland.
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When the gong sounds in the corridors of the seminary, it is 6 a.m. Now is the time to rise, make a short morning offering and prepare to be in one’s place in the church for the first office of the day. |
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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 (at around 6.45 a.m.) there follows half an hour of silent meditation or personal prayer. |
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The community Mass follows the time of meditation: the Mass is sung on the first Friday and on second class feasts, and solemn on first class feasts (in which case it is usually celebrated immediately after the morning office). While the community Mass is in progress, priests say their private Mass in the seminary chapel or in another chapel or oratory in the village. Thanksgiving after Mass continues until 8 a.m. |
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Breakfast is taken in the seminary refectory between 8 and 8.30 a.m. During the week, breakfast is taken in silence to maintain recollection after the reception of Holy Communion. |
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The first classes begin at 8.40 a.m., each lasting 45 minutes. They are divided accorded to the following curricula: probationary year, philosophy (2 years) and theology (4 years). The subjects are diverse: metaphysics, dogmatic theology, liturgy, Church history, exegesis, canon law, Latin and Greek... |
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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. |
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Lunch, like the other meals, is usually taken in silence (except on Sundays, feasts and Wednesday afternoons: a time of recreation). The silence lasts until the final course, when there is an opportunity to talk to one’s neighbours. While eating in silence the community listens to the reading of a book chosen by one of the priests: usually a work of historical or contemporary interest at lunchtime and the life of a saint for the evening meal. |
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The hour which follows lunch is a time of relaxation, during which the seminarians talk with each other while out walking, read the newspaper or play table football or table tennis. |
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The afternoon is usually reserved for private study or further classes. The seminarians work either in their rooms or in the library, or continue a programme of language studies (Latin, Greek, or Hebrew). At 4 p.m. tea or coffee is available, with the opportunity to talk with others. |
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At 6 p.m. another half-hour of meditation is scheduled for the seminarians of the probationary year. The community comes together at 6.30 to sing the office of Vespers, in union with the whole Church. On Wednesdays, the singing of Vespers is replaced by rosary in common, and on Thursdays by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction. |
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Dinner, like lunch, is taken in silence, while a saint’s life is read in the refectory. |
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The evening recreation lasts until 8.15, and is followed twice a week by a spiritual conference given either by a resident or by a visiting priest. |
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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, ask His pardon for the day’s faults and to give Him thanks once more. It is a privileged moment to entrust one’s intentions to the Lord and to the Mother of God. |
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"The nights are days when God is in my heart, and my days are nights when He is not there." (Saint Francis de Sales) |
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6
a.m.: Rise
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