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Monday Church Jeopardy
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Oh, man, some of you were so close. Last week’s church was Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. A few wrote Santa Maria in Trastevere (which is in the Trastevere area, but is dedicated to Mary and not to St. Cecilia, who is the patron saint of music). The information for the second part should have been about St. Cecilia! 
Bravo to all the students who gave it a try, and bravissimo to all the students who answered correctly!
All right, this week:
Every cultural group has a “home church” in Rome. This week’s church (shown below) is the “American parish in Rome.” It offers Mass and Confessions in English. Have fun!
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Friends, Studies, and a Reunion
Monday, December 14th, 2009
This morning, I was able to celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. I’m still focusing my attention on the left transept, and so I offered Mass again on the Altar of Peter Crucified. A close family to me from South Carolina are visiting Rome, and they attended the Mass.
After Mass, I had a long morning of classes, and then there was a reunion of the Tertio Millennio group. The seminar is held in Krakow, Poland, every summer, and as a seminarian I attended it and discovered a greater depth to the Church’s social doctrine. Today’s reunion was hosted by one of the teachers of the seminar, Mr. George Weigel (pictured below). Mr. Weigel is most known as the biographer of the late Pope John Paul II. It was good to see him and the other alumni of the seminar. The lunch was full of great conversation and insight.
After the lunch, I reviewed for my presentation on Thursday. I’m meeting with an Italian tutor, so that my presentation will flow smoothly in Italian, and not be too much of a hassle to the listeners. You see, I can be a nice guy!
In the early evening, I met up with the family visiting Rome and we went to the Sacred Heart of the Sufferance (a church highlighted in a previous Monday Jeopardy), and then toured the Piazza Navona (and the Christmas bazaar within it), and the Campo dei Fiori (where we had supper). Now, it’s back to another review of Thursday’s talk.
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Some Passing Thoughts on the Lord’s Day
Sunday, November 1st, 2009
As I try to do on each of the Lord’s Day, I’d like to offer a few reflections on the Sunday Scripture readings. It’s important that we each take a little time to sit with the readings and let the Lord speak to us. We know that the Bible is an inspired text, and the Holy Spirit continues to speak to believers through it. As the saints teach us, the Bible is God’s “love letter” to humanity. We have to make time to sit and let the Spirit speak.
Today, for the Gospel, we heard just of this encounter. The Lord called the apostles and disciples to himself, to teach them. He calls each of us to himself, to teach us.
In the panorama of his teaching, he gives us the powerful description of holiness, which have come to be called the “Beatitudes.” What are these beatitudes? What role should they play in the life of the believer? What role should they play in my life?
Sadly, many people approach the beatitudes with a legalistic mindset, and are frustrated that they cannot be easily crammed into that narrow worldview. People ask how they could possibly live the beatitudes.
I think they are approaching them in all the wrong way! The beatitudes, rather than commands, are descriptions and proclamations of blessings. They certainly call, invite, and provoke us to a way of life, but one that is motivated by the Holy Spirit and a desire for union with God, not a legalistic approach about checking boxes, fulfilling duties, etc. The Lord calls us to place our moral lives within the broader, and life-giving, realm of discipleship.
We should remind ourselves that the beatitudes, before anything else, describe the Lord himself. They give us a beautiful summary of the Lord himself. From this realization, in our desire to be with him, we see this series of descriptions that call us to be like him. It’s not about accomplishing, achieving, succeeding, etc. It’s about loving, following, and about desiring goodness in Jesus Christ.
The beatitudes are a great rallying cry to each of us: to be better Christians, to be better people of holiness and unity, to be better channels of God’s grace in our world. They are a summons to each of us to be saints, lovers and followers of Jesus. Is it any surprise that the Church has them read on the feast of All Saints?!
Enjoy your Sunday!
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Classes – Hamburgers – Studies
Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Can you recognize this church? All right, so it’s not a church. It’s the Hard Rock in Rome, kind of appropriate since Peter is the “Rock” of the Church!
Well, after classes this morning, I went with two other student priests and it was time to indulge. So, we fled, we ran, we aspired, and we finally arrived at the Hard Rock! We begged: please, give us real American food! No more pasta, no more jammed veal, just give us a burger (and throw some bacon on it!). Oh, yeah!
Needless to say, it was a great lunch. It was only spoiled by having to be followed by studies. The afternoon and evening were filled with more reading and reviewing. Maybe this weekend, as some blog entries, I can dive into some of the themes I’m learning?
