By Jack Martin
Home Parish: St. Philip the Apostle, Posey County
Seminary: Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary, Indianapolis
Ordination year: 2031
Editor’s Note: This year, Diocesan seminarians focused their annual seminarian articles on the theme: “Encouraging Discernment.” Our seminarians wrote about a non-ordained person from our Diocese who encouraged them to discern priesthood.
Throughout my life, there have been many people who have had a great influence on my vocation. But looking back, I remember specifically seeing my grandpa praying the rosary. He always had one placed next to his chair or bed. He always carried one with him and would even pray two or three rosaries per day. He would pray with my grandma, and I was at times blessed to participate in a few decades when they were babysitting me, before or after a night of watching Finding Bigfoot or the local news in the living room while eating ice cream without my parents knowing.
At the time, I didn’t really understand what was happening, but I always knew it was important because his disposition would change when it was time to pray. Looking back now, it was moments like that where I could say I had been entrusted to Our Lady and to the Lord Jesus without even thinking or knowing about it. Seeing my grandpa praying with such devotion inspired me to build up my devotion to Mary as I progressed in life and to this very day. That was just one way he, and my grandma, supported me in my vocational discernment. It is not always the words of affirmation we give people or the acts of service out of charity that inspire people to pursue a vocation. Sometimes what makes the most impact on people is the everyday following of Christ Jesus and our perseverance in daily life.