Archive for May, 2007
Entry for Sunday, May 27, 2007
Thursday, May 31st, 2007
Come, Holy Spirit!
This morning, I headed back to Santa Susanna to preach the 9:00am Mass. It was well attended, and I really loved preaching and serving the Eucharist as a deacon. The concluding point of my homily, which followed an emphasis on the fruits of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, was simply, “On this beautiful feast day, when we recall the Gift of the Holy Spirit, we can ask ourselves: when others look at us, at the way we live our lives, will they know that the Holy Spirit has come?” It’s an important question for all of us to ask ourselves, our families, and our Church.
In the early afternoon, the Newman group met. We read Newman’s sermon on Pentecost (p. 365 in “Parochial and Plain” collection published by Ignatius Press). Newman preaches in regards the Holy Spirit: “He lives in in the Christian’s heart, as the never-failing fount of charity, which is the very sweetness of the living waters. For where he is, ‘there is liberty’ from the tyranny of sin, from the dread, which the natural man feels, of an offended unreconciled Creator. Doubt, gloom, impatience have been expelled; joy in the Gospel has taken their place, the hope of heaven and the harmony of a pure heart, the triumph of self-mastery, sober thoughts, and a contended mind.” Awesome stuff.
After the Newman group, I had spiritual direction and went to Confession. It was a grace to go to Confession on Pentecost! Come, Holy Spirit.
“O Mary, help me to love your Divine Son as you do!”
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Entry for May 26, 2007
Sunday, May 27th, 2007
Come, Holy Spirit!
This morning I headed to Perugia in Umbria with Josh Stengel, another seminarian. Josh will be spending some of this summer in Perugia studying Italian. He’ll be staying with the same host family I stayed with after my own first year of theology. The Giambini Family will certainly treat him well.
It was good to be back in Perugia. It has been about a year and a half since I’ve been there. Time just flies. Josh and I did some touring of the city, had lunch, and then headed back to Rome. It was a quick trip, but a good one.
Once I got back to Rome, I headed straight to Santa Susanna, the American parish in Rome. I’m the homilist at the parish for two of its Sunday Masses, including the Vigil Mass. I consider it a great blessing to be able to preach on Pentecost! It’s a powerful (and beatiful) feast day – one of the best in the liturgical year. Come, Holy Spirit!
The homily seemed to go well. I stressed the importance of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in the life of the disciple (Gal 5). It was a blessing to preach in a parish!
Please pray that we might all be more receptive and cooperative with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and bear abundant fruit for ourselves, our loved ones, and for the conversion of the world.
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Entry for May 25, 2007
Sunday, May 27th, 2007
Come, Holy Spirit!
Today I’ve been working on some readings in moral theology. I have a “readings tutorial” to take before the end of the semester. It’s a collection of readings we read and review, and then we meet with a professor who tests us on the material an discusses the main themes of the works with us. I’m hoping to do my exam next week.
In the afternoon, I met with Jimmy and Susan Owens, Cliff and Judy Friend, and Dan and Caroline McQueeney from Charleston, SC. They are all Bishop England alumni, which is the school I taught at before entering the seminary (www.behs.com). They were a great witness to me of friendship and faithfulness. The six of them have been close friends since high school, which is just awesome! We toured St. Peter’s Basilica. They were very interested and engaging. It was great to walk the basilica with them.
After meeting with the BE folks, I went to the seminary to orgainze some notes and then I met up with Donna Arrington and her friend Cathy. Donna is a friend of our mutual friend Jan Thompson in Charlotte, NC. Jan has been a friend for many years. I look forward to one day being able to meet up with Jan and the “Breakfast Club” of other mutual friends in Charlotte, Donna and Cathy had me laughing most of the afternoon. Another couple from Alaska (no, for real, people live in Alaska) joined us for the tour. The couple were with James Adams, another seminarian here in Rome. It was a good tour.
In the evening, for my Friday night leisure, I met up with the BE folks again. We went to a local hostaria and had the “full meal deal.” It was an almost four hour supper. It was full of stories, memories, mutual love of people and places, and laughter (a lot of laughter). It was just an overall great and enjoyable time. I love these people. They made me homesick! 
