Three Saints "on-deck"

Today the Holy Father signed a number of decrees confirming that men and women put forward for consideration did in fact live a life of heroic virtue. This moves all one step closer to being declared saints. What is needed are confirmed miracles. Please pray for there intercession that these three holy men can be raised to the altars quickly.

Venerable Pius XII, Victor over the Fascists

The first one was a surprise to everyone. There was not even the splinter of a rumor that B-16 was about to declare Pope Pius XII to be venerable. Some have even commented that the Pope's own private secretary did not know. (Which would not surprise me). This gives me great joy, since history has maligned this Holy Man, and I have a personal devotion to him.

Venerable John Paul II, Victor over the Communists

The second was much anticipated, and expected: Pope John Paul II is now considered to be venerable. Above is his first communion picture. In conversation with George Weigel once, I asked if he thought Benedict would put Pius XII and John Paul II on parallel tracks. Dr. Weigel thought no. It is not often I am right, when Dr. Weigel and I disagree.


The last one is Fr. Jerzy (George) Popielouszko (pictured above). He was martyred by the Polish Communist in 1984. To declare him Venerable on the same day as John Paul II, who did so much to end Communism in Europe, must make both smile in heaven.

One last picture of Pius XII

Twelve days in the Holy Land

Most gratefully I share with you that I will be spending the next twelve days in the Holy Land.What makes this Land Holy? It is the Land that God chose to make Holy. It is the land that He Promised to the Israelites as they wandered through the desert. It was the Land where He chose to be born, to live, to teach, to work miracles, to offer Himself up in sacrifice on the Cross, and where He rose from the dead.

I am grateful for all who have made this possible, especially the Diocese of Green Bay, who see this pilgrimage as an important part of my formation to be a priest.

I will not have Internet access during the trip, but I will make sure to post many pictures when I return to Rome on Jan. 1.

Please keep me in prayer. I will keep you, my friends and family in prayer.

Do they have Saint Nick in Italy?

Dec. 6 fell on a Sunday this year, so instead of St. Nick, we celebrated a Sunday of Advent. That does not mean however that St. Nick forgot to make his visits this year... waking up to cross the hall for my (first) cup of coffee of the day, low and behold, the jolly old bishop has left me a little gift outside my door -- not a stocking or a shoe but a little read gift bag filled with all sorts of good Italian chocolates. Seeing the empty wrappers, it looks like he couldn't resist having a little taste or two.

Even though there is a church dedicated to San Nicolo (Italian for Nicolas) and he is buried in Bari in southern Italy, the tradition of St. Nicolas giving gifts is not strong in Italy (except of course at the North American College!). Rather the Italian gift giver is a witch, called a Befana, that comes not on Dec. 6, not on Christmas Eve, but rather on Jan. 6, on Epiphany, when the Three Magi came to bring gifts to the Infant Christ.

Why a witch? Good question. We have a little motion-activated Befana as part of our corridor decorations, and every time that witch-y laugh is activated by an innocent sem. passing in the hallway, I just don't think of Christmas. There are a few legends:

First: The Befana was the innkeeper who turned Joseph and Mary away from
the Inn at Bethlehem, and now as her punishment she has to travel the world on
Epiphany Eve distributing toys to good boys and girls, and coal to bad boys and
girls.

Second: The Befana helped give the Three Kings directions to find the Baby
Jesus in Bethlehem, and as her reward she was made the mother of every little
boy and girl in Italy.

Vergine Immacolate, aiutaci!

Immaculate Conception, by Peter Paul Reubens

Wow - what a day! This is the 150th anniversary of the Pontifical North American College. We celebrated the two ways all good Catholics celebrate: a big beautifully executed Mass followed by a big beautifully executed banquet. Being the Master of Ceremonies for the Mass, along with a little chest cold, it got me beat.

Thinking about this big celebration, one needs to ask: Why? God is all powerful, He could have drawn forth his Son in the flesh from any mother. So why the pre-redeemed Immaculate Mother? Praying vespers with the seminary community, the splendor of this gift of God shines forth in the third antiphon: The robe you wear is white as spotless snow; your face radiant like the sun (Vestimentum tuum candidum quasi nix; et facies tua sicut sol). This recalls the transfiguration, where the glory of Jesus shines forth in his very humanity. Mary is the first called to share in that glory, but we too are called to be sons of glory. Mary in her Immaculate Conception, shows forth the splendor of the glory we are called to. We celebrate the Immaculate Conception because we hope that our robes will also be as white as spotless snow, and our faces as radiant as the sun.

Mary is the singular example for us, but also the way, for she is the way that the One, Christ, entered the world -- the highway of grace. This is a two way highway, so it is through her intercession, her cooperation with the Almighty, that we are lifted into the realm of grace.

the "other American College"....

A carving of an Indian head from the exterior of the American College in Belgium.

During diaconate ordiantions and the canonization of St. Damien, the North American College was "invaded" by the "other American College." Most do not know that there are in fact two American seminaries in Europe, the one in Rome where Brian Romportl and I study, and one in Louvain (which is in fact one year older!).

It is a very small seminary, under twenty seminarians, but it is rich in its history. It some how managed to stay open during World War I, and even managed to preserve many of the treasures of Louvain while the Germans burnt the rest of the town.

It has many connections to the diocese of Green Bay. At least two of our bishops were trained as priest there, Bishop Fox and our very own Bishop Ricken.

The history continues. Currently the diocese has two seminarians studying there: Chris Thelen and Amadi Alvan. I know that they would appreciate your prayers and maybe even a card during the holiday season. There contact information can be found on the seminarian website.

Feast of Saint Andrew

The martyrdom of Saint Andrew

For the Mass readings

From the Gospel according to John: Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of hte two who heard John [the Baptist] and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (which can be translated Anointed [in Latin Christus]). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter). (chapter 1 verses 40-2)

I have a great devotion to Andrew. It is not just because there are at least three great churches dedicated to him in Rome, one of which is on my way to lectures this morning. Nor is it that his body is one of the five principle relics at Saint Peter's. It is rather that I see him as a great model for who I should be as a priest. Really who all of us should be as Christians, baptized to be apostles of the Lord.

Christ is living. He was alive, and Andrew and Peter met him in the flesh (in caro), and we can say so easily that since we do not live when Peter and Andrew lived, we cannot know him. The best we can do is know about him. How sad this would be, and we rejoice it is not true. At Easter we proclaim, Christ lives! So Christ is as alive for us here and now, as he was for Andrew and Peter.

