We have received the Light of Christ

By Blane Schriock
Diocesan Seminarian

I recently received a wonderful gift: a trip to the “Eternal City” of Rome. Praying at the tombs of saints and walking the same streets where countless gave witness to Christ made the faith come alive for me in a beautiful new way.

One moment especially stands out: seeing St. Peter’s Basilica lit up against the night sky. Standing there in the rain, looking up at that enormous church glowing in the darkness, something clicked in my heart: the simple but powerful reminder that Jesus truly is the Light in the darkness. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, we have received Light. It was carried outward by apostles like Peter and Paul, who gave their lives for him in Rome. Over the past two thousand years, that same Light has continued to spread.

And now, by God’s grace, the Light has reached our hearts in western South Dakota. We are not distant spectators of Jesus’ work — we are part of it! The Church is not just something we study or admire; she is something we belong to! Each of us has received Christ’s Light through baptism, and each of us is invited to share it with others.

My time in Rome left me deeply grateful and excited to continue serving Christ and his people. And while Rome had incredible food, beautiful churches, and more history than imaginable, the greatest gift I brought home was a renewed love for Christ the Light — and that fits easily in a suitcase!