Agustin, a young religious of the Miles Christi Institute, was born in Ayacucho, in the province of Buenos Aires, in an immense Argentinean plain where agriculture and cattle raising are the pillars of the area's economy and the "gauchos" are the protagonists of social and cultural life.
Despite the Catholic education received by his family, Augustine was, until he received his vocational call, a "Sunday Christian", as they say in Italy. Everything changed when he began to study medicine at the university. He tells us his vocation testimony: how he went from being a "Sunday Christian" to becoming a priest.
At the age of 18 I moved to Buenos Aires to study medicine, and I had the grace of meeting many friends who lived their faith with great joy. That allowed me to see that being a Christian was more than just doing a series of things (many of which I did not even practice). I had always considered myself a "practicing Catholic" because I went to Mass on Sundays, but I realized that during the rest of the week (and on Sundays), I was not at all consistent with what I supposedly believed. It was like a re-conversion.
By God's grace, I began to have a desire to go deeper into the truths of the faith, to find the answers to the questions that every person asks in life: I began to pray, to frequent the sacraments, to participate in formation groups, missions, and retreats....
At the age of 20 I made the Spiritual Exercises for the first time according to the method of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and I could say that it was from there that I began to discern what my vocation was. After meditating on it and praying a lot, and thanks also to the prayers of so many people who pray for vocations, entrusting myself to God and his Divine Providence, I decided to take the plunge.
At the age of 22 I joined the Institute Miles Christi in Argentina. There, in our House of Formation, I did my novitiate, completed my studies and began to help in the apostolates of the Institute: catechesis for children, youth groups and university groups. During the time that has passed, I have been able to experience and live the immense gift that God wanted to give me by inviting me to follow him more closely, the joy that one finds in giving oneself completely, and all the good that God gives to souls through the Church.
In this photo we see Agustín Seguí (on the left) with his brother Mariano (on the right) and in the center, another member of his Congregation, the Miles Christi Institute. Their mission is, above all, to strive fervently for holiness, for the greater glory of God, devoting themselves with ardor to the sanctification of the laity, mainly young university students.
"I believe that the members of CARF - Centro Academico Romano Foundation, being benefactors and collaborators of God in forming good priests, carry out an immense work, which reaches all parts of the world and thanks to which so many people will benefit, not only those of us who are studying, but also all those to whom we will be able to transmit what we have received," says Agustin.
We are all called to the urgent mission to re-evangelize the society in which we live; Some in their own families, in schools and universities; others with the witness of a Christian life, offering to God the efforts of their work and studies, doing apostolate with their companions and friends... Each one according to his vocation, but all together and for the same purpose.
That is why I believe that the members of CARF - Centro Academico Romano Foundation, being benefactors and collaborators of God in forming good priests, They are doing an immense work, that reaches all parts of the world and thanks to which so many people will benefit, not only those of us who are studying, but also all those to whom we will be able to pass on what we have received.
"We are all called to the urgent mission of re-evangelizing the society in which we live; some in our own families, in schools and universities; others with the witness of a Christian life, offering to God the efforts of our work and studies, doing apostolate with our companions and friends. Each one according to his vocation, but all together and for the same purpose".
When speaking on the subject of vocation, I personally find it very helpful to remind myself that answering that call is not the end of the story. It seems obvious, but in reality it is only the beginning. One might think that it is the first YES that one gives Godalthough in reality, is nothing more than the first YES with which one accepts receive of God an enormous amount of gratitude.
He had planned to give us everything from all eternityAnd even more: it is not only a benefit for us, but many, many people will participate in some way in this, and in the case of the priestly vocation it is very clear. Certainly one gives oneself, but it is through this giving of oneself that one obtains everything.
At first this is not easy to see, because I only believed that the vocation was something God asked of me, and, therefore, the answer depended upon me generosity. But this idea is not the right perspective. God is the one who gives you everything.
It is an enormous good to be able to count on someone who helps us to see things as they really are, especially in the decision of a vocation. I will always be very grateful to God for this gift, but also for having given me the possibility of having a spiritual leader to accompany me paternally in that important moment of my life.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help, for your service to God and to the Church. To be able to be in Rome, to know the pastoral experiences of colleagues from all over the world, to have professors of the highest academic level, is an enormous enrichment, for which I feel very fortunate and grateful.
Thank you very much!!!
You are always present in my prayers! I entrust myself to yours!
Gerardo Ferrara
BA in History and Political Science, specializing in the Middle East.
Responsible for the student body
University of the Holy Cross in Rome
