Miss Bernice Carroll

14 October 1919 - 25 November 2010

Bernice Carroll will always stand out in my mind as a deeply devoted member of Saint Peter Parish. I can picture right where she sat everyday at daily Mass and led the rosary. I enjoyed listening to her lector simply because she radiated Christ. She is one of those people who made an impression on me as I grew up by her silent witness and as such, witnessed to the whole parish how the Faith can, should, and must be lived.

Eternal Rest, grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Name:
Miss Bernice Carroll

Date:
October 14th, 1919 - November 25th, 2010

Visitations:
5:00PM to 7:00PM on Monday, November 29th, 2010 at Daley Murphy Wisch Chapel (map/driving directions)

Services:
11:30AM at St. Peter Catholic Church on Tuesday, November 30th, 2010 (map/driving directions)

Obituary:
Miss Bernice Carroll, 91, of Footville, WI, and formerly of Beloit, WI, died Thursday, November 25, 2010 in St. Elizabeth Manor Assisted Living Facility. She was born October 14, 1919 in Avon, WI, the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Murphy) Carroll. Bernice was a 1935 graduate of Brother Dutton School and a 1938 graduate of Beloit High School. She received her nursing diploma in 1941 from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, Chicago, IL. Bernice also received her certificate of Public Health from Marquette University, Bachelor of Science Degree from Loretto Heights College of Nursing, Masters Degree in Public Health-Mental Health Nursing from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and a Masters Degree of Science in Education-Media Specialist from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL. Bernice was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Army serving with the Army Nurse Corps as a charge nurse. Bernice had many employments which include the staff nurse at Beloit Memorial Hospital, supervisor at Beloit Health Department, school nurse at St. Catherine’s Indian School, Sante Fe, New Mexico and New Mexico State Normal School, El Rito, New Mexico. She was an Assistant Professor at Loyal University School of Nursing, Chicago, IL and a Media Specialist Instructional Programmer at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Bernice was also the coordinator for the Learning Resource Center, College of Nursing, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL. She retired in June of 1980. Bernice’s hobbies were painting, photography, traveling and proud to be of Irish Descent. She was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church. Survivors include her brother, Thomas (Bernice) Carroll of Beloit, WI; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great great nieces and great great nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and brother, Joseph. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 30, 2010 in St. Peter Catholic Church, 620 Blackhawk Blvd, South Beloit, IL. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday in the Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, 2355 Cranston Road, Beloit, WI, with a Rosary at 4:45 p.m.

Memorials:
In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be given in her name to Hospice.

Cemetery:
Calvary Cemetery
Colley Road
Beloit, WI 53511

Source: www.daleymurphywisch.com

New Dialogue

I opened up the The Wall Street Journal on November 22nd to find a rather misinformed article on the Holy Father’s latest comments on condom use. The quotes of the Holy Father are cited from a “book-length interview over the summer with the German writer Peter Seewald that will be officially released this week.” Needless to say, they had quotes of those who think the Church is finally accepting condom use alongside the Vatican’s clarifications; a friend posted another story from Zenit on my Facebook wall in which Dr. Janet Smith, an expert on sexuality and bioethics not to mention a consultor to the Pontifical Council on the Family, clarified what exactly the Holy Father meant. Church teaching has not and will never change!

The Holy Father’s (not so) controversial quote said: "There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants.”

All he is essentially saying is that the use of a condom might be the first step away from free-for-all sexual activity; the user of the condom (and he cites a male prostitute), might have made one step toward fully understanding his sexuality. The Church is not condoning condom use. All the acts for which they are used are NEVER moral including contraception, preventing a pregnancy between heterosexual couples, and preventing disease among (unmarried) hetero and homosexual couples. It isn’t really the condom at the root of the problem. It’s the actions that make people think the condom is “necessary” in the first place. The ideal sexual situation, the only moral sexual act as taught by the Church, is between a married man and woman. There is no fear of disease or fear of an unwanted child. This scenario provides the greatest of sexual freedoms, giving oneself to the beloved freely, totally, and fully. Why is abstinence until marriage the best option? It is the only way to be entirely free, guiltless, innocent, and pure.

What the Holy Father is doing (and this will be overlooked by many) is reaching out to meet sinners, ALL OF US, where we are as Christ reaches out to us. He is not judging us but reaching out to meet us as the Vicar of Christ on Earth, pulling us up from the muck, and showing that conversions happen by the grace of God and in many situations, by a long process. Dr. Smith explains: “Christ himself, of course, called for a turning away from sin. That is what the Holy Father is advocating here; not a turn towards condoms.”