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He is not ashamed to call them ‘brothers’
Sunday, October 4th, 2009
As some of the readers might remember, it’s my small resolution to give a Sunday reflection here on the blog. They’re not meant as homilies since I don’t have the literary resources to give substantial homilies, but the reflections are meant to be simple and to give some thoughts and encouragement (to this priest, and hopefully to the readers).
In the Second Reading today from the Letter to the Hebrews, we hear some powerful declarations of faith.
The Letter to the Hebrews is one of the more peculiar texts of the New Testament. We’re not sure of it was an actual “letter” or a homily. It was very popular in parts of the Church. It is based heavily on the liturgy of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. It seeks to show that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Temple, is actually the Temple himself: God’s presence among humanity. The letter walks through salvation history and indicates the many aspects of the Old Testament that point to Jesus Christ and his role as Christ and Lord. It may have been written to convince the Jewish people of antiquity, especially those of the priestly class, that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah, the Anointed One.
But, let’s look again at this letter and these declarations of faith. The declarations can help us to understand the saving role of Jesus Christ and the saving opportunity opened to each of us and to all humanity through him. Here are some of the points: The leader of humanity is made perfect through suffering; this leader is the one who consecrates, and he and those who are consecrated are from the same origin; and, the consecrator is not ashamed to call those who have been consecrated his own siblings. Did you get all of those points? There are three: 1) perfection through suffering; 2) all are of one origin; 3) identity without shame. Now, these are just awesome! Each one could be it’s own reflection. I want to attempt to be brief (otherwise, this entry would be just way too long).
The leader is made perfect through suffering. Jesus’ human nature is growing in grace and wisdom. How? Through leisure, rest, by “taking it easy,” by “chilling out”? No. Not that these are all bad, but where are the real moments of growth, of perfection? We shouldn’t be surprised – those are found in suffering. It’s true, we all know, that in suffering we each learn our deepest lessons. It should console us that the leader of humanity was not without this experience and this benefit. Yes, the benefit of suffering. Truly, to approach suffering in this way is to turn some things upside down. It makes us re-examine our understanding of suffering. Now, I’m not saying we should actively seek out suffering. No, the saints tell us that enough suffering finds us, we do not need to look for it! But, when suffering does come – when it finds us -, we must be open and willing to receive it, all the while seeking the help of God’s grace. Christian spouses and priests understand this truth; parents live this every day; teachers, mentors and coaches seek to emulate this call. It’s a part of life, and when we’re open to it, it can actually give us more than what we might think. Suffering can teach us deeper ways to love, hope, pray, believe, aspire, etc. Suffering can lead us to conversion and transformation. By God’s grace, it can even lead us to perfection, as it did to the leader of the human race.
There’s so much more that can be written on that subject, but now we move to the role of this leader – consecrated and perfected by suffering – who now desires to consecrate others. He seeks to consecrate us! What does that mean? To consecrate means to “make holy,” to separate from the profane. What? It means to make us children of God. But, what’s missing from my explanation? Sin. Yes, we need to mention sin, but only after we’ve mentioned these other realities. Sometimes we focus too much on sin, and not enough on grace – we stress where we’re not, instead of stressing where God is calling us. Now, these are not polemical messages. Both have their place. It’s a point of emphasis. And, I think we need to follow the Scriptures: consecration, adoption and acceptance first. After this, then we move to sin because now we realize why God wants to get rid of our sin. We understand why sin is so wrong, and we better comprehend why sin cannot be there -that it takes away from this relationship of confidence between us and God (and between ourselves and others). We realize that we share the same origin as Jesus himself! And Jesus consecrates us so that the opportunity of salvation and the inheritance of grace can once again be offered to humanity and accepted by each of us.
Again, so much should be written on this theme, but now we get to the power verse! This is where the letter wants to take us: ”Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them his ‘brothers.’” Oh, man. Let that sit for awhile: Therefore, Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call me his brother/his sister. Jesus claims us as his own sibling: you’re his brother, you’re his sister. Consecrated through suffering, he consecrates others, and is not ashamed to call us his siblings! The Lord Jesus, God-Man, Redeemer and Savior, Majesty and Awe, Beginning and End, he is not ashamed to call me his brother! Now, some might be tempted to say, “Good and fine, but my sins…”. Stop! Go to point two. Or, “But he doesn’t know me. I just can’t understand…”. Stop. Go to point two (and maybe point one). No to all these thoughts. Jesus is not ashamed to call us his siblings. Accept it!
