Mid-Western Football Player Tackles Priesthood

During his college career, seminarian Ben Kessler was always up on the latest priest jokes. That’s because the 6-foot-2-inch, 250-pound 21-year-old spent the last four fall semesters not only studying the Gospels, but also studying playbook X’s and O’s while starring as a defensive end for Minnesota’s University of St. Thomas football team.
Kessler, in all his vigor, descended upon Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria Saturday evening to discuss the relationship between his two great loves, God and football, which he said many consider to be polar opposites.
“The stereotypical seminarian is seen maybe as a nerdy guy, real calm, real giving,” Kessler said. “Whereas a football player is seen as ‘in your face’ — a dumb jock.”
But Kessler argued that the two professions have much in common. He said there was a “fraternal aspect” — men sharing a bond together — that rings true for both seminarians and football players, and that the two groups of men are both “changing the world.
“Putting the two together creates a better person,” he said.
Through athletics, Kessler said he’s tried to get closer to Jesus, and compared Christ to both a football player and a seminarian. He is the Christ who throws the money changers out of the temple (Jn 2:13-16) — Kessler said he’d rather be hit by Chicago Bears Middle Linebacker Brian Urlacher — and the Christ who is love (1 Cor 13:4-13).
“How in the world can Christ be a tough guy, whipping the guys in the temple and also be love?” Kessler asked.
Because He preaches the truth and He does it in a pastoral, loving way, Kessler answered. The football player said it’s up to Catholics to “meet Christ where He’s at” with the sacraments, particularly confession and the Eucharist. He urged those present to “step up to the challenge.”
Sponsored by the local organization Catholic Athletes for Christ (CAC), Kessler seemed older, wiser and holier than a typical college senior. But then, he isn’t a typical college senior. According to CAC, Kessler is believed to be only the second man in the last 20 years to have played college football while studying in the seminary.
After discerning his vocation since the fifth grade, Kessler arrived at St. Thomas and said he “felt a great peace” inside his heart.
“I didn’t know if I was going to be a priest, but I know that was where God was calling me,” he said. Fully expecting to stay at the seminary for two months at the most, Kessler will graduate with a four-year degree in May. He said his time at St. Thomas has taught him to “see the world with the lens of Christ.”
Kessler, along with teammate Billy Schreiber, who introduced Kessler at Blessed Sacrament and who is also discerning the priesthood, will begin a CAC project at St. Thomas before Kessler leaves to study at the North American Pontifical College in Rome this July. Once in Rome, Kessler will act as a liaison for CAC, and specifically its founder, Ray McKenna.
“Think about the impact that athletes have on the world,” Kessler said. “Pray for the success of Catholic Athletes for Christ.”
Kessler “is such a great witness” of Christ, said Susan Gray, a parishioner at St. Leo the Great Church in Fairfax who attended the program. “He’s a ‘man’s man’ that’s following the Lord."

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