Please pray for the students and alumni of Bishop England High School.
“O Mary, help me to love your Divine Son as you do!”
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Entry for May 24, 2007
Sunday, May 27th, 2007
Praised be the Holy Name of Jesus!
After classes this morning, I tried to review some more for my exam.
I went out early to Regina Apostolorum with two other seminarians. The idea was to create an environment for a quick review of the exam material. It was helpful, but tiredness and the heat certainly slowed some things down.
The exam went well. It’s over, and – please God – I don’t expect any problems in the grading.
After the exam, I had a little time back at the seminary, and then several of us headed to the Jesuit mother church, the “Gesu” (literally, the “Jesus” Church). Fr. Joseph Carola, SJ, was making his solemn vows as a Jesuit, which included the famous “fourth vow” of special obedience to the Pope. Fr. Carola is a good Jesuit, and I know that he will always follow the letter and spirit of that vow. It was awesome to see the Father General of the Society of Jesus in the Gesu Church, and for such an incredible ceremony. Please pray for Fr. Carola and the Jesuits.
Today was a great day, but long. It’s time to rest in the Lord.
“O Mary, help me to love your Divine Son as you do!”
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Entry for May 23, 2007
Sunday, May 27th, 2007
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Class this morning on the philosophy of the human person (personalism) went well. The professor really enjoys teaching from journal articles. It’s a common teaching practice in Europe, but it tends to bore us Americans to death. Luckily, the professor is very interested in the subject and that tends to be contagious. It’s an important subject in philosophy and theology (of course, specifically in ethics and moral theology).
After class, I was studying for a MAJOR exam tomorrow in bioethics. In addition to studying at the University of the Holy Cross for the Licentiate (license) in moral theology, I’m enrolled in the Master in Bioethics program out at Regina Apostolorum (which is becoming the premier institution for bioethics in the Chuch). The program consists of several hours of lectures every Thursday afternoon. The subjects range from euthanasia, abortion, principles for experimentation, environmental concerns, sports, reproductive technologies, and on and on. It attempts to give a broad review of bioethics, with a specification on guiding principles. It’s a two-year program, and tomorrow is the exam for Year One.
For lunch, I had a great meal with George Weigel, his wife, Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, and a few other seminarians. We were all graduates of the Tertio Millennio Seminar in Cracow, Poland. It was a good time. The conversation was mainly about Pope Benedict and the future of the Church.
After lunch, I went back to my studies.
In the evening, a few of us went out for a quick burger and beer, which means either the English pub or the Scottish pub. Due to the soccer schedule, we went to the Scottish pub. The evening out for burgers was to honor Joel Sember from Green Bay, WI, who completed his tessina (thesis) for his licentiate in moral theology. After a year of research, writing, and re-writing, he completed it. It was on “Good Medicine” and the contributions of Dr. Pellegrino’s writings in the field of bioethics. Understandabily, Joel looked a little tired. It’s a huge accomplishment when a student finishes his tessina.
Please remember me and my classmates in your prayers during this fast-approaching exam perod.
“O Mary, help me to love your Divine Son as you do!”
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ENDORSEMENT
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007
Let us thank the Lord, and give him praise!
I want to let everyone know about Bishop Robert Baker’s new book, “The Questioner’s Prayer.” It’s a powerful little book which addresses the question of suffering, and the search for answers.
I used the book in my euthanasia paper. It was a great help!
I was fortunate to write the review of the book, and I recommend it here. Please check www.amazon.com for a summary and ordering information. I strongly recommend it.
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Entry for May 22, 2007
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Today was a long morning of classes. The main two were on euthanasia. The professor returned our papers that we wrote on suffering. Based on the grade and his comments, the professor seemed to appreciate what I wrote, but I still feel uneasy about the whole subject of suffering.
