The formation programme includes, at the end of each semester, a session in which each of us shares our personal reading. The readings for the first semester of 2026 took place in a rich atmosphere, imbued with spiritual and intellectual beauty. The students and their formators shared the content of the books they had read during the first semester. The main aim of these presentations was to encourage the young students to cultivate a love of reading, for those who read never lose their way nor are they led astray; furthermore, the formation also includes self-directed learning, as we firmly believe that every page turned contributes to developing our personalities. The presentations focused on spiritual and human aspects.

With regard to the human dimension, it was emphasized that one cannot be a good Christian without first being a good human being; consequently, being a good Christian, a good priest and a good seminarian is the result of the goodness of the person one is. Thus, to attain this humanistic perfection, we must carefully nurture our character, just as one tends a garden to beautify one’s home and attract butterflies; in the same way, we must take care of our humanity so that our personality may draw young people and may serve as a model for the faithful. But how? By reading good books, adopting good habits, listening to others and keeping good company.

In the same vein, the importance of self-knowledge was emphasized, as this is fundamental to life. It serves not only to help us make decisions but also to recognise our own limitations and to help us awaken; this is why there is the maxim that says: ‘He who looks outwards dreams, but he who looks inwards awakens’.

With regard to the spiritual life, it was passionately highlighted that the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life. That is why we, Blessed Sacrament religious, inspired by Saint Peter Julian Eymard, form a religious community dedicated to the Eucharist. As Blessed Sacrament religious, ‘our ideal is to live the mystery of the Eucharist fully and to make known its meaning, so that Christ’s reign may come and the glory of God be revealed to the world’ (Rule of Life No. 1). To support this statement, we referred to Rule of Life No. 2, which states: ‘a life cannot be fully Eucharistic unless it is consecrated to both God and our fellow human beings’. This reminds us that we are here to live out the SSS spirituality and the Eucharistic mystery.

We also reflected on the example set by Saint John-Mary Vianney, who, from a very young age, devoted his life to prayer and ardently desired to become a priest. Despite enormous difficulties, he remained steadfast in his resolve; although he was not a scholar, he succeeded in entering the priesthood. We thus learn that, however weak we may be, God is always with us, and the Apostle Saint Paul reminds us that ‘God chose the things the world considers weak to put to shame the things the world considers strong’ (1 Cor 1:27).

We then went on to discuss the legacy of Saint Beatrice, who was a charitable and devout young woman. Despite this, Beatrice went through difficult times, as her name was spoken more often than that of a queen within the palace. Because of this, Queen Isabella came to hate her and no longer concealed her jealousy towards her; yet, despite everything, Beatrice remained as cheerful and hard-working as ever. The queen’s hatred erupted. She decided to kill Beatrice by suffocating her; from a human perspective, there was no hope left, but God miraculously saved her. After this, Beatrice prayed and declared that God was calling her and that she could not fail to answer His call; she then asked the queen for permission to leave the palace and enter the convent.

Finally, it has been said that prayer comprises three dimensions. The first dimension is that of encounter with oneself, for heaven begins within me, and one cannot speak of heaven without first speaking of earthly matters. The second dimension is that of communal encounter, for prayer makes us brothers and sisters. And the third dimension is encounter with God, for the purpose of prayer is to encounter God.

José Avelino
Student at Lar St Peter Julian Eymard
August 2026