Msgr. Richard Soseman
I met Richard when I was studying theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and he entered as a pre-theologian. I was struck by his intelligence, kindness, and generosity. He was incredibly resolute in his desire to be a priest, and to my knowledge, he never doubted his vocation. With his approaching ordination, Richard asked me to preach his first Mass, which I gladly accepted, and with his death, I was humbled to learn it was his wish that I preach his funeral Mass.
“The life of a priest, like that of a Carmelite nun, is an Advent that prepares the Incarnation within souls!” Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity here characterizes the unique role of priests in preparing souls for Christ. A priest must be unwavering in his desire to save as many souls as possible and become as holy as God wishes him to be. The greatest longing of a priest must be to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to God and impart to the faithful sanctifying grace. This yearning is rooted in love.
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux wrote, “Charity gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that if the Church has a body composed of different members, the noblest and most necessary of all the members would not be lacking to her. I understood that the Church has a heart, and that this heart burns with Love. I understood that Love alone makes its members act, that if this Love were to be extinguished, the Apostles would no longer preach the Gospel, the Martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. . . . Yes, I have found my place in the Church, and it is you, O my God, who have given me this place; in the heart of the Church, my Mother, I will be Love” (Story of a Soul).
All true love demands sacrifice. In respect to a vocation to the priesthood, the Lord hides from us all the demands, sorrows, and sufferings which may be required of us, otherwise we may very well have given up in the beginning; before we had the grace of the vocation to which God called us. It is love, however, that turns sacrifice into joy. What gave Monsignor Soseman his tireless energy to carry on the work of Christ was love, particularly his love for the Mass.
Some years after I began offering the traditional Latin Mass in my parish, Monsignor developed an interest in this form of the Mass as well. Many around the world who knew him did so because he became a great champion of what is known as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman rite. He was convinced of its intrinsic value as a means of saving souls by elevating the heart and mind to Christ and His eternal sacrifice, made present in a mystical fashion upon the altar.
Venerable Fulton Sheen, upon whose own date of death Monsignor passed from this world to the next, wrote, “In the Catholic Church the altar, and not the pulpit or the choir or the organ, is the center of worship, for there is re-enacted the memorial of His Passion. Its value does not depend on him who says it, or on him who hears it; it depends on Him who is the One High Priest and Victim, Jesus Christ our Lord. With Him we are united, in spite of our nothingness; in a certain sense, we lose our individuality for the time being; we unite our intellect and our will, our heart and our soul, our body and our blood, so intimately with Christ, that the Heavenly Father sees not so much us with our imperfection, but rather sees us in Him, the Beloved Son in whom He is well pleased” (Calvary and the Mass).
His unshakable faith, love for the Mass, devotion to Our Lady, and priestly zeal were evident. In a letter recently sent to Bishop Jenky to express his condolences, Cardinal Stella, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, wrote, “You should know that he is remembered here with great fondness . . . an example of the priestly joy that all of us strive to possess.”
At this point Richard would tell me I have come too close to canonizing him and would reprove me for so doing. I speak of a man I knew many years, yet I would urge you to remember him in your prayers. Too often the souls of priests are neglected because the faithful assume they have no need. Such is not the case. Our Lord declared, “Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required” (Luke 12:48 RSV-CE). Therefore, we must continue to offer our prayers for the repose of his immortal soul.
And thou, O! Savior and Redeemer, hear our prayer for this, thy faithful servant. Give unto him eternal salvation, for this we pray to thy heavenly Father in thy name. Give him thy kingdom, give him eternal rest. Amen.