I first became acquainted with the Legion of Little Souls in 1988, which was a significant year for the Legion and for me personally. It was during the 1987 – 1988 year that the Legion made its first humble beginnings in Moline, Illinois as a small prayer group meeting in the home of an unknown woman named Teresa. It was also in 1988 that I was asked by the Legion to play the organ for an all-night vigil before the Blessed Sacrament. I had no idea who this person was, or what the group she represented meant. I helped with music for Mass, Exposition and Benediction and attended the rest of the vigil. I remember being impressed by the enthusiasm, simplicity and joyfulness of the small group that had come to attend.

I was impressed with the enthusiasm I saw in their great desire to spend time in prayer. It seemed to me that there was an otherworldly love of God that impelled them, in spite of the small numbers in attendance. What others look at as unimportant and weak, the Little Souls see as promise! This enthusiasm impressed me greatly:the simplicity in the vigil itself and the fact that the church didn’t need to be adorned with anything special, beyond the Blessed Sacrament. The music didn’t have to be perfect in fact, the fledgling voices seemed glad to have me play the organ to cover any missed notes! The vigil didn’t need to be heavily structured: they were there to spend time before Our Lord-nothing more. The joyfulness I saw in their faces showed that they were happy to be with one another before the Blessed Sacrament. The prayer, singing and fellowship were filled with a spiritual joy that could not be disturbed by the cares of the world.

Yes, I was very much intrigued by this small band. Little did I know then, that Teresa and others (not the least of whom was God, Himself) had other plans for me.

Later that year, in July 1988, I attended a vocation summer retreat held by our diocese called "Emmaus Days," more by force than by my own choice. It was on this retreat that I realized I was called to the priesthood. And, I have never really doubted the conviction that I was called to be a priest from that day. On that retreat, I experienced something that I believe that most Little Souls have experienced, and something that I hope all seminarians experience before ordination; a powerful spiritual encounter with God’s tremendous love...and a desire to give myself to that Love.

I have found that no matter how much I encourage vocations in the young men I know, no matter how much I may speak about the joys of priesthood, and no matter how much I try to give a positive example of the priesthood, it is not enough. The young man needs to be inspired by God’s love to make that leap of faith over his own doubts and fears of sacrifice. Only God can accomplish this change of heart! Only God can inspire a young man to embrace the sacrifices necessary to be a priest! It is certainly true that celibacy and the priestly life require a certain amount of sacrifice.

Furthermore, I have found that the Little Souls seem to also know this lesson of the spiritual life. They believe in God’s love. They trust His providence. They believe that their sacrifices have a value. In fact, unless you want to grow in love of God, there’s not much reason to join the Little Souls. (Becoming a Little Soul certainly doesn’t gain you much in the world of social standing!) The real value in the Legion of Little Souls isn’t always seen visibly. The Legion has a spiritual value, which the Little Souls recognize deeply.

As for myself, the Little Souls helped me greatly in the seminary. To despite the ordinary routine of seminary life, the Message of Merciful Love reminded me that the dedication I must have to God is always an extraordinary calling. Despite any progress I made in seminary, the Legion helped me to always place myself and my successes humbly in God’s hands. Whenever I encountered any difficulty during seminary, it was the message of Spiritual Childhood that reminded me to unite that suffering with Christ and to bear it as patiently as I could. When others around me seemed to be uncharitable, the Legion reminded me that their simple love of God and neighbor is the uplifting leaven that seasons the world with Love. When events in the seminary held worldly distractions, the Little Souls reminded me to stay focused on the spiritual life.

The Little Souls are greatly needed to pray for priests and for vocations to the priesthood. I have only been a priest for a short time, but I have every confidence that the Legion of Little Souls will continue to keep me focused on the spiritual life throughout my priesthood.