Andrew did not try to explain to his brother, who Christ was. Rather he lead him to Jesus. Andrew wanted Peter to know Christ. As the priest, I hope that at one level I can share the who and the what of Christ, but better and greater than that, I pray for the people who will one day be in my care, that they may meet Christ.

We can, and as Christians, we ought to lead others to Christ. John the Baptist, and Andrew are our models for this.

God bless.

The one that martyrdom lacks...

Saint Martin giving half of his cloak to Christ, by El Greco (Spanish, 1597)

Today the Church celebrates and remembers Saint Martin of Tours. While we rarely hear of Saint Martin anymore, it is interesting to see how many very old churches in Europe are dedicated to him, almost as many as there are dedicted to the Blessed Virgin Mary!

Saint Martin was the first non-martyr Catholic honored as a saint of the Church. This was remember in the Church with the saying: It was not Martin that lacked martyrdom, but martyrdom that lacked Martin. While this can remain only an interesting bit of trivia, we really should ask what this means in our life. Are we asked to make the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom? Probably not, but by declaring Martin of Tours a saint, we re-affirm the belief that each of us are called to be saints. It is not limited to a holy elite, but the way of happiness opened to us all.

Saint Martin of Tours...

...Pray for us!

St. Jude, patron of hopeless cases...

Just a real quick reflection before heading off to bed.

Today at lectures a brief reflection from Fr. Bruce, O.P.: I am not sure why St. Jude has become the patron of hopeless cases. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that he shares a name with the Traitor (in most languages Jude and Judas is the same name). While the Iscariot was hopeless unto death, the one who shares the name of the Traitor will be the "anti-type," and thus even in the most hopeless situations will turn toward the Lord -- and we shall not forget, "for God nothing is impossible."


Saints Simon and Jude are buried under the Saint Joseph altar at Saint Peter in the Vatican. I did not have the opportunity to visit their relics today, but perhaps on their octave day I will make it.

We of course do not know which date they died on, but this day is commemorated as their feast since it is the anniversary of the transfer of their relics to Saint Peter in the Vatican.

Saint Simon...

...pray for us.

Saint Jude...

...pray for us.

All God's Holy Men and Women...

...pray for us!

Got an email today...

I received an email today from Msgr. Rector. It seems like the ordination date for my diaconate ordiantion will be the Feast of the Most Holy Rosary (also know as the Feast of Our Lady of Lepento) on October 7, 2010 at Saint Peter's basilica. Please keep me in prayer. Here is a picture of this year's ordination.

Canonization: Five new saints for the Church.

I recently had the opportunity to attend the canonization of five new saints. Even though I have been in Rome for over two years, and been to a number of Papal Liturgies, this is the first time that I have been a canonization. In short it was beautiful. For the first time I heard the voice of Benedict XVI invoke five as saints of the Church.

I did not know who most the "new Saints" were, except for Damien of Molokia. He was also known as Damien of the Lepers. As a young priest he was sent to the "living hell" of Molokai to minister to the men, women and children dying of Hansen's disease (Leprosy). It was a living hell, since for years these people were allowed to descend into beastly state (think of Hobbes description of life before the state).

He modeled his life on the life of the "One Who Loves Him," Christ, and with no fear "descended" to them -- not because he too wanted to live a beastly state, but rather to life them up to their full dignity as human being. The world literally threw these people away, and he picked them up and took them to the home of his heart as the treasures that they truly are. He opened for them schools and churchs, and a free clinic. He taught them skills, and hobbies. All of this was fueled by the Gospel. A true evangelical zeal. It was a great co-operation with the Holy Spirit; and since it was started by the Holy Spirit -- it succeeded. The "Living Hell of Molokai" became an almost ideal Christian society.

Damien himself so completely gave himself in sacrifice to these people that he eventually contracted Leprosy himself, and died. A true "white martyrdom."

His life was rich in Christ, so rich that we continue to benefit from it. He was prophetic in realization that the greatest resource to the development of the people entrusted to his care, was the people themselves. The men, women, and children, although they were poor, did not depend on handouts, but rather found in the richness of their own souls the spiritual resource to be lifted by Christ out of the misery of the pit.

The funeral catafalgue of Fr. Damien of Molokai

Before school began...

So I arrived in Rome on September 17, and classes did not begin until October 12. So what have I been doing in the mean time? Vacation. Not really, or not like any other vacation like I have had before.

The three weeks in between arrival and the beginning of classes have really been quite busy. Much busier than it normally is, so much so that know that classes have begun, it feels like this is a bit of a break!

Can you find me? (I will give you a clue I am wearing white on top of black).
NAC ordination prayer vigil the night before diaconate ordination

There were three main occupation during the three weeks before school:

(1) Pastoral work-shops: practical courses at the college on pastoral counseling, preaching, and Hispanic ministry

(2) A week long silent retreat (perhaps more on this at a later date)

(3) and the nacho grande of it all: the Ordination to the Order of the Deacon of thirty men from the North American College.

This last may not seem that significant, after all I was not the one getting ordained -- but I was the head master of ceremonies for it. That is quite a bit of work. It was good though. Each day started early: prayer and Mass, than hours of pastoral work-shops (of course broken up by coffee breaks), and than a few hours each day of prep-work for the ordination. Each day I felt like I was on my game. While I was busy, and while I was working hard, it was a very good experience.

I like being all that busy -- each day at Mass as the altar is being prepared -- the linen (the shroud) being unfolded and on it are placed the bread and the wine. To this wine a drop of water, and there is when I join my offering to the sacrifice of the Mass -- I offer you Lord this day... with all its works, prayers, joys and sufferings. Each day, while I was working hard and going to bed so tired, each day I felt that I had something to add to that sacrifice.

I remember it vaguely... (biking in Rome)

I remember it vaguely... Fr. Ben Sember was leaving to return to the States permentently, and I think he gave me a bike, but that was almost two years ago. Well it turned out he did give me a bike, and it laid un-used for most of last year. Mark Payton, a class mate, brought it back to my attention. Wow -- I have a bike! Honestly, I never really forgot this, but was some what scared to take the bike out into Roman traffic (anyone who has experienced Roman traffic will completely understand this). Well...

