A seminary teaching men to “Say the Black, Do the Red”

Posted on 28 August 2008 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I got a nice note via from a seminarian (edited):

Hi Father

Ive just started as a seminarian in ____ , to begin training for the _____.  In all the negativity that surrounds many seminaries nowadays, i thought id send you this little nugget. 

We newbies only arrived last week, and the place is brilliant, brilliant brilliant. 

This is shown by two examples.  First we had a lecture on liturgical practices, and the formation priest who was giving the lecture at one point said "Basically, when it comes to it, its simple, say the black, do the red!" 

Then, just now, i was in my first lesson of our introduction to theology classes, and about 5 minutes in, our teacher gets a pen, says "Now, this concept is key to what we are studying, and to how we will look at the Catechism" and writes in big letters across the board "HERMENEUTIC OF CONTINUITY" and then proceeded to go in depth as to how important this term is when looking at the Council and at the Catechism.

My colleagues and I are extremely happy to be here!

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11 Responses to A seminary teaching men to “Say the Black, Do the Red”

  1. Jon says:
    28 August 2008 at 4:15 PM

    Seminarian,

    If you think it prudent, may I ask – where are you? If this place is as good as you say it is, I’d be happy to send them a check.

  2. Charles R. Williams says:
    28 August 2008 at 4:34 PM

    SING the black, do the red.

  3. Geoffrey says:
    28 August 2008 at 4:49 PM

    Laudetur Iesus Christus! Deo gratias! This has made my day!

  4. Derik Castillo says:
    28 August 2008 at 5:59 PM

    Brick by brick, seminarian by seminarian…

  5. JondePoer says:
    28 August 2008 at 6:02 PM

    As someone exploring vocational possibilities I would be most interested to know where this took place.

  6. John says:
    28 August 2008 at 6:11 PM

    Fr Z., Remember this post whenever you are feeling depressed and/or tired. This seminarian, his school, and his teacher(s) are what the Holy Spirit is guiding you for. Your tireless work is making a change for all of us out in the pews and the world. Brick by Brick.

    And a big thanks to the unnamed seminarian for his note to Father.

    John

  7. Martin says:
    28 August 2008 at 7:12 PM

    I second JondePoer. I’d love to know where this is too. But I understand if it’s not to be made known. :-(

  8. PNP, OP says:
    29 August 2008 at 12:43 AM

    I wish the news were this good all over! A student friar in a Dominican studium recently reported to me that his intro to theological methods class is using a textbook titled, “Freeing Theology: The Essentials of Theology in Feminist Perspective,” by Catherine M. Lacugna

    Guess the bookstore was all out of Roger Haight, Peter Phan, Jon Sobrino, ad nau.

  9. Jane Fulthorpe says:
    29 August 2008 at 6:55 AM

    Wonderful! Deo gratias!

    I don’t know how to do it but could Fr Z or someone post this fortuante seminarian’s message on Damian Thompson’s Holy Smoke blog. First blog about parish closures would be fine. We’ve just been bemoaning the damage done in our seminaries for the last 40 years. Some of the stuff makes your hair stand on end. Talk about ‘the smoke of Satan’! We’re very depressed here in UK and need cheering up.
    Bless you all and thanks again to Fr Z.
    PS Got the Pope Benedict’s Latin Rosary CDs today. Comment on appropriate page below.

  10. TJM says:
    29 August 2008 at 9:05 AM

    Father Z, I didn’t know you also taught in a seminary! [I don’t and I have never said I do. – Fr. Z] You are one busy guy. There’s an outside chance that the formation professor
    is an avid reader of your site. I hope so! Regards, Tom

  11. Another Seminarian says:
    29 August 2008 at 6:19 PM

    I wonder which seminary this is. I just started major seminary last week and in our brief lecture on liturgical music and the breviary, we were told to “say the black and do the red.”

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