25 Years old and still enjoying the last day of school...

Today was the last day of school for the first semester. It is quite a joy. I celebrated by attending an expostion called Il Potere e la grazia, i patroni d'Europa (The power and the glory: the patron saints of Europe -- more on this in a later post - I promise).

This also means that the exam period begins. There are advantages, such as a looser house schedule, and a more free to use my own discretion in the use of time. But there are also disadvantages, such as well -- having exams. I have a pretty solid schedule with one exam a day each day next week.

Thank you for the prayers.

Answering to a higher call.

Imagine being the only minor league play of the year to get the much sought after 30-30 record? Imagine having the realistic prospect of fulfilling your childhood dream and actually playing for the pro's? It is even the team that you loved when you were a kid that is interested in you. Just waiting for the call?

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you Mr. Grant Desme. He is just the man I have been describing. What a story: Grant did receive the call to show up for spring training with the Oakland A's, but instead he answered a different (and higher) call. He will be joining the Norbertines of St. Michael Abbey in California to become a Catholic priest. Talk about dedication. Read the story for youself: A's MVP Desme Retires for Priesthood

Christian Triumph in Iraq

The blood of martyrs is the seeds of the Church.

There is a new Chaldean-Catholic Bishop for the faithful in Iraq!

On Jan. 17, 2010 Emil Shimoun Nona was consecrated as the Chaldean-Catholic bishop of Mosul. He succeeds Servant of God Paulos Faraj Raho, who was martyred by Islamic extremists in 2008.

Our prayers should go out to the Chaldean-Catholics of Iraq, who so bravely remain faithful in a country so hostile to the faith.

Papal Audience

(photo courtesy of L'Osservatore Romano)

This past Saturday as part of the celebrations for the 150th Anniversary of the Pontifical North American College, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, granted the entire college a private audience. This amounts to about 500 men and women in total.

Much to all of our surprises the seating was general, it was not divided among alumni, seminarians, benefactors, etc., but rather first-come-first-serve seating. Adding to this was that Papa Ratzinger moved down along the sides of the center aisle and greeted every person within his arm reach along the aisle.

Here is the text of the talk that His Holiness delivered to us:

Your Eminences,
Dear Brother Bishops and Priests,

I am pleased to welcome the alumni of the Pontifical North American College, together with the Rector, faculty and students of the seminary on the Janiculum hill, and the student priests of the Casa Santa Maria dell'Umilita'. Our meeting comes at the conclusion of the celebrations marking the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the College's establishment by my predecessor, Blessed Pius IX. On this happy occasion I willingly join you in thanking the Lord for the many ways in which the College has remained faithful to its founding vision by training generations of worthy preachers of the Gospel and ministers of the sacraments, devoted to the Successor of Peter and committed to the building up of the Church in the United States of America.

It is appropiate, in this Year for Priests, that you have returned to the College and this Eternal City in order to give thanks for the academic and spiritual formation which has nourished your priestly ministry over the years. The present reunion is an opportunity not only to remember with gratitude the time of your studies, but also to reaffirm your filial affection for the Church of Rome, to recall the apostolic labors of the countless alumni who have gone before you, and to recommit yourselves to the high ideals of holiness, fidelity and pastoral zeal which you embraced on the day of your ordination. It is likewise an occasion to renew you love for the College and your appreciation of its distinctive mission to the Church in your country.

During my Pastoral Visit to the United States, I expressed my conviction that the Church in America is called to cultivate "an intellectual 'culture' which is genuinely Catholic, confident in the profound harmony of faith and reason, and prepared to bring the richness of faith's vision to bear on the pressing issues which affect the future of American society" (Homily at Nationals Stadium, Washington, 17 April 2008). As Blessed Pius IX rightly foresaw, the Pontifical North American College in Rome is uniquely prepared to help meet this perennial challenge. In the century and a half since its foundation, the College has offered its students an exceptional experience of the universality of the Church, the breadth of her intellectual and spiritual tradition, and the urgency of her mandate to bring Christ's saving truth to men and women of every time and place. I am confident that, by emphasizing
these hallmarks of a Roman education in every aspect of its program of formation, the College will continue to produce wise and generous pastors capable of transmitting the Catholic faith in its integrity, bringing Christ's infinite mercy to the weark and the lost, enabling America's Catholics to be a leaven of the Gospel in the social, political and cultural life of their nation.

Dear brothers, I pray that in these days you will be renewed in the gifts of the Holy Spirit which you received on the day of your ordination. In the College chapel, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady is portrayed in the company of four outstanding models and patrons of priestly life and ministry: Saint Gregory the Great, Saint Pius X, Saint John Mary Vianney and Saint Vincent de Paul. During this Year for Priests, may these great saints continue to watch over the students who daily pray in their midst; may they guide and sustain your own ministry, and interceded for the priests of the United States. With cordial good wishes for the spiritual fruitfulness of the coming days, and with great affection in the Lord, I impart to you my Apostolic Blessing, which I willingly extend to all the alumni and friends of the Pontifical North American College.

(c) Copyright 2010 - Liberia Editrice Vaticana

Back from the Holy Land

It was a great trip, and I can not even expect to be able to re-cap it in only the short time that I have right now. I hope that all of you had a happy and holy Christmas season. More pictures from the trip will be forth coming.

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