This is an excerpt from my retreat journal in July that shows what life is like as a free disciple:

A disciple who is not concerned in any circumstance with how he is perceived, judged, or discounted has incarnated the very identity spoken from His Father to him. Nothing disturbs him. He is not concerned with pleasing, inspiring, or disturbing since his closeness to Jesus reminds him of his identity and gives him absolute courage to speak and live as Jesus compels him to. This is freedom. God makes us as tools. When that tool (such as a screwdriver) has a concern of its own (such a splintering handle), it disrupts the work it was meant to do- drive a screw. Here, self-concern or concern for self-preservation actually inhibits the vocation, and even more, the divine work being done through his yes.

On Saturday, us seminarians of St. Pius X seminary in Dubuque, along with our two priest formators traveled down for a small pilgrimage to Peoria, Illinois to celebrate mass on the tomb of Blessed Fulton Sheen. The trip served as a ‘Fraternity Weekend’ to join our intentions and time together while asking for his intercession. Several of us seminarians also attended his recent Beatification in St. Louis on September 24th. As the world erupts with clips of his biography and preaching, I wish to enumerate just three reasons he has been of particular interest to me:

Firstly, Sheen seemed to possess a delicate balance of head and heart knowledge that made his ministry so effective and prolific. In an age where some are ruled by emotions and others by rigid and uncharitable intellectualism, Sheen seems to ride the radical middle. I perceive in him a heart so madly in love with Jesus that there is no limit to what his mind will intake to understand Him and preach His love more fully. He notably calls things ‘as they are’ but does so in a way that condemns the sin, not the sinner. There is a great charity in his reproving, and I perceive great need of this in today’s age of subjectivism.

Secondly, Sheen was truly gifted at re-presenting complex philosophical and theological concepts to people using relatable analogy. His thorough education allowed him to spontaneously use these concepts in any conversation. Because of this, he is regarded as a great ‘diagnoser of the times.’ In every age, cultures present challenges to preserving personhood and relationship with God. While living only 84 years, he saw the rise and fall of many trends that left people empty and yearning for more. His diagnoses of these trends revealed where they came from and how to remedy them. Who knows, maybe ‘doctor’ of the Church could be in his future.

Finally, I see in Sheen a clear choice to live from his will, not (only) from his emotion. This hits home for me as someone who has lived most of life deciding through emotions. Sheen arose each morning and chose holiness and virtue for the sake of Christ; for this, thousands are inspired to sanctity by this Peoria farm boy’s story. The mornings where he actually ‘felt’ like doing this, I would gamble amounts to less than 10%. However, through willing daily to be what the Lord had ordained him to be, God granted him that notable energy and undying perseverance that made his virtue ‘heroic’.

Blessed Fulton Sheen, pray for us to God that we might make our bodies living sacrifices for the sake of His son and to witness to others such an unfathomable love that is found in relationship with Jesus Christ.

Image: Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation

During this past summer (July of 2026) I did the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola in the traditional 30 day silent retreat format. I went on this retreat for the goal of making a decision to either remain in diocesan priesthood formation or change courses to a religious community such as the Franciscans, Jesuits, etc. My expectations were too small for God. Beyond guiding me in a decision, He brought me into a deeper and keener awareness of the invitation He makes to all- to willingly choose Life in His Yoke.

A yoke is a brace meant to couple draft animals together in their movements towards a common goal like plowing or pulling large loads. A yoke is generally not thought of as an instrument of freedom, but restraint. Much like how the Cross became the vessel for salvation, God’s invitation to His yoke results in a more profound freedom than one might think. I experienced this freedom only after I surrendered my reluctance and independence and chose a life under His guidance.

I pray that all who read posts here might be inspired to surrender their independence and see the beauty, truth, and goodness of a life under the Yoke of Christ.

Image: www.kolbe.org/blog/who-…

Each of us are made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:27). Each of us are crafted with unique aspects of God’s personhood. He as the artist naturally makes Himself part of His creation (Is 64:8). But no piece of art possesses the fullness of its artist, just as no one person possesses all attributes of God after being crafted by Him. Some of us possess aspects of His such as gentleness, humility, or kindliness while others possess aspects of His mercy, compassion, or patience (1 Cor 12:27). Further yet, each of us possess parts of His beauty in the realized beauty of our unique personhood.

If this is so, then also true is the need for communion with one another. It is through this communion that we come to reveal God’s face in fullness. We are the Body of Christ, with many members, and many gifts. Let us bring together the Son’s body to see the full face of the Father (1 John 4:12).

Tonight I officially launch my blog. On this blog, I will be routinely posting comments and reflections from encounters or experiences had along with simple notes from them. I desire many to share and profit from these words, as they feel invited to.

Much like Plato and Peter Maurin (I’d venture they are never coupled) whose lives were dedicated to discourse and clarification of thought, what comes of my commentaries, reflections, and simple notes are meant for discourse and dialogue. Take them as fodder for rumination and consideration before God. I welcome disagreement and commentary.

May you “destroy any argument and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ”- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

May God find you beholding the beauty of life in His yoke.

Matt

Image: www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2017/03/1…