The Holy Father has done something new: he has gone a step beyond the typical doctrine. He has moved beyond the usual rhetoric and opened a new conversation. This requires, though, that we understand the Church will never change her teaching. The teaching merely acts and the foundation of the new dialogue. In the ever evolving interaction of the Church with the world, we may be entering a new chapter.

Photo from wsj.com.

Are you voting?

In this age of iPads; laptops; instant news; blogs; and all things digital, religion and politics polarize our opinions when we try to put our faith into action. As students we also lose touch with the world around us. These four years of university study are completely revolved around self and our own “moving up” in the world.

Believe it or not, one of our duties as citizens is just over two weeks away! November 2nd is Election Day. Campus Ministry would like to encourage you to take some time in the next couple of weeks to take a look at the world around you. Delve into issues of our day and see what political candidates best match a worldview seen through the eyes of Faith.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has put together a website full of voter information, thought provoking articles, and resources for all Catholics, leaders, and youth.
www.faithfulcitizenship.org

The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office website provides information and resources on how to register, and when and where to vote. In Minnesota, you can register to vote the day of the election by providing proof of residence.
www.sos.state.mn.us

Faith-informed voting is the responsibility of all Catholics and it has never been easier! See you at the polls!

This article, written by Kellen O'Grady, originally appeared in "The Good News", the Sunday bulletin of Campus Ministry at the University of Saint Thomas.

Archbishop Burke Clarifies Some Lay Roles

An article from the Catholic News Agency posted by EWTN, "Lay Eucharistic Ministers Not Entitles To Position, Archbishop Burke Clarifies" describes a number of clarifications Archbishop Raymond Burke made in the preface of a commentary on Pope Benedict’s moto proprio, “Summorum Pontificum”.

The article writes, “…the archbishop explained in the preface that due to the motu proprio’s papal origins, it is not just an act of liturgical legislation brought about as a ‘favor’ to a specific group for the celebration of the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, the Mass in Latin, but one that applies to the entire Church.” The article goes on to say, “[Archbishop Burke] wrote, among the ‘rights’ of the baptized, assistance by ‘persons of the feminine sex’ at the altar is not included. Additionally, serving as a lector or as an extraordinary distribution [sic] of communion is not a right of the laity, he noted.”

* * *

Archbishop Charles Chaput gave related comments about the active participation of the laity in the liturgy when he delivered the Hillenbrand Lecture at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. A portion of my own summary is reprinted below from my blog post of 1 July 2010, “Is modern man capable of the liturgical act?” A link to the full text of Archbishop Chaput’s lecture can be found at the end of that blog post.

“There is one final point which I was thrilled to hear clarified: the Second Vatican Council’s calls for “‘active participation’ of the laity in the liturgy”. This is one of the most misinterpreted phrases of the council. This is used as an excuse for “external activity, commotion and busy-ness” in the Mass when it actually “refers to the inner movement of our souls, our interior participation in Christ’s action of offering of his Body and Blood”. Sacred silence, pause for reflection, is crucial and is a very evident part of Papal Liturgies, even written in red in the Mass booklets. Active participation is not forcing the Congregation to sing against their will because some liturgist or musician has a narrow, selfish, and self-inflated view of their position in the parish. It is orienting our hearts to God in the Mystical and Sacramental Body of Christ.”

A Call to Compassion

The events of September 11, 2001 remain raw nearly nine years later. For Americans and people around the world, those acts of terrorism and hate changed the global atmosphere in uncharted ways. Emotions and suspicion continue to run high.

Perhaps these horrific events are not as raw as they ought to be. Perhaps they are even dull and soft. The immediate days, weeks, and months following September 11th found Americans patriotic, unified, and praying. We joined with our neighbours and shared tears, sorrow, and a newfound hope for peace and love. Our country realized what faith, hope, and charity truly mean. We stumbled underneath the overwhelming compassion from around the world. Global allies flew the American flag in solidarity. At the changing of the guard outside Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II ordered The Star Spangled Banner played. The world unified against a common enemy: those who would do us harm for living freely, justly, and righteously.

Pure evil motivated the acts of September 11th. Evil cannot be tolerated and must not be accepted or excused. In the past nine years a new evil has crept around the world. From local parishes, to national politics, to global consideration, division separates us from our crusade for good and separates us from each other. We look suspiciously at our neighbour. We condemn them for what we know nothing about. We care only for our own point of view and never see through the eyes of another, much less the eyes of God.