On this Sunday, this powerful day of the Lord’s Resurrection, we should each recall this simple verse: “Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them ‘brothers.’” How are we seeking to live with our older Brother? Are we accepting his invitation? Are we letting ourselves live in shame? Or do we understand that shame has been cast out and, now, we can have an identity in Christ without shame? We’re free! Will we accept this opportunity? Will we dare to live our lives on such a foundation?
Dare it, brothers and sisters, dare to truly live!
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University of the Holy Cross
Monday, September 28th, 2009
Towards the end of his life, the great scholar and teacher of the Christian Faith, St. Thomas Aquinas, just stopped writing. He had experienced a mystical encounter with the Lord Jesus and said that everything he wrote was “like straw” when compared to the reality of God. Throughout his life, he often said that his greatest school, where he learned the most, was at the foot of the Cross. The Cross prepared him for the reception of grace, the exercise of virtue, and for glory – even in this world.
These thoughts were on my mind today as I met both with the Director of Studies and, hopefully, my future thesis advisor at the university where I’ll be completing the licentiate degree. I was expecting a challenge, but the program will be almost three times the demand that I was anticipating. To be honest, I felt slightly overwhelmed. But, then, the thoughts of St. Thomas Aquinas came to mind. Not bad, I get to learn theology and be pushed beyond some intellectual comfort zones at, of all places, the University of the Holy Cross! The place is well named! I realize that if I approach my studies with the right attitude then I can actually grow both intellectually – and spiritually – this year! Not a bad deal.
Formal classes at the university do not begin until next Monday, October 5, but before then there will be some more meetings at the university, some forms to fill-out, and we also have an orientation at the priest graduate house which will start later this week. There’s so much to do just to get ready for the main work of study and research.
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“Do not prevent him”
Sunday, September 27th, 2009
As a student priest, I don’t have the opportunity to often preach publicly. As you can imagine, coming from parish life, this is a great shift of focus in my priestly ministry. To slightly compensate for this missed service of homiletics, on Sundays, I’d like to give a few brief thoughts. I don’t have my biblical commentaries and personal library with me, so I wouldn’t call these written homilies, but truly just some passing reflections on the Sunday Scripture readings. To anyone who might be reading the blog, I hope you enjoy the reflections!
Today, we see Jesus in his public ministry, on the way, in the thick of things. It’s a beautiful aspect of the Church’s Ordinary Time in the liturgical year: we focus on the Lord’s teachings. Unlike high feast days which mark events in the Lord’s life, during Ordinary Time we especially focus on what he taught, why he did what he did, and what difference it’s suppose to make in our lives. So, here is Jesus at work! And what does he say? Not just what does he say in general, as if we were keeping a journal. No, what does the Lord say to me, to us, right now? As we are “on the way” with Jesus, in the trenches of our own discipleship, as the Lord looks to us, what is he saying? What does he want? What do we want?
The apostles complain (this seems to happen a lot in the Church). They saw someone else, not in their number, work miracles in Jesus’ Name. They want to stop the person: who is this person? who do they think they are? how dare they attempt to work outside of the established boundaries? But, what does Jesus say?
The Lord tells the apostles, “Do not prevent him.” In other words, back off. The Lord uses this as a teaching moment: to attempt to stop the work of the Lord because it happens outside of our understanding, or our group, or our control, or outside of our comfort zone is to fight against the Lord himself. After all, in the work itself, it is the Lord who is working!
Now, back to our question, what is the Lord saying to us in today’s Gospel?
He reminds us that he works in ordinary ways, but he also works in extraordinary ways. He cannot be boxed in, nor should we attempt to mark boundaries or attempt to limit the power of his grace. First, this lesson has to reach our own hearts. Where have we not allowed the grace of God to be preached in our own lives? Where have we secluded the power of grace? And, then, in our families, among our friends, at work and study, in our daily routine, in what areas have we kept out the workings of God? We have to let the Lord’s kingdom come in all the areas of our lives. We cannot hide behind “personal” arguments, or “private” assertions. No. The Lord calls us not to prevent the preaching of his Gospel and the graces of conversion. We have to open wide our hearts to him and to our neighbor: ”do not prevent him.”
This is a challenge, but a basic part of our Christian discipleship. Have we domesticated God, and tamed his grace among us? Have we compromised, fragmented, or compartmentalized his Gospel so drastically that it no longer has any power to convict us, change us, or convert us?
These are some hard thoughts to consider as we celebrate our Sunday, our day of festive observance of the Lord’s Resurrection! We pray to hear the call of the Lord, and not to prevent his grace among us. Come, Holy Spirit! Have a joyful and rejuvenating Sunday!
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