Seminarians learn about Bishop Bruté during pilgrimages
Seminarians enrolled at Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis pose on Jan. 21 in front of a statue of Bishop Bruté, the first bishop of Vincennes, on the campus of Mount St. Mary’s University and Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. Father Robert Robeson, the rector of Bishop Bruté Seminary, stands next to the statue. Father Patrick Beidelman, center in the second row, is the vice rector of Bishop Bruté Seminary. (Submitted photo)
By Sean Gallagher
When archdiocesan seminarians Timothy DeCrane and Anthony Stange moved into Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in Indianapolis last fall, they didn’t know much about the man after whom their seminary was named.
But recent pilgrimages made by them and their fellow seminarians to the Servant of God Bishop Simon Bruté’s tomb in Vincennes and to Emmitsburg, Md., where he ministered for many years in the early 19th century, have made him much more real in their hearts and minds. The seminarians visited Emmitsburg before participating in the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24.
“Previously, I didn’t know much about his life,” said Stange, a sophomore at Bishop Bruté and a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Lawrenceburg. “We learned a lot of history about him and really how holy he was. I think that provided us with a great example of a life worth imitating. He was truly extraordinary.”
DeCrane was impressed by a statue of Bishop Bruté at Mount St. Mary’s University and Seminary in Emmitsburg. It portrays him planting a cross on the ground that was to become the home of a leading Catholic seminary and college in the early years of the Church in the United States.
“That statue kind of showed him in action,” said DeCrane, a freshman at Bishop Bruté and a member of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis. “It showed him doing what he believed in.”
During their Jan. 6 pilgrimage to Vincennes, Ind., the seminarians prayed at Bishop Bruté’s tomb and got to peruse his extensive theological library that is preserved at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier there—the first cathedral of the Diocese of Vincennes, which later became the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
At Emmitsburg, where Bishop Bruté is revered as a founding father, the seminarians learned on their Jan. 21 visit about his close relationship with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first saint born in the United States, and how he did much to form the first generation of homegrown Church leaders in this country.
They also learned about the many challenges that Bishop Bruté faced in his ministry some 200 years ago.
“I feel like I understand him more now,” DeCrane said. “I was able to touch the books that he used. And I heard some of the stories of his trials and tribulations. But he didn’t give up. He kept going.
“If I’m facing a hard time in the seminary, I can reflect on how … he went through things that were way more difficult than what I have to go through. … He persevered.”
Father Robert Robeson has been the rector of Bishop Bruté Seminary since its founding seven years ago. In that time, he has experienced his own challenges and looks to Bishop Bruté for help.
“I have a devotion to him,” Father Robeson said. “I pray to him all of the time, and ask him to help me to do my best in forming these young men to become good and holy priests.”
When the seminary was established on the campus of Marian University in Indianapolis, it had only a handful of seminarians who were from the archdiocese. Now there are two dozen seminarians from eight dioceses receiving formation at the former Carmelite Monastery of the Resurrection, and they take classes at Marian.
“You look at the growth of the seminary and its success, and I really do think that his prayers have been efficacious—that he has been interceding for the seminary all along,” Father Robeson said. “I pray to him all of the time, asking him to intercede for us to send good men to the seminary. And he’s done that. He’s brought them [here].”
Each day, the seminarians and staff at Bishop Bruté Seminary ask for his intercession for more vocations to the priesthood, and pray for his eventual beatification and canonization.
After visiting Vincennes and Emmitsburg, those prayers are more meaningful for Stange.
“We get an idea of who it is that we’re praying for and to,” Stange said. “When we pray for his intercession, we have an idea of who we’re praying to. This is someone that we really feel like we know now.
“And when we pray for his beatification and canonization, we have an idea … of how he really is a great example that we would love to see more publicly recognized.”
Stange now wants to increase that public recognition of Bishop Bruté by telling people about him.
“[His life] is definitely worth sharing,” Stange said. “People might ask about the name of the seminary. That’s a great opportunity to tell them about him, and about how holy he was and how he’s a great example to everyone.”
(For more information about the Servant of God Bishop Simon Bruté, log on to www.archindy.org/brute. To learn more about Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary, log on to www.archindy.org/bsb.) †
Canonization prayer for Bishop Simon Bruté
Heavenly Father,
source of all that is holy,
in every age, you raise up
men and women who live lives
of heroic love and service.
You have blessed your Church
through the life of Simon Bruté,
first bishop of Vincennes
and spiritual director
to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Through his prayer, his intellect,
his love and his pastoral care,
Simon Bruté formed future priests
and guided your Church
in the early days of our country.
If it be your will,
may he be proclaimed a saint.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
our Lord.
Amen.
Bishop Simon Bruté Vocation Prayer
Good and Gracious Father,
you called Simon Bruté to inspire the
formation of new priests and to build
up your Church in North America.
You made Bishop Bruté your humble
and obedient servant, called to
inspire the first generation of
North American priests by his model
of faith, hope and charity.
Lord, help us to follow the example
of Bishop Simon Bruté. Guide and
protect the College Seminary you
have established in his name. Inspire
young men to answer the call to
priesthood. Grant them the divine
grace to continue the good work begun
by Bishop Simon Bruté in
building up your pilgrim Church.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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