Not me, biking in Rome

Well... it was time to bite the bullet. It was really busy the week before classes were beginning and I had to go to the Angelicum to actually registrar for classes. Usually this is a forty minute walk one way trip. This is also an experience of Italian bureaucracy (read: at a minimum one hour of waiting in line, just to find out where to wait in line again... well you get the idea). So I was looking at a minimum of a two hour and twenty minutes. We are all busy. I am a busy seminarian. I just don't have time for that. So time to hop onto the bike.

It was great. Not only did I make it there and back, and some how managed to registar all in under an hour, but the experience of riding in Rome is great. I have made it a point to mostly bike to classes now. Forty minute one way walk? - not any more. Now a quick and simple nine minute commute. So next time you end up in Rome, see Saint Peters and hope onto one of the rentalable red bikes.

Back to school, back to school...

The main courtyard at the Angelicum University

A week ago today it started: lectures at the Angelicum University. This is actually one of the most enjoyable parts of being a seminarian. After all when will I have the leisure to study these central mysteries of the faith that I love so much? It is my third year of theology, but my second year at the Angelicum.

The Angelicum -- what I describe as a "happy place." This will most likely be my last year here, since I finish my degree this year, and most likely will be working on my second degree at a different university. That is the usual arrangement for studying in Rome. Most students, seminarians and lay students, earn two degrees. The first is the Sacred Theology Baccalaureate, and is roughly equivalent to a Master of Arts in Theology in the United States. It takes three years to complete.

The student will than pursue a second degree to specialize. There is diversity in this area. Some will complete a proper Masters, which usually takes one additional year. Most will work on a License -- this is usually a two year degree, and sometimes three years depending upon the speciality. Other degrees, like Canon Law are their own breed.

So I will be looking ahead to a specialization next year. The question is: What will it be? Rest assured this has been discussed with the bishop, but nothing is set in stone, and I am not sure how much I am free to discuss. Anyways. I do have my own interests.

The astute reader will notice that I started lectures on Tuesday, but school began last Monday. What's going on? Did I skip the first day? Well - yes, but not exactly. I live in Italy, and I am an American. This logically means that I am an immigrant. This means that I participate in the annual routine of filing papers, visiting the offices of the Italian questera, and than praying that my papers do not get lost (I am not actually joking with that last one). Monday was spent at the immigration office. I have much sympathy for those men and women in our own land, who have to go through the same routine.

Has it settled down yet?

This is a picture of Dcn. Michael Bruno. He lives down the corridor from me. You may be asking: Why do you have a picture of Dcn. Michael Bruno on your blog post? Good question. He preached this morning. He preached very well actually. I thought I should high-light that.

It has been very busy since landing on September 17 (was it really only a month ago?!). So working back wards I hope to catch you all up.

Overall I am very happy to be back. Catching up and re-connecting.

Later.

ROME REPORTS Video News - The home of the Heralds of the Gospel in Rome

I haven't visited this church yet, but it looks like someplace I hope to drop by soon! After all I do have a strong devotion to Saint Benedict (alas -- I am not called to be a Benedictine monk!) and I also study with the Heralds of the Gospels at the Angelicum.

ROME REPORTS Video News - The home of the Heralds of the Gospel in Rome

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Rome: how sweet thou art!

I was going to title this entry: "So after sleeping with 400 people I did not know....,"* but decided against it since such a name may cause scandal. Anyways, after almost 15 hours of travel I have safely returned to Rome for my third year of theology studies. It is actually quite a significant year, since I will be completing my first degree in theology and above all since it is just over a year (one year and 25 days to be exact) until I am ordained a deacon in Rome.

Interior of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, my favorite church for prayer in Rome.

Arriving on Thursday I did not pack right away, but had my priorities in order and paid my first visit to Saint Peter's to pray at the tomb of John Paul II and to attend Mass. Crossing seven time zones in 15 hours leads to a bit of jet lag, and sad to say my "active and attentive participation" at Mass conisisted at attempting to remain awake as best I could. The evening was spent out at a local trattoria, to enjoy the long missed pizza. There is nothing quite like pizza in Rome.

This morning (Saturday) I took a walk to re-aquaint myself with the old friend that the city of Rome has become. It is the eternal city, and I can say that not much has changed. I enjoyed the same cream taste of a cafe macchiato at one of my favorite coffee bars, and spent a significant time in prayer at my favorite church in the city: Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.

An old view of the interior of the Pantheon

On the walk back I also stopped at one of the most popular sites in the city, the Pantheon. It is almost 2,000 years old and it is quite amazing that it has survived for so long -- part of that survival has been that it was consecrated as a church to Saint Mary and all the Martyrs 1400 years ago. Some revisionists would say that the Christians "stole" the pantheon, but in reality, it was saved and glorified by its conversion into a church.

*In reference to sleeping on the plane of course! What else would you be thinking?

Triduum for Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Part III)

Some nationals of India attending the beatification of Mother Teresa

Last of the triduum of reflections for Mother Teresa

On this day twelve years ago Mother Teresa enter her Master's Joy when she died and was accepted into the loving hands of God in heaven. In more crude terms she expired.

In the first reflection we looked at the word inspire, meaning breathing in - in specifically breathing in the Holy Spirit. Expire than means breathing out - in specific breathing out the the Spirit we have received. Mother spent her whole life breathing out the Spirit that she received - she literally spent her whole life ex-(s)piring. She remembered the words of the Gospel:

To those who have, more will be given; and to those who have not, even what they
have will be taken away from us.

She received the Spirit of God, and she breathed it out back into the world, so she was given it all the more. If she had not breathed it out into the world, it would have been taken from her. But God saw that He made "a good investment" in Mother, and continued to invest His Spirit - continued to breath His Spirit into her heart.

We too receive this Spirit, not for our own sake, but so that we can be the eyes, hands, feet and HEART of Jesus in the world. So let us spend our life expiring for:

Only when a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies does it bring forth new life.

Let us pray:

Mary, Mother of Jesus,
Give me your most beautiful heart,
As pure, as immaculate,
As full of love and of humility,
So that I can receive Jesus in the Bread of Life,
So that I can love Him as you have loved Him,
And so that I can serve Him as you have served Him
Under the figure of the poorest of the poor.
Amen.

Prayer composed by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Triduum for Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Part II)

Two saints: Blessed Mother of Teresa meeting Venerable Servant of God John Paul II

Continuing the Triduum of reflections on Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Soon after God called Mother Teresa to the “new path” of serving Him in the poorest of the poor, Mother made a vow: Never to deny God anything.