One of the strongest examples of this division is the proposed mosque which might be built two blocks from Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. We are presented with two options: accept the mosque as a first amendment right or reject the mosque as an attack on America and all the good for which she stands. I feel caught between a rock and a hard place. I believe in the rights of all Americans especially freedom of religion. (What would life be like if I weren’t permitted to attend Mass openly and receive Holy Communion regularly?) Yet, I cannot just ignore the serious allegations and suspicion against the organization pursuing the Lower Manhattan mosque, questions about funding, practical issues of proximity to the Muslim population in New York, and ties to radicalism.

Any forms of radical religion must be condemned. Radical Islam is in a jihad against everything good and virtuous about Western culture solely because it is not Islamic. Disliking something about a particular culture is one thing but violence and murder for the sake of your belief must end. If Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the leader of the proposed mosque, is tied with radical Islam, he cannot be allowed to spread his dangerous and violent work.

That being said: We cannot let this division continue! Division is the work of Lucifier. He has striven to tear apart all the good and virtue that rose from the terror on 9/11. We can, however, easily heal this division with one thing: compassion. Atticus Finch, the Southern lawyer in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird explained it well to his daughter, Scout, when he said “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

Let us remove ourselves from the Manhattan mosque controversy to a similar yet more distant situation. An interesting, yet anonymous and possibly amateur, article about The 1998 War of the Crosses explains argument and bitter fights over the placement of crosses and Jewish stars at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concencration Camp. All each side wanted to do was honour their own dead and rightfully so. For one reason or another, they argued that the other side should not have that chance and took offence when they did. If only they reached out with compassion, they would realize they were fighting for the same thing. It is worthy to note Carmelite nuns were forced to leave a building they had turned into their convent on the site of the Concentration Camp because it was deemed inappropriate due to the number of Jews who died there. Even the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI could not escape scrutiny. The article explains that even though he attempted to make the necessary concessions while visiting the site, avoiding his native German language and speaking in Italian; avoiding disputed sites of "The War of the Crosses”; and paying due homage to all victims regardless of faith, one statement was interpreted to have an incorrect motivation and accidentally insulted a number of Jewish people: “In a place like this, words fail; in the end there can only be a dread silence, a silence which itself is a heartfelt cry to God: Why, Lord, did you remain silent? How could you tolerate all this?” A statement meant for solidarity was twisted into a statement that deflected blame from the millions of Catholics and Germans who remained silent. A fallible man is expected to be as infallible as his office. When did we begin to demand the impossible of each other?

Back in Manhattan, New Yorkers and all Americans must keep an open mind until their reasonable concerns are confirmed or denied. Muslims must be aware of the pain and suffering the radicals who claim Islam cause. For the love of all you believe in, help each other understand! Have compassion!

"Vatican Sets New Rules for Abuse Cases"

"Church Weighs Additional Guidelines on Reporting Allegations; Victims' Groups Say New Standards Don't Go Far Enough."

Please see The Wall Street Journal Website link for the full text of the article.

Title and Subtitle quoted from the article.

Is modern man capable of the liturgical act?

During the week of Father’s Day, I had the pleasure of attending a Sacred Music Retreat put on by the Liturgical Institute at Mundelein Seminary. The week culminated in an Institute-wide celebration of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist with an evening Mass celebrated by the Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver, Colorado. Later that evening, he delivered the Hillenbrand Distinguished Lecture titled: “Glorifying God by your life: evangelization and the renewal of the liturgy”.

Chaput’s lecture touched the heart of many post-Vatican II problems. Msgr. Guido Marini, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, (Papal Liturgist!) speaks of “the reform of the reform”, necessary because many misinterpreted the Second Vatican Council; much of Pope Benedict XVI’s pontificate has been focused on reorienting the Universal Church to a greater orthodoxy. The left attacks the Holy Father. The right attacks the Holy Father. This is, perhaps, the surest sign he is orthodox and right where he needs to be.

Chaput quoted a much neglected statement by Father Romano Guardini, author of Spirit of the Liturgy. (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, wrote a modern work by the same name and quoted Father Guardini throughout.) Chaput quotes: “Is not the liturgical act, and with it all that goes under the name ‘liturgy,’ so bound up with the historical background – antique or medieval or baroque – that it would be more honest to give it up altogether? Would it not be better to admit that man in this industrial and scientific age, with its new sociological structure, is no longer capable of the liturgical act?”

