Not long ago, a friend asked me an intense question: “What has been your most profound encounter with the mercy of God?” I had an answer — even a specific date: Oct. 24, 2010.
On that day, I wasn’t expecting anything dramatic as I walked into the confessional in St. Mary Magdalene Church in St. Louis. But I had a profound experience of God’s mercy that changed everything.
The personal holiness embodied by the priest who heard my confession awakened in my soul the desire to stake everything on Jesus. How could I not? Jesus calls us to the fullness of life and love, and through this encounter, he invited me to the priesthood. I was all in.
Later I learned that Oct. 24 is the feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret — not a household name, but the opening prayer for his Mass is apropos: “Grant, through his intercession, that … we may earnestly devote ourselves to winning our brothers and sisters for Christ.”
On that day in the confessional, the priest “won me for Christ.” Through my own priesthood, Jesus wants me to win souls for him.
Jonathan R. Ruzicka
Seminarian, Archdiocese of St. Louis
Father Kapaun Council 16869