Let us reflect just for a second how amazing this is: It is total gift. It is totally a gift of love to Him who first loved us. It is also total Freedom. This may sound odd, after all by never denying God anything, do we not give up our Freedom? This is the amazing part. God is all powerful, He has the might to force and coerce us into doing His will. He does not though. He loves us too much to do that. He allows us to share in His Freedom. So when we give ourselves totally to Him, we share totally in His Freedom.

Mother Teresa found this to be true in her own life. She was now free for God, free to serve Him in a radical way that she could not before. We are called to this same Freedom – I am not saying we are called to do the same things that Mother did, but we are called never to deny God anything. We recall the words of Saint Francis de Sales, “God asks only one thing of us, and that is to be ourselves perfectly.” So when God ask something of us, He is asking us to be more who we are. This could be to be more of a husband or wife, more of a father or mother, more of a son or daughter. This is how we are called to follow the path that Mother took, but in the way that God calls us. This is the basis of what the Church calls the Universal Call to Holiness. We are all called to be saints.

Let us pray:

Mary, Mother of Jesus,
Give me your most beautiful heart,
As pure, as immaculate,
As full of love and of humility,
So that I can receive Jesus in the Bread of Life,
So that I can love Him as you have loved Him,
And so that I can serve Him as you have served Him
Under the figure of the poorest of the poor.
Amen.

Prayer composed by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Triduum for Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Part I)

Young Mother Teresa of Calcutta

In preparation for remembering Mother Teresa on her feast day I have prepared a short series of reflections on her life.

Before she founded the Missionaries of Charity, Teresa was a Sister of Loretto. She taught young Indian girls, and was quite content doing this. She was not looking to start a new religious order. She was not looking to be sent out on mission. This all changed when she was travelling to her annual retreat. On the way there she was inspired to care for God in His poorest of the poor.

We too are on a journey like Mother was. We too are quite content the way things are. Are we prepared to be lead by God into the direction that He wants to take us? This can be scary, since this direction very often be different than where we would like to go. Mother Teresa also experienced this same fear, but she was inspired. God also wants to inspire us. He loves us and wants to direct us to the deep happiness that we can only find in His heart.

When we look at the word inspire, we can see it literally means to breath into. When God inspired Mother Teresa, He literally breathed His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, into her heart. This is what gave Mother the strength to follow where God was leading her. God also breathes the Holy Spirit into our hearts.

Let us pray:

Mary, Mother of Jesus,
Give me your most beautiful heart,
As pure, as immaculate,
As full of love and of humility,
So that I can receive Jesus in the Bread of Life,
So that I can love Him as you have loved Him,
And so that I can serve Him as you have served Him
Under the figure of the poorest of the poor.
Amen.

Prayer composed by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

One thing I forgot to mention in my St. Augustine entry

Solemn (?) profession of a canon at the Norbertine Abbey of Sant'Antimo in Tuscany in Italy, which is one of the few Norberite houses active in Italy (perhaps the only one besides the Abbot General's)

Saint Augustine also left us the Rule of Saint Augustine, which is older than the rule of Saint Benedict (it almost hurts me to type that), and is used by a large number of religious communities - Augustian Friars, Augustian Canons (where I stayed during my Christmas trip to Vienna this past year), Dominicans (the fathers of my beloved university - the Angelicum), and also the Norbertines.

Since the Norbertines profess to follow the rule of St. Augustine, by custom they make there professions on the feast of St. Augustine. The local De Pere Norbertines will be professing one Canon this morning at Mass. Congratulations and prayers to them.

Ever ancient; ever new: Saint Augustine

The arrival of Saint Augustine to Milan

What can be said about today's saint? He is a man that seems truly larger than life. His importance cannot be under-estimated. It was to his tomb that Benedict XVI made one of his first pilgrimages after ascending to the throne of Peter. It was five general audiences that the same Pope catechized about St. Augustine(1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). John Paul II devoted a whole Apostolic letter to him: AUGUSTINUM HIPPONSENSEM.

His influence on theology cannot be underestimated -- I know this especially now, as there is hardly a course that I attend that does not go back to Saint Augustine at some point.

He not only left us with theology, but his very own reflections on his spiritual journey in the Confessions. Here his theology meets his personal experience.

In his Confessions, we can see that St. Augustine in his time (the decline of the Roman empire) and his place (northern Africa) faced many challenges that are analogous to what we as Christian of the third millenium face. As a culture we look make many of the conversions that he made on his journey to Christ.

It would me impossible to summarize even a list of the themes that are covered in this great doctor's works, so the following thoughts are necessarily incomplete:

1. The Saint took the words of Christ seriously - I am the way, the truth and the light - for this reason for the saint there could be no disagreement between what he knew from revelation (scripture and tradition) and what he knew from reason (Greek philosophy). For us today this means that there can be no conflict between what is taught in matters of faith and morals and what we learn from science. At a specific level - the fact that science does not consult with moral philosophers, means that science is in moral error. An example: If you find any biology or an anatomy book from before 1973 (the year of Roe vs. Wade) it will clearly teach that human life begins at conception, it is only after the moral error of Roe vs. Wade that the truth about human life becomes confused among the scientist.
2. There is beauty in being a Christian. So often beauty and truth come together. A reflection from G.K. Chesterton: After I had told others that I was becoming Christian they would say, "you poor thing, having to stoop low to enter those old ugly churches," but never did I ever enter something so beautiful as a Catholic church. The beauty of Catholicism is so often lost today, but interiorly it is still there. There is a beauty in Catholicism, because there is nothing more beautiful than love, and Catholics more than anyone believe in the greatest love that there is - the love of the Father, the Lover; for the Son, the Beloved; and this Love itself is the Holy Spirit. As Catholics we trust, without fail, that salvation means being incorportated into this eternal exchange of divine love. What could be more beautiful than that?
3. Lastly would be Augustines view on history, which to be honest I am not well versed on, but it has important political repercussions for today: History begins and ends with God. It flows from God, and will return to him. Even political system that claims to end the drama of history, will always fall short. Many will promise you everything, but only the One, that is God, can fulfill that promise, as Christ says: Come to me all you who are thirsty, and never be thirsty again.
   

We get ten, they get three -- good company all around

For the last two weeks I have been visiting different parish to promote the collection for the seminarians of the diocese of Green Bay (Hope for the Future, Help them today). It is always great to see the different parishes in the diocese, and often think, "One day, this could be my parish." With each visit, I love the diocese and the people of the diocese more and more.

