An unexpected Christmas gift

A few days I read an e-mail from the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Roman Pontiff to the rector of Bishop Simon Brute College Seminary, where the college seminarians study. Several of the seminarians, as I mentioned earlier, are in Rome for Christmas.

The rector had requested that the nine seminarians "attend the Mass." This morning my suspicions after the response to his request were confirmed: they are serving this evening for His Holiness Pope Francis when he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass.

They are still a bit shell-shocked, but happy and excited, as well.

Here is the entire group of nine:

And here are the seminarians for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois:

One might say that's not a bad Christmas present.