Certainly JPII’s letter on human suffering (”Salvifici Doloris”) was helpful, but I think I need to take this letter and few other texts and make a retreat at some point in the future. The whole subject of suffering requires intense thought and reflection. I believe the priest has to attempt to give real answers. The whole “oh, it’s a mystery,” or “there really isn’t anything I can say right now” doesn’t do much for the People of God. It seems to be more of a reflection of the priest’s own inadequacy, rather than a deficiency on the part of the Gospel. Certainly, the Lord has something to say when his beloved disciples are suffering.
I think the Christian disciple, and especially those called to ordained ministry, cannot be afraid to wrestle through the night in search for answers and greater understanding. I hope to discipline myself enough to do that soon.
In the afternoon, I went to Santa Susanna to meet with the Rector there. I’m going to be the homilist this weekend at the parish. I really love the idea of preaching Pentecost in a real parish! The Rector asks us to meet with him and go over the readings. Fr. Greg Apparcel is a good guy, and I appreciated his patience and insights.
In the evening, after some studies, I met with Jimmy Mitchell who is a student at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. He and some classmates, along with Fr. Baker who is the chaplain at the university, joined us for Vespers in the seminary. After prayer, we gave them a tour of the seminary, and were able to talk some. I met with Jimmy a few weeks ago. He’s on fire for the Faith, and is a real example of the “JPII-B16″ generation. He and his friends will be seniors this coming academic year.
Please pray for all young men who feel the call to the priesthood. Vocations are fragile things. Please pray.
“O Mary, help me to love your Divine Son as you do!”
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INVITATIONS
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
Dear friends, invitations have been sent out, and others are on their way in the mail, to my priestly Ordination and First Mass in Columbia, South Carolina.
Everyone is invited! No RSVPs are needed. Just come! The more, the merrier!
The Ordination is at 6:00pm on Friday, July 27, in the Columbia Convention Center (on Lincoln Street in Columbia).
The First Mass is on Sunday, July 29, at 12:15pm, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (on Devine Street in Columbia).
Please remember me and my classmates in your prayers.
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Entry for May 21, 2007
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Today, I finished my paper on Cardinal Ratzinger’s book, “Called to Communion.” It’s a great book! I’d like to share some quotes from it:
“Communion means that the seemingly uncrossable frontier of my ‘I” is left wide open and can be so because Jesus has first allowed himself to be opened completely, has taken us all into himself and has put himself totally into our hands” (p. 37).
“The origin of the Church is not the decision of men; she is not the product of human willing but a creature of the Spirit of God” (p. 43).
“This seems to me to be a cardinal point: at the inmost core of the new commission, which robs the forces of destruction of their power, is the grace of forgiveness. It constitutes the Church. The Church is founded upon forgiveness. Peter himself is a personal embodiment of this truth, for he is permitted to be the bearer of they keys after having stumbled, confessed, and received the grace of pardon” (p. 64).
Those are just a few. The book is a goldmine of basic (and profound) teachings on the Church. I would strongly recommend it.
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Entry for May 20, 2007
Sunday, May 20th, 2007
Praised be Jesus Christ, who has ascended to the Father!
Today was the annual Beach Day in the seminary. It’s a great time to relax and enjoy the nice weather.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go this year. I stayed back in order to work on a paper for class. It’s a summary of Joseph Ratzinger’s book, “Called to Communion.” It’s a powerfully insightful book, which I would highly recommend.
In the afternoon, I went to the Holy Father’s “Regin Coeli” prayer. It was good to see him back in Rome. After he returned from Brazil, he went to his summer residence to recover from jet-lag, etc. He gave a brief account of his trip, and gave his blessing.
I also met up with Jack and Rose Cantey from Charleston, SC Both are good people. Jack has devoted his life to Catholic education and good athletics. The sports stadium at the Catholic high school in Charleston is named after him! We had a good visit and walk around Rome. They endeared themselves to me when they agreed to eat at Burger King for lunch! Sometimes pasta just doesn’t cut it. It’s time for a Whopper!
Please pray for all young people who have recently graduated from college.
“O Mary. help me to love your Divine Son as you do!”
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