I good part of the talk centers on celebrating a simple and pronounced fact: God is answering our prayers for more priests, in fact he has called ten men to enter seminary for our diocese this fall. Adding to the twelve we already have, this means we have twenty-two seminarians. This is great news!

Today we look at another group of priest that serve in the diocese of Green Bay: the Canons Regular of Premontre, a.k.a. the Norbertines. They arrived in the diocese in 1893, with only three Canons, and they have since they built two abbeys, established a national shrine to Saint Joseph, founded my alma mater Saint Norbert College, a number of high schools, and help the diocesan clergy in parish ministry. It is great to have them as co-workers.

God is also answering their prayers for more vocations: this evening three young men will be receiving the habit of Saint Norbert, and will start formation to be Norbertines. We wish the Norbertines many congratulations, and they are assured of many prayers.

a Catholic's Mothers' Day

Death of Saint Monica, surronded by her children.

I will give my own reflection on this great holy woman, but first Saint Augustine reflects on the death of his mother:

Because the day when she was to leave this life was drawing near – a day known to you, though we were ignorant of it – she and I happened to be alone, through (as I believe) the mysterious workings of your will. We stood leaning against a window which looked out on a garden within the house where we were staying, at Ostia on the Tiber; for there, far from the crowds, we were recruiting our strength after the long journey, in order to prepare ourselves for our voyage overseas. We were alone, conferring very intimately. Forgetting what lay in the past, and stretching out to what was ahead, we enquired between ourselves, in the light of present truth, into what you are and what the eternal life of the saints would be like, for Eye has not seen nor ear heard nor human heart conceived it. And yet, with the mouth of our hearts wide open we panted thirstily for the celestial streams of your fountain, the fount of life which is with you.

This was the substance of our talk, though not the exact words. Yet you know, O Lord, how on that very day, amid this talk of ours that seemed to make the world with all its charms grow cheap, she said, “For my part, my son, I no longer find pleasure in anything that this life holds. What I am doing here still, or why I am still here, I do not know, for worldly hope has withered away for me. One thing only there was for which I desired to linger in this life: to see you a Catholic Christian before I died. And my God has granted this to me more lavishly than I could have hoped, letting me see even you spurning earthly happiness to be his servant. What am I still doing here?”

What I replied I cannot clearly remember, because just about that time – five days later, or not much more – she took to her bed with fever. One day during her illness she lapsed into unconsciousness and for a short time was unaware of her surroundings. We all came running, but she quickly returned to her senses, and, gazing at me and my brother as we stood there, she asked in puzzlement, “Where was I?”

We were bewildered with grief, but she looked keenly at us and said, “You are to bury your mother here”. I was silent, holding back my tears, but my brother said something about his hope that she would not die far from home but in her own country, for that would be a happier way. On hearing this she looked anxious and her eyes rebuked him for thinking so; then she turned her gaze from him to me and said, “What silly talk!” Shortly afterwards, addressing us both, she said, “Lay this body anywhere, and take no trouble over it. One thing only do I ask of you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be”. Having made her meaning clear to us with such words as she could muster, she fell silent, and the pain of the disease grew worse.

My own reflection:

Saint Monica is the mother of Saint Augustine. Much like Mary, devotion to Monica will point us toward the life and teaching of her son Saint Augustine. Unlike Mary who is the mother of the holy one, the ancient of days, Monica had to pray for the conversion of her son. Anyone familar with his life will know that he had quite a wild youth. Her prayers were like the prayers of the persistent widow, and so they were heard, and the grace of conversion was granted to her son. For this reason she is often sought as an intercessor in converting relative. Needless to say, I pray to her often.

During my first year in Rome, I walked past the Church of Saint Augustine at the north end of Piazza Novona almost every morning on my walk to the Gregorian. I would often stop to pray there. I would pray for my mother; I would pray for the intercession of Saint Monica for my constant daily conversion; and I would pray for the conversion of a number of my relatives and family members. I continue these prayers, even though for the past year the church has been under restoration and her tomb has been inaccessible. I look forward to returning to Rome in two weeks to pray there once again.

Duruflé's Messe "Cum jubilo"

One of the most interesting things I've been a part of in recent months (or really ever, for that matter) has finally come to fruition. No, I am not a priest yet. No, I have not managed to find the money to build one of the many cathedrals that fill the margins of my note book. No, I have not...

Last Spring, the choir of the Pontifical North American College recorded a full-length CD of a Mass setting by the 20th century French composer, Maurice Duruflé. The record, his Messe "Cum jubilo" is now available through JAV Recordings here. For anyone interested in classical/sacred music, it's a great buy!

Altogether, the CD is an entire Mass (sung the way it ought to be!) comprised of both Gregorian chant (Introit, Alleluia, etc.) and Duruflé's compositions, which use Gregorian chant as the foundation, of the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus/Benedictus and Agnus Dei. It even includes all the prayers, propers and readings from the Mass of the Immaculate Conception—the College's patronal feast (you can see a picture of the chapel above, with the prominent Immaculata mosiac above the main altar).

Maurice Durufle at the organ

What's more, there's a great deal of organ improvisation as well, done by one of the most influential and noted organists in the world today: Stephen Tharp. From the bells on the first track to the organ sortie on the final, this recording is something worth checking out. Even the CD booklet has some cool pictures, and some interesting (and meditative) shots of the NAC that some might enjoy. (The cover photo, above, is the mosaic in the apse of the Immaculate Conception chapel at NAC.) Plus, you'll get to hear me sing—and you'll be supporting a good cause.

So visit JAV and pick up a copy. And play it for your kids. They will like it too! [And if they don't, you can teach them!]

A quotable quote:

Vigo Canon Deant of Christ Church, Oxford: "When the Church begins to proclaim the Gospel in a secular idiom she may end by proclaiming secularism in a Christian idiom."

Question to ponder: Do I as a Christian-Catholic proclaim and witness Christ to the secular world, or rather do I try to dress up a secular hero like Robespierre or Margaret Sanger to look like Christ, and witness that farce to the Christian world?

The first is what the Apostles Peter and John adomish us to do (children do not conform yourself to this world [see: 1 Peter 1:14, 1 John 2:1, 1 John 3:7, 1 John 5:21); while the second is a lie.

How about this for being "pro-active pro-life"?

