Jackson Miller-Configuration 3

Immaculate Conception, Cedar Rapids/Mundelein Seminary

Introduction/Tell things about you, your family, your Catholic journey
My name is Jackson Miller. I was born on June 15^th, 2001, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where I was raised by my parents, Matthew and Corinne Miller. I have two older sisters, both of whom are University of Iowa graduates: Colette Young, a dietician, and Camryn Miller, who currently serves as a FOCUS Missionary. I also have a younger brother, Gavin, who attends Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids. I graduated from Xavier in 2019 and spent my freshman year of college at the University of Iowa. Since the fall of 2020, however, I have been a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Dubuque and a student at Loras College, studying Philosophy, Music Performance, and Accounting. I enjoy music (especially folk and classical/choral music), reading, bicycling, football, baseball, ultimate frisbee, and table tennis.

I was raised Catholic, so my family always went to Sunday Mass and prayed before meals. I did not pray much by myself, but I found myself quite interested in study of the faith. I would often procrastinate on my homework by watching Catholic Answers articles and theology videos. For better or worse, I had a desire to “always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope” (Peter 3:16) that was in me that Jesus Christ is God and that He founded the Catholic Church. Because of these studies, a few retreats and conferences I attended, examples of holy people I knew, and discovery of the beauty of God, His creation, and the Mass through sacred music, God placed in me an increasingly deep and consistent conviction to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven,” to use the words of the Baltimore Catechism. Around the time of my transition to college, I received the Sacraments of Penance and Communion more frequently, and my parish involvement increased through cantoring, altar-serving, bible studies, and attending Eucharistic Adoration. In all of this, my relationship with God continued and developed as I began to apply for seminary in the middle of my freshman year, and joined seminary the following fall.

Where/when did your sense of call develop?
I remember at one point in elementary school thinking that I would like to be a priest one day because I was impressed by my old pastor who occasionally visited our classes and would answer any questions we had about nearly anything. Besides that, I did not seriously think about the priesthood until late in high school and in college. By my senior year of high school, I had received several invitations to consider the priesthood that caused it to stir in my mind a bit. I still thought of myself as being a future husband and father, but I told myself and God that I would be willing to follow His lead if He desired for me to enter seminary, a monastery, or wherever, and God helped me to realize that I would be most happy by doing His will. In the fall of 2019, I began college in Iowa City, and as I became more aware of the amazing supernatural realities behind the Sacraments, such as the Mass being the presence of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and an opportunity for us to witness and participate in this great sacrifice, the idea of the priesthood became more attractive to me. I even began to hope that God might make me a priest one day, but I was also afraid because it would mean I would have to give up the path my life was on at the time. But by a couple of months later, God had grown this desire in my heart to the point that I could hardly think about anything else. I began to talk about it with people who were close to me and got in contact with Fr. Jon Seda, our Vocations Director. After a couple months of discerning my next step, I began to apply to seminary, was accepted during the summer of 2020, and moved in to Pius X Seminary in Dubuque in the fall. I do not have full certainty of what my vocation is, but as time goes on, I become more convinced that God wants me to be a priest, which brings me great joy and peace.

Were you invited by others to enter seminary?
Yes, many folks have invited me to consider the priesthood. My two grandmothers were in agreement since I was very young that I was the grandchild most likely to become a priest one day. In high school, I was thought by my classmates and friends to possibly be a future priest, because of my interest in theology and Catholicism. Folks at church occasionally remarked that I should consider seminary, as did a few priests I knew. Once I decided to apply to seminary, I received overwhelming support from my siblings, parents, close friends, and close priests, who all encouraged me in my decision. This was another great piece of evidence that I have vocation to the priesthood.

What was your main motivation in pursuing your call?
The greatest motivator for me is that I get to be a visible and living sign of the “life of the world to come,” where people will “neither marry nor be given in marriage” (Matther 22:30), because their the cause of our happiness will be God Himself. One bit of Scripture which jumped out at me in prayer is in the Old Testament, where the Lord is speaking about the Levites, the members of the priestly tribe under the Old Covenant: “They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the Lord is their inheritance, as He promised them” (Deuteronomy 18:2). The word “cleric” actually comes from a Greek word meaning “portion” or “inheritance.” What a great privilege to have a foretaste of life with God in heaven!

Who were/are your biggest influences?
A great influence of mine is Dr. Jason Reed, my high school theology teacher. He really challenged us students in his class, and it was he who inspired me to ask deeper questions about God, the world, and my place in all of it. He challenged us to practice consistency in our thought, which in turn challenged me to make my actions more consistent with my beliefs, and thus to live a more prayerful, devout, and sacrificial life. Another person who influenced me, particularly in considering the priesthood, was Fr. Chris Podhajsky, a former pastor of mine. His piety, intelligence, and great heart are well-known to all who have the chance to get to know him. He is one of the most Christlike men and priests I know and his example attracted me to the beauty and blessedness that is the life of the priest.

What advice would you give other men who are discerning their call?
Pray, pray, pray! “Now is the day of salvation” (Corinthians 6:2). Now is the time to start a life of daily prayer if you have not already. Frequent the Sacraments, read a little bit of the Bible daily, and don’t forget to make time for silent prayer with God. Find a spiritual director who can help you with prayer and vocational discernment; at least find a priest and maybe a trusted friend as well with whom to speak about these important matters. God wants to reveal His will to you partly through those who love you. And remember to be honest with them as well as with yourself about everything. Do not wait until joining seminary or some other time to really pursue your relationship with God; the time is now. If you are already doing some or all of these things, continue to ask God for the grace of perseverance.
Lastly, I believe strongly that a man who is ultimately called to the married life, but who seriously considers and discerns a possible call the priesthood or religious life, is bound to be a much better father because of it, because he has demonstrated a willingness to be led and to give up his own life, along with its wishes and desires, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.