Our words can, at best, shape reality, affect reality, but God's word constitutes reality. If Jesus were one prophet among many, one interesting religious figure among many, then his words could have, perhaps, a symbolic resonance. But the faith of the Church is that Jesus is the Word made flesh. Therefore, what he says, is.

- Fr. Barron speaking on the Ministry of the Word to the Diaconate Class of 2008

For the past three months I've had the privilege of serving as a scholar in residence here at the North American College. This Roman sojourn - part retreat, part lecture tour, part theological seminar, all spiritual renewal - has been one of the great experiences of my life. During the month of March, I offered an intensive course at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (the Angelicum), based on my latest book, The Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism. I very much enjoyed engaging the students in my class who came from all over the world, though some of them were, I think, a bit surprised by my more interactive "American" style of teaching. In March, I also gave a series of seven lectures to the forty priests of the ICTE (Institute for Continuing Theological Education), who had stepped away from their ordinary work for a 12 week sabbatical in Rome. The focus of those lectures was the evangelization of the American culture. I benefitted from the very lively give-and-take with these pastorally experienced and intellectually curious priests.

In March and April, I gave two Sunday evening talks for the entire North American College community. In the first, I looked at the continuing relevance of John Henry Newman in our present ecclesial situation, especially his ruminations on the development of doctrine in relation to the authority of the church. In the second, I explored the complex issue of being, simultaneously, American and Catholic, taking my cue from the thought of two Chicago Cardinals, Mundelein and George. After the Easter break, I offered a series of four talks to interested NAC students and faculty on the theme of Christ: Priest, Prophet, and King. In these presentations, I adopted the style of a retreat preacher and tried to show the applicability of these Christological archetypes to the spiritual life of the diocesan priest. I also gave a number of talks around Rome, including a discussion of my newest book at the Casa Santa Maria, a presentation on evangelization to the students at St. Thomas University's Rome Center, and a meditation on St. Mark at the Lay Center. I also had the privilege of presiding and preaching at Mass several times here at the North American. All told, I gave 35 separate lectures and homilies during this period, and I have to admit that at times I got sick of hearing myself talk! But honestly, though it was a bit of a whirlwind, it was a great joy.

Besides all of the speaking, I had the opportunity to "learn" Rome a bit better. I had been to Rome a number of times for short visits, but since I had done my doctoral studies in Paris, I had not had the chance to get to know la città eterna well. Thus, many of my weekends and afternoons were spent visiting the Pantheon, climbing the Campidoglio, exploring Trastevere, musing over Caravaggios, traipsing through the Forum, working my way through the rabbit warren of streets near the Campo dei Fiori, praying at the tomb of St. Monica, sticking my hand in the Bocca della Verita, meditating on the bank of the Circus Maximus, and hiking through the Dora Pamphylia. As everyone from Justin Martyr to Goethe to John Paul II knew, Rome is, in itself, a spiritual education.

But I can honestly say that the greatest part of this experience was getting to know the students at the North American College. From the moment of my arrival, I was received with great warmth and during my weeks at the College I was graciously invited into the rhythms and activities of the community. I had the chance, both at meals and during numerous private conversations, to get to know the concerns and aspirations of these students who will be among the leaders of the next Catholic generation. I found them spiritually serious, focused on the mission of the church, intellectually alert, and a great deal of fun. They fill me with enormous confidence as I contemplate the future of the Church in the United States.

As I prepare to leave and return to Chicago, I'm filled with gratitude toward Msgr. James Checchio and the whole faculty at the NAC for giving me this opportunity. To everyone on "the hill," ad multos annos.

Fr. Barron is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and professor of systematic theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary. He is the author of four books, including Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master and And Now I See: A Theology of Transformation.