Chaput agrees that “modern man seem[s] incapable of real worship” and so do I. Chaput goes on to give four points that should help fix the problem. For fear of reworking his lecture, I will be brief:

1. “We need to recover the intrinsic and inseparable connection between liturgy and evangelization.” All moves toward or comes from the Eucharist. The liturgy is truly the best we have for our edification and sanctification. The Novus Ordo has opened up the Mass in new ways. Chaput welcomes the wider use of the Tridentine form utilizing all of the Church’s rich tradition but (perhaps to the chagrin of traditionalists) “find[s] the Novus Ordo, properly celebrated, a much richer expression of worship”.

2. “The liturgy is a participation in the liturgy of heaven, in which we worship in Spirit and truth with the worldwide Church and the communion of saints.” The liturgy goes beyond our own feelings and needs and moves into God’s plan, a reality which is key to how we choose to live our lives and mission of the Church.

3. “We need to strive to recover and live with the same vibrant liturgical and evangelical spirituality as the early Christians.” The early Mass was not merely “a meal shared among friends” as some might have you believe. Chaput reduces these liberal claims to dust in one sentence: “Nobody risks torture and death for a meal with their friends”.

4. “The liturgy is a school of sacrificial love.” The Eucharist, at the heart of the liturgy, is the perfect example of this sacrificial love, Christ’s total self-giving on the Cross. The Eucharist is the model for living the Christian life in service to Christ.

There is one final point which I was thrilled to hear clarified: the Second Vatican Council’s calls for “‘active participation’ of the laity in the liturgy”. This is one of the most misinterpreted phrases of the council. This is used as an excuse for “external activity, commotion and busy-ness” in the Mass when it actually “refers to the inner movement of our souls, our interior participation in Christ’s action of offering of his Body and Blood”. Sacred silence, pause for reflection, is crucial and is a very evident part of Papal Liturgies, even written in red in the Mass booklets. Active participation is not forcing the Congregation to sing against their will because some liturgist or musician has a narrow, selfish, and self-inflated view of their position in the parish. It is orienting our hearts to God in the Mystical and Sacramental Body of Christ.

So what is to be done so that the liturgical act may be possible for modern man? Chaput places the burden on us. We must live our lives liturgically. We must evangelize and pray, stand for truth and find our source and summit in that truth, Eucharistically in the Mass. “Each of us must make our own unique contribution to God’s loving plan”, Chaput writes, “that all creation become adoration and sacrifice in praise of him.”

Chaput ended his talk with a new dismissal from the new Roman Missal translation. As he spoke it, I felt contentment and hope for the reform of the reform, the orthodox direction of the Church: “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.”

* * *

The entire text of Archbishop Chaput’s talk can be found at the Denver Archdiocesan website.

“Freethinkers argue that beliefs should be based on rationality….”

WGN Radio reports on their website a new phenomenon beginning in Chicago. (Click here). Secular organizations around the country are organizing the promotion of “freethinkers” who “argue that beliefs should be based on rationality, not on religious tradition or dogma.” The co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Annie Laurie Gaylor, comments in an article quote, “We have to reach them [atheists], provide an alternative to religion and let them know we're here. Many of us reject the idea of blind faith.” They accomplish this through ads with slogans like “Sleep in on Sundays” or “In the beginning, man created God” and other multimedia ads, programs, and organized movements.

The article and those in the movement anticipate strong religious right outcry. My outcry comes from different reasons than they foresaw. I am more sad than angry that they are promoting and rallying the atheist secular cause. What really makes me angry is their complete lack of engagement with the religious right. If they wanted to engage productively in the public sphere, I would have expected them to do their homework which includes delving into 2,000 years of Christian (specifically Catholic) scholarship. Reason has always been at the forefront of Catholicism enlightened by Faith. Until they are ready and willing to engage on an equal playing field, there is no debate and no possible way to engage with them in their emotional and moral relativistic arguments. Until they engage with religious reason instead of rejecting it outright because of faith they are as close minded and as bigoted as they claim their opponents to be. The Church is ready and willing to engage in dialogue. Join in the relentless pursuit of Truth. “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)

Pope Benedict XVI spoke on faith and reason in his General Wednesday Audience on 16 June 2010:

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 - SOUTH AFRICA

Perhaps I'm making up for the fact that I barely saw any of the Winter Olympics 2010 in Vancouver. Could be. I filled out a bracket online with less care than when I did the NCAA Tournament bracket and picked PORTUGAL. Let's see how this turns out.

