Our seminarians: Adam Royal By Dan McWilliams Adam Royal is in his second year of philosophy at St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind. He is the son of Sandra Royal of Ooltewah and Lonnie Royal of Albertville, Ala. What is your most challenging course in seminary and why?
Advanced Latin is my most difficult course. It is the most difficult because the medieval Latin mind is very different from mine. They found beauty in five-line run-on sentences using subtle tricks of the Latin grammar. I don’t often find such sentences in English, so it takes a lot of time to sort through [such Latin sentences]. What is your favorite course?
My favorite course is Greek. In taking Greek I’ve been given a new perspective on the Scriptures, and it has allowed me to more easily see their richness.
CNS PHOTO/BOB ROLLER
What do you most look forward to in your future life as a priest?
Dedicated to life A young woman holds a sign during the annual March for Life rally in Washington Jan. 23.
woman in liturgical attire to take part in such a procession for the National Prayer Vigil for Life. Cardinal DiNardo said near the end of the Mass that he had invited altar servers from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to come to Washington to take part. The closing Mass Jan. 23 was a much shorter affair, lasting only 70 minutes with a seven-minute entrance procession. Cardinaldesignate Dolan was joined by three The East Tennessee Catholic
other bishops, 63 priests, five deacons, and 10 servers. Seventeen television monitors were set up around the shrine so worshipers could see the Masses from any vantage point. The number was up from 14 last year. “It seems that this just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” said shrine spokeswoman Jacquelyn Hayes. n Copyright 2012 Catholic News Service/ U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
The celebration of the sacraments, most especially the sacrament of penance. Living in a society concerned with worldly affairs, it is easy to feel alienated from God. Frequent reception of the sacraments is the cornerstone of my overcoming of this and building a relationship with God, so I look forward to bringing these gifts to others. When did you first consider the priesthood?
Adam Royal
I was a sophomore in college when someone first suggested the idea to me. Who has inspired you?
One of my biggest inspirations is the group of priests at the Newman Center in Pittsburgh. They were all zealous and holy priests who worked tirelessly to serve the college students there. What things about you have changed the most as a seminarian?
My increased love of the Scriptures. In my first semester of philosophy one of the professors explained to us how the Holy Spirit speaks to us in meditation on the words of the Scriptures, and ever since I have been inspired to spend more time with them. n
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February 5, 2012 23