You can see this when walking down the Borgo Spirito in Rome: an old fashioned "turn" -- put your baby that you want put up for adoption in and turn the drum and the nuns will take care of him/her -- pro-life action 15th century style

It is being done by a protestant church in Atlanta, but I cannot help be remember the little "turn" that can still be seen on the side of the old Santo Spirito in Sasso Hospital in Rome. This is something that the Catholic Church has always offered. Remembering the admonish from the Letter to the Hebrews to "encourage each other today, while it is still today," it is good to hear that all of us are joining together in this very practical and immediate way to combate the "reign of the culture of death" here in the United States:

Good: Atlanta Church offers to adopt any baby

It also makes me think of when I used to pray outside an abortion clinic in Omaha. On a fairly regular basis a person would stop by to chat on the side-walk or even shout from their cars saying something along these lines, "Well if you don't want me to get an abortion, than take care of my kids..." Well -- we will. This is a great work of social justice.

Meeting the bishop for the first time...

Another highlight of the seminarian retreat was meeting my bishop for the first time (here is a picture of him ordaining soon-to-be-Fr. Jason Blahnik to the holy priesthood). I had a short time to talk with him one on one, and look forward to his promised visit to the North American College.

I do not know him well, but I am confident that in two years I will be able to make the three priestly promises to him at my ordination: obedience, celibacy, and to pray the liturgy of the hours. How can I be so confident when I do not even know him? Well simply, it is not about his personality, but about his office as bishop. If I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, that means he is lord of history including the history of the diocese of Green Bay. I make the promises to a bishop, who ever that bishop may happen to be.

That being said, after just a short conversion and knowing what others, who I trust, have told me about him, I can say with confidence that the diocese will greatly benefit from having him here. Where we are weak as a diocese, he brings strengths.

If you get a chance to meet him ask him about the founding of Wyoming Catholic College. If similar things happen here under his pastoral care, we will be a power-house of Catholicism.

Brief comment on health care reform...

A number have asked me what my thoughts are, so a figure a few brief comments...

1. The United States is the most prosperous nation in the world, so it is a scandal that there are so many without access to basic health care.
2. The cost of health care has sky-rocketed in recent decades... coincidentally this is when medical care has also first been treated as a "commodity." This is the first time that we see hospitals ran as for-profit institutions, whereas before they were most often not-for-profit institutions (very often sponsored by religious organizations -- just look at the number of Catholic hospitals). So it makes sense that part of the reform of health-care is whether or not medical care should be treated as a for-profit commodity.
3. After living in a country with government sponsored health care for two years, I can just say from experience we do not want to go there (i.e. health care rationing [do you want a government agency deciding when you get your chemo?] and oddly there is greatly inequality in access to health care [the government hospitals are vastly sub-standard, and the private hospitals are beyond the means of the vast majority of citizens]).
4. Last point -- no reform of health care can violate the rights of conscience of medical professionals and sponsoring institutions (very often religious). The right to conscience is not made up by the "right" but has long standing in our political tradition (remember conscious objection from the Vietnam war era? -- it is pretty much the same thing here). That being said any law that would require employers or insurance to cover procedures (abortions/sterilizations) or treatments (contraceptives/embryonic stem cell research) that violate the conscience of said employer or insurer is inherently unjust. It is even more unjust than the situation from point 1 -- since freedom of conscience is more basic a right than the duty of society (society is greater than the state - are there any non-government solutions being proposed? - honest question, let me know) to provide health care.

These points being stated -- health care reform is complicated business, but these guidelines seem pretty reasonable to just about anybody. While the need to provide health-care for all is real and pressing, it ought not be done at the sacrifice of a free conscience -- after all our nation was founded to protect freedom of conscience.

Seminarians retreat...

Last week I was on the seminarian/Serran retreat with my diocesan brother seminarians. It was a great experience. Some of you readers might also have been on it. It was one of the largest seminarian retreats in some time since there are so many new seminarians. There were fourteen seminarians last year, with two ordained to the priesthood that leaves twelve. To these twelve are added ten new seminarians, please keep them in prayer.

Note on the picture: this cross was put up opposite the island's marina by a Catholic Youth Expeditions retreat that I was on, so now every visitor to Chambers Island is greeted by the cross.

Two summers later...

Two summers later...

Today I will be leaving for the annual seminarian retreat. It has been two summers since I have attended since I was out of the country for my studies in Rome the previous two summers. I am looking forward to it greatly. There are many new seminarians that I have not met, and this year with great joy we welcome ten more seminarians, which almost doubles the number of seminarians for the diocese of Green Bay. Please keep us in prayer the next four days!

Mission Accomplished.

1900 miles later; 80 youth exhausted from painting, gardening, and other service jobs in northern New Jersey; and all of Manhattan toured in about eight hours; I think I can truly say mission accomplished.

For the last week I was on a service-mission trip with the youth of Holy Cross parish in Kaukauna, where I am stationed this summer, and the youth of the neighboring parish, Holy Spirit parish in Darboy-Kimberly. With a day to recover, I can say I am still exhausted. Those coach-buses just do not provide the kind of sleep that a seminarian needs.

All told though it was a good experience, and I hope that in the few short years when I will be starting in parish ministry as a priest that I am able to bring youth on these service-mission trips.

After all -- true Christian service is one of the strongest vehicles of evangelization. We see this from the Gospel ("What ever you have done to the least of my brethren...") in the early Church (many of the governors of the provinces of the Roman empire were resistant to following the edicts commanding presecution of Christians, because of the great services they rendered to society at large), and we are even reminded of this in the first encyclical of the great pontiff, Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est.

You will never know who pops in...

Kaukauna is a small town, about 16,000 people. So there is an expected sense of normality in day to day life, something that is greatly appreciated. But than again when you live at a Catholic parish you never quite know who will drop in. As I was making my way through the parished offices to the Church to pray this afternoon I was met by a slightly-older-than-middle-aged man wearing a guayabera shirt.

This is not something I would usually catch my attention. It did not actually catch my attention. What caught my attention was the Pastor, Fr. Tom Pomeroy, yelling from his office, "Hey did you meet Fr. John?"

To be honest I walked right past him. Something I do too often, walking past people. But before me stood a priest of the diocese of Green Bay, extending his hand to introduce himself as Fr. John Reuter. I am glad my attention was caught, and take it as a lesson to be more attentive to persons, for I had almost walked past one of the most interesting priest of our diocese.

