Sunday, December 02, 2007

The Joy of Advent and Christmas

Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

-
O Holy Night

One of my favorite times of the liturgical year is the Christmas season and the preparatory season of Advent that leads up to it. While the Paschal Mystery we celebrate during Holy Week and especially on Easter Sunday is really the central mystery of the Christian religion, I find that Christmas reveals another aspect of the Gospel message in a very beautiful and touching way. Christmas is fundamentally a feast of Christian hope, making Advent a season of hope. Perhaps that is why the Holy Father Pope Benedict released his encyclical Spe Salvi, Saved by Hope, one day before the start of Advent this year.

The effects of original sin are apparent everywhere we look, and especially every time we turn on CNN or open a newspaper. Before the birth of Christ we were slaves, dying in our sins with no hope of redemption. At times it appears that this is still the case, and we are tempted to proclaim with Qoheleth, "all things are vanity and a chasing after the wind." But Advent announces that a child is coming who will "hear the groans of the prisoners and free those condemned to die" (Ps 102). At Christmas, God reaches across the infinite chasm that separates man from himself and breaks into human history in a radical way: by becoming man, so that he might reconcile us to himself.

When life seems to be nothing more than a valley of tears, Advent reminds us that we have hope, because God has not forgotten us. When Christmas comes, we can peer into the manager and see the face of Emmanuel, God with us, the Prince of Peace, and have hope, for our salvation is near.


Thursday, September 27, 2007

SURVIVOR: JOSEPHINUM

Well, this is my 39th full day at the Josephinum and I have not been voted off the island. The longest I have ever been away from the Nashville area before now was the three weeks I spent alone in Mexico one summer. I am now about 2.5 weeks past that. If this really were survivor, I'd be trying to convince the jury why I should be the $1 million winner tonight. Tonight would be the last night. But this is far from my last day here. I have hundreds in front of me.

But it's not really Survivor, and that is an important thing for guys to keep in mind. The formation faculty is not waiting to pounce on the opportunity to kick a seminarian out. They are not waiting for you to slip up. They don't want to see you fail. They see it as their job to help you overcome and remove obstacles to ordination. And the goal at the end of this journey is far greater than Survivor's: not money, but the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

It's only been 40 days since I left home, but it seems so long since I've seen home or family. It seems like quite some time since I've seen my friends. I would not say that I am homesick, but I am starting to miss people. But there are always reminders of home. There is a Monsignor from home here. The bishop is here today and will be taking us out for dinner tonight. My mom and aunt are coming to see me this weekend, and it's only two weeks until my short fall break, during which I will be flying home.

So, yes, this will be a long and difficult journey. It will be a profoundly spiritual one in which I will encounter both joys and hardships. I will have to give up much, but I will gain more. Even if I don't make it through, I haven't lost. I will discern God's will here and will be secure in the knowledge that He will not lead me astray as long as I am trying to do His will. I have joked with my friends that these years are my exile, but the truth is that they are my time to go out into the desert and grow. It's very comforting to know that I am not alone in the desert and that I don't have to (and shouldn't) rely only on myself here. I have an "alliance" with all my brothers here, my spiritual director, and the formation faculty to help get me through. Not to mention the prayers from folks back at home, including the St. Cecilia Dominicans! But if I make it to ordination, I will have to remember that it is not I who chose this, but God who chose me. That will be the determining factor. If this is God's plan I think it will happen. If not, I think I will be back home sooner than 2013.

There are definitely parallels to Survivor, but in this adventure you don't have to lie, cheat, steal, plot and backstab to win. In fact, your chances of success are far higher if you don't.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today is the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. It is also the day that the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum goes into effect. To celebrate I will be attending Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary form tonight. Let us honor the victory of the Cross and thank God for His many blessings.

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Saturday, September 08, 2007

Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Your birth, O Virgin Mother of God, proclaims joy to the whole world, for from you arose the glorious Sun of Justice, Christ our God; he freed us from the age-old curse and filled us with holiness; he destroyed death and gave us eternal life.
--From Morning Prayer of the Breviary.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Starting Class tomorrow

Well, I have now been at the Josephinum for one week and have finished orientation. It's a great place and I think I will like it. Classes start tomorrow. Continue to pray for me as I discern my vocation in the seminary.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Motu Mania

As expected the Holy Father released the much anticipated Motu Proprio derestricting the Tridentine Mass. You can read the full text, in English, over at Rorate Caeli.

Traditionalists everywhere have been rejoicing since Saturday

DEO GRATIAS!

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Motu Proprio Publication Imminent

Rorate Caeli has picked up on an OFFICIAL communication from the Vatican's press office. NewCatholic at Rorate provides an English translation of the Italian:


A meeting took place yesterday afternoon at the Vatican, presided by the Cardinal Secretary of State, in which the content and the spirit of the expected "Motu proprio" of the Holy Father on the use of the Missal promulgated by John XXIII in 1962 were explained to the representatives of several episcopal conferences. The Holy Father came to greet those who were present and maintained a profound discussion with them for about one hour. The publication of the document - which will be accompanied by a thorough personal letter of the Holy Father to the singular Bishops - is predicted for within a few days, when the document itself will be sent to all Bishops with the indication of its successive coming into effect.

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