Each Chapter Affects Another

Suddenly, I find myself stateside.

My four months in Rome have drawn to a close. They were the fastest four months of my life. I am continually praising God for each blessing and grace I received while abroad and I look forward to how God plans to use these graces.

Thank you for reading my writings over the course of the semester. I didn't have time to fit all I wanted to say, and I probably never will, but I intend to continue posting throughout the summer not only recollections from Rome but whatever tickles my fancy while the summer rolls along.

The end was very bittersweet. I knew it was time to come home but the whole experience was something very special...nothing like it will happen again, even at Bernardi. Thank you to the chaplaincy; my teachers, mentors, and professors; the students of Bernardi and the Angelicum and all my new and old friends; and anyone who worked and contributed to the semester from the States or Italy. In one of my graces of the semester, I saw how everything we learned fit together; from art to social justice, theology to everyday concerns, everything fits together through the Catholic Church. I couldn't study one subject without referencing another. This grace also extended to my own life as I piece together my goals for sacred music within the Church and how God is calling me to serve Him. As one chapter comes to a close the rollercoaster peaks at another apex ready to turn and fly careening down another mountain. Let's go, Lord. What do you have in store this time?

Veni Creator Spiritus

Rose pedals fell through the dome of the Pantheon about noon following Mass on Pentecost.

Praying on a Run

I went for a run today.

I piled a bunch of more upbeat songs onto my "On-The-Go 1" playlist and ran wherever my heart desired. I circled Piazza Cavour, ran past Castel Sant'Angelo, and then ran up the street leading right into Saint Peter's Square. I knelt facing Saint Peter's Basilica and prayed for the newly ordained Father Jeremy Trowbridge and permanent Deacon Steven Pulkrabek, among others who were, at that moment, at the Cathedral in Rockford, Illinois in the midst of their Ordination Mass. Continuing on, I ran up a road and hill off to the south side of the square. I found a great view of the city where a wedding party was taking pictures.

As I began to wend my way through Trestevere, Father Stan Fortuna's "Unborn Victims of Violence" came on my iPod. It comments on the political situation of abominations against life with particular reference to the United States. Shortly before the song ended, I stumbled upon what I think was a celebration of the 32nd anniversary of RU-486. My iPod and this rally could not have been a coincidence. I knelt and prayed for the whole situation.

As I left, the gathered group began some sort of march. I thought how thankful I was that there was such a small crowd. In fact, the showing was rather pathetic. Then I remembered a fact I read in the Wednesday 19 May 2010 English Edition of L'Osservatore Romano: over 200,000 faithful gathered for the Holy Father's Regina Caeli Address on Sunday 16 May 2010 to show support for and solidarity with Pope Benedict XVI in light of recent scandal in the Church.

Lucifer's grip on the world is tight but our Victory has already been won.

A very blessed Pentecost to you and your family!

CHRIST IS RISEN!! ALLELUIA!!

Very early in the morning after the Sabbath, when the sun had just risen, they came to the tomb, alleluia. ~Antiphon for the Canticle of Zechariah, Easter Sunday

Here are a couple pictures from the Easter Vigil at Saint Peter's Basilica.
Despite how the media or secular world may attack Our Church and the Holy Father, the recessional after the Easter Vigil shows how much The Church and Benedict XVI are loved!!

Exsultet

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

My dearest friends,
standing with me in this holy light,
join me in asking God for mercy,
that he may give his unworthy minister
grace to sing his Easter praises.

V: The Lord be with you.
R/: And also with you.
V: Lift up your hearts.
R/: We lift them up to the Lord.
V: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
R/: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is truly right
that with full hearts and minds and voices
we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father,
and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Christ has ransomed us with his blood,
and paid for us the price of Adam's sin
to our eternal Father!

This is our passover feast,
when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.

This is the night when first you saved our fathers:
you freed the people of Israel from their slavery
and led them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night when the pillar of fire
destroyed the darkness of sin!

This is the night when Christians everywhere,
washed clean of sin
and freed from all defilement,
are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night when Jesus Christ
broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave.

What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?

Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave
you gave away your Son.

O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam,
which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

Most blessed of all nights,
chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!