Parish church in Tlaxiaco, Mexico

Fr. John has been serving outside the diocese for past forty years, almost his entire priestly life, in the area around Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca, Mexico. He is a missionary. He is a priest like I will be some day, but what great variety of service he has been called to.

It is no secret one day I will be serving two, three, or even four parishes. I cannot imagine how busy that will be. Well this little anxiety of mine is put to shame by Fr. John -- he may only have one parish (which is think is pictured above) -- but it has twenty-three mission sites through out fields and jungles surronding Tlaxiaco. This is not a typo -- that is 1 parish, spread over 23 sights.

His life catches my attention. The missionary spirit must ring in the heart of a seminarian and a priest (after all what is the point of this sacrifice if it is not to spread the Gospel of Christ?), and I have found an attraction and a solidarity to his mission.

Native plowing in near Tlaxiaco, Mexico

He was more than half serious when he asked if I wanted to visit (hey got an extra $700.00 hanging around, that is about what a plane-ticket runs to get there -- cheaper than Europe?). Well, I do not think that the opporunity will come about any time soon (no really got an extra $700.00?), but I do not hope to make it there some day. Who knows, with ten new seminarians next year, perhaps one of them will be the missionary to Tlaxiaco.

Today's Saint Lawrence of Brindisi tells you "Read This!"

Well a few days ago I offered encouragment to reading the Bible, well here you go with the St. of the Day...
Saint Lawrence of Brindisi was the greatest linguist of his day. He could read, write, and speak Italian, Latin, Hebrew, Greek, German, Bohemian, Spanish and French.

Here's my favorite story about him. He was preaching somewhere and was being heckled by a Protestant minister about a Catholic doctrine not being found in the Bible. Saint Lawrence took his Greek New Testament and threw it at the man and said, "Read this!"

His knowledge of Hebrew was so thorough that the rabbis were convinced that he had once been a Jew who had converted to Christianity.

(courtesy of: Canterbury Tales)

Holy Martyrs of Gorcum, Pray for Us!

Its a few days late...

I admire the Norbertine spirituality so I share these two Norbertine martyrs with you.

As a future diocesan priest I find the Norbertine spirituality very attract for as a pastor of souls. He was entrusted with the pastoral care of an archdiocese. He started out as a "secular canon," which in someways is similar to a diocesean priest.

The spirituality he proposes centers around five "pillars":

1. devotion to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament (St. Norbert is the "Apostle of the Eucharist" after all)
2. devotion to the Mother of God, Mary Most Holy
3. singing the divine office
4. habitual penance
5. and most importantly "zeal for the salvation of souls"

So you can find out some more about these two Norbertine Martyrs: Martyrs of Gorcum

Please keep Itan in prayers...

Usually I am restrained in re-posting news, but since this has seemed to receive minimal and inconsistent coverage on number of major Internet news sources (CNN, MSNBC, but Fox News does have a nice story: Iranian Police Tear-Gas Protesters at Prayer Sermon), I re-post an article from the UK Times Online: Rafsanjani calls for release of jailed protesters in Iran amid clashes in Tehran.

The struggle continues in Iran. These are men and women who have yearned to be free, to prosper and to leave to their children a better world. Please in your prayers be in solidarity with them.

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The
wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! -- from the poem inscribed on the statue of Liberty

h/t to Gateway Pundit: Hundreds of Thousands Protest Killer Regime in Iran

It comes at no suprise...

It is no secret that I am pro-life. I have been admonished before that clerics cannot take public political positions. Being pro-life is not a political position, because the beginning of human life is a fact that comes before politics; it comes before government policy. It is that simple. Governments do not determine who is and is not human; the human person and the family comes before government. It is that simple.

The truth of the dignity of the human person is not something that can be compromised. Once it is, everything else is on shaky ground. It stands on one of the first lines we learn,

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26, NAB).

Our own dignity, which is protected by how well we guard the dignity of the most weak (which is certainly the unborn), rest on this line – not on science.

Often though science serves to support this truth, and for this reason I share with you the following link:

Study: Unborn babies can form memories by 30 weeks.

This is something that every pregnant woman knows, but now has scientific “proof” to back it up. I have included a picture of a fetus at thirty weeks for you reflection.

Ignorance of Scripture IS ignorance of Christ

" What are you doing this summer?"

That is a question that a lot of us have heard quite a bit the past couple weeks. Some of us have taken and will take vacations. Then there is the annual rotation of soccer and baseball games, cook-out, and days at the beach.

Okay - but I am asking: What are you doing this summer to grow closer to Christ?

Reading theBible? I am. Not the whole thing of course, but part of it -- parts from the Old Testament since that is what I am least familar with.

This grows out of a big disappointment from the previous two years of theology studies. I have taken classed on the Gospels, the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) and the Letters of Paul, and they seem to have shared a set of common characteristics:

(1) There is a divorce between Scripture scholorship and pastoral applications. (Do you really want to hear me start an homily with: this word in Greek as many meanings, or since this story about Moses comes the the D-source)? I think you understand my point.

(2) Modern scripture scholarship seems to face the average Christian (like myself) with an insurmontalbe obstacle to reading the Bible. It all really does seem very confusing (at times) and always daunting. If the Church really expects all Catholics to be Bible Christians - does that mean all Catholics need to be experts in the geography of the near East from 600 BC, and find reading Akkadian stories to be their idea of a "good time on the Friday night?"

(3) Worse perhaps - all of the scripture courses so far have seem to not even required the reading of any scripture. Hmmm... to me that would be like studying biology without ever looking through a microscope or majoring in English without ever touching Shakespere.

All these things considered I found the following article to be very helpful and encouraging (you can click on the picture and it will link to the article):
Please consideri making the daily habit of reading scripture part of your summer -- just ten to fifteen minutes. It will change the way you pray (and is a good first step to starting to pray). You will enjoy Mass more. You will not regret it.

Fourth of July Celebrations

One of my favorite places growing up was "up-nort" -- in particular the cottage home of my Uncle Peter and Aunt Mary in near Crivitz. As a child it was a place of wonders: a hand pump and "sun shower" since there was no running water, an amazing "no-flush" toilet (an outhouse), and in winter time a big Franklin stove. Summer weekends were spent at a lake-side beach swimming and fishing, and on the road sides picking the little strawberries that tasted much better than what is now sold in the supermarkets. In winter there were fewer trips, but usually something for New Years, and this was a great joy in hoping that there might be just enough snow that we would be stuck -- and of course that would mean having to miss school (darn).

Well time moves on and things change: in comes the running water and the central heat. Eventually Peter and Mary move there year round in their retirement -- meaning out with the cottage and in with the bigger house. But there is still a desire to return there -- it was a home for me in childhood.

I left for Rome on June 26, 2007. This of course meant that I missed the fireworks and festivities of two Fourth of July celebrations. Well this year -- I arrived home in time and did not start my parish assignment until after the festive weekend -- it was time to return to the "cottage" in the North woods. So I did. It was a sublime joy, and in someways a was a kid again (at age 25 none-the-less).

Answer to yesterday's quizz:

Sad to say the person who sees some populations as undesirable was Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Gingsburg. She was discussing using abortion to control "populations we do not want to many of," by providing Medicaid funding for abortions. Sad day.

It can also be noted that almost the exact same quote can be found in the writings of the third possible answer.

http://themcj.com/?p=5512

Pop-quiz:

Who said the following?

Frankly, I thought at the time... there was a concern about population growth,
and particularly growth in populations we do not want to many of...

(a) a Supreme court justice?
(b) a early 20-th century feminists?
(c) a German leader from the 1930'2 and '40's

Well however said it, I wonder if I am part of the "we" or the "population we do not want to many of."

Summer time and...

Sorry for the long delay in posting -- I guess with exams and than coming home I have lost track of the blog for a few weeks. I look forward to having the extra time this summer to catch-up with you, readers, and share some of my recollections from the last two years in Europe. Since I am not sure how much I will actually get done, I will go in reverse order (most current to furthest away time-wise).

I hope everyone is doing well. My home-coming went very well, and I have had a chance to talk with many of you. This past week I arrived at my summer parish assignment at Holy Cross Parish in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. My pastor already has given me a running start, with a funeral vigil the evening of my first full day in the parish. I will be kept busy primarily shadowing the pastor, giving a class after Wednesday daily Mass, visiting parishioners, and cathcing up with friends.

Take care,
Brunner.

Seperation of Church and State?

Do you know the Preamble for your state? . .

Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..

Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.

Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution…

Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas , grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government…

California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom…

Colorado 1876, Preamble We, the people of Colorado , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe…

Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.

Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.

Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida , grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution…

Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people of Georgia , relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution…

Hawaii 1959, Preamble We , the people of Hawaii , Grateful for Divine Guidance … Establish this Constitution.

Idaho 1889, Preamble We, the people of the State of Idaho , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.

Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana , grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.

Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the State of Iowa , grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.

Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.

Kentucky 1891, Preamble.. We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties..

Louisiana 1921, Preamble We, the people of the State of Louisiana , grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.

Maine 1820, Preamble We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.

Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty…

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We…the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction

Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom, establish this Constitution.

Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:

Mississippi 1890, Preamble We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.

Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri , with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . Establish this Constitution…
Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution .

Nebraska 1875, Preamble We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution.

Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution…

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.

New Jersey 1844, Preamble We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.

New Mexico 1911, Preamble We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty..

New York 1846, Preamble We, the people of the State of New York , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.

North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those…

North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain…

Ohio 1852, Preamble We the people of the state of Ohio , grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common.

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance….

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing…

South Carolina, 1778 Preamble We, the people of the State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota , grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties ..

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI..III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience…

Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas , acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.

Utah 1896, Preamble Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.

Vermont 1777, Preamble Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ..

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other

Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution

West Virginia 1872, Preamble Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God …

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility…

Wyoming 1890, Preamble We, the people of the State of Wyoming , grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution…

*It seem that each and every state constitution is unconstitutional if there should truly be a wall of seperation between Church and State...

Safely Back from Santiago...

I am back in Rome, safe and sound...

It was a great pilgrimage, and I will post some pictures and reflections this week-end. Thank you all for the prayers and support.

Pictures from Santiago de Compostela

Camino Day 7: Padrón to Santiago de Compostela

Route: Padrón to Santiago de Compostela (20 k, 12 1/2 mi.)

Description:After 2k of main road the camino follows minor roads through hamlets and fields generally between the railway and the A9 (a major express way). At 9k cross the A9 and continue along minor roads through the 'new' town of Milladoiro. On the summit of the next hill the spires of the cathedral can be seen. Just after crossing the railway track and the River Sar, the outskirts of Santiago are reached and yellow arrows lead to the cathedral.

I do not want to write much of a reflection. I am writing these a head of time, and really do not know what I will be feeling and thinking as I approach Santiago de Compostela. Thank you all for your prayerful support.

I will send an update when I get back to Rome in a few days.

Saint James of Compostela...

...Pray for us!

Camino Day 6: Caldas de Reis to Padrón

Route: Caldas de Reis to Padrón, a small town of about 10,000 people famous for its papers, which are traditionally eaten fried in oil - yum (19 k, 11 3/4 miles).

Description: A rural and well wooded section until Pontesecures is reached. Cross the River Ulla and enter Padron

Tomorrow we begin the final stretch into Santiago de Compostela.

Saint James of Compostela...

...Pray for us.

Easter Vigil

Easter vigil at the tomb of Christ

There is only one Church in the world that claims: Christos non est hic - Christ is not here. It not only claims it but flaunts it in big gold letters. This church is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - the place of the resurrection. When the women approached the tomb on that first Easter morning almost 2,000 years ago the angel simply proclaimed - He is not here. Let us rejoice that the tomb was found empty, and hence our death and sin has been vanquished.

Camino Day 5: Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis

Stats: Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis (23 k, 14 miles)

Destionation: Caldas de Reis (no description was found of this town)

Description: Through the city of Pontevedra,crossing the 'old' Burgo bridge to continue through a long well wooded valley bordered by the railway. After 6k the camino enters an area of mixed farmland and small plots and follows a cross country route parallel with the N550 until the immediate outskirts of Caldas De Reis.

Why walk? Simple Jesus walked every where. Besides boats (and we can't expect him to walk on water [hey wait a minute we can], the only vehicle that Jesus used during his public ministry were his own two feet. There is only one exception - PALM SUNDAY - when he was entering Jerusalem as a king to mount his throne. He was the king of peace, since he rode in on a lowly mule, instead of the war horse; and his throne of glory was the cross.

While I desire to be like Christ, since a priest is an alter Christus (another Christ), I know that I am not ready to rid in on the donkey, so I will take the walking.

Saint James of Compostela...

...Pray for us.