Of this night scripture says:
"The night will be as clear as day:
it will become my light, my joy."

The power of this holy night
dispels all evil, washes guilt away,
restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy;
it casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles
earthly pride.

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth
and man is reconciled with God!

Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night,
receive our evening sacrifice of praise,
your Church's solemn offering.

Accept this Easter candle,
a flame divided but undimmed,
a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets find this flame
still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from
the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,
your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

Holy Saturday

Portrait of Christ

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:

All bow during these two lines:

by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfillment of the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Good Friday

Link From The Passion of the Christ

Stabat mater dolorosa
juxta Crucem lacrimosa,
dum pendebat Filius.

Cuius animam gementem,
contristatam et dolentem
pertransivit gladius.

O quam tristis et afflicta
fuit illa benedicta,
mater Unigeniti!

Quae moerebat et dolebat,
pia Mater, dum videbat
nati poenas inclyti.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,
matrem Christi si videret
in tanto supplicio?

Quis non posset contristari
Christi Matrem contemplari
dolentem cum Filio?

Pro peccatis suae gentis
vidit Iesum in tormentis,
et flagellis subditum.

Vidit suum dulcem Natum
moriendo desolatum,
dum emisit spiritum.

Eia, Mater, fons amoris
me sentire vim doloris
fac, ut tecum lugeam.

Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
in amando Christum Deum
ut sibi complaceam.

Sancta Mater, istud agas,
crucifixi fige plagas
cordi meo valide.

Tui Nati vulnerati,
tam dignati pro me pati,
poenas mecum divide.

Fac me tecum pie flere,
crucifixo condolere,
donec ego vixero.

Juxta Crucem tecum stare,
et me tibi sociare
in planctu desidero.

Virgo virginum praeclara,
mihi iam non sis amara,
fac me tecum plangere.

Fac, ut portem Christi mortem,
passionis fac consortem,
et plagas recolere.

Fac me plagis vulnerari,
fac me Cruce inebriari,
et cruore Filii.

Flammis ne urar succensus,
per te, Virgo, sim defensus
in die iudicii.

Christe, cum sit hinc exire,
da per Matrem me venire
ad palmam victoriae.

Quando corpus morietur,
fac, ut animae donetur
paradisi gloria. Amen.

Holy Thursday

Pange, lingua, gloriósi
Córporis mystérium,
Sanguinisque pretiosi,
Quem in mundi pretium
Fructus ventris generosi
Rex effudit gentium.

Nobis datus, nobis natus
Ex intacta Virgine,
Et in mundo conversatus,
Sparso verbi semine,
Sui moras incolatus
Miro clausit ordine.

In supremæ nocte cenæ
recumbens cum fratribus,
observata lege plene
cibis in legalibus
Cibum turbæ duodenæ
se dat suis manibus.

Verbum caro, panem verum
verbo carnem efficit:
fitque sanguis Christi merum,
et si sensus deficit,
ad firmandum cor sincerum
sola fides sufficit.

Tantum ergo sacramentum
veneremur cernui,
et antiquum documentum
novo cedat ritui;
præstet fides supplementum
sensuum defectui.

Genitori Genitoque
laus et iubilatio,
salus, honor, virtus quoque
sit et benedictio;
Procedenti ab utroque
compar sit laudatio. Amen.

Santa Missa in Suffragio del Defunto Sommo Pontifice Giovanni Paolo II

This evening, Monday 29 March, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Holy Mass on the occasion of the Fifth Anniversary of the death of Servant of God the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II. (Those who are interested can find a PDF of the Mass Booklet here.)

The Mass was very simple for a Papal Liturgy. The Mass in its entirety was only about an hour and twenty minutes. In it's simplicity, however, one could feel a love for both John Paul II and Benedict XVI. An English translation of the homily can be found through ZENIT. Benedict held up John Paul II's life of service as an example to us all: a life of service; a life lived out of love; a life given completely "even to the point of death". The Holy Father concluded his homily with sentiments I would like to echo here: "While we continue the Eucharistic celebration, being on the point of living the glorious days of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord, let us entrust ourselves with confidence -- following the example of the Venerable John Paul II -- to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, so that she will sustain us in the commitment to be, in every circumstance, tireless apostles of her divine Son and of his merciful Love. Amen!"

The Missionaries of Charity were there again. This time two of them were among those presenting the Gifts at the Offertory to the Holy Father.

After Mass, Karlo Leonor and I were all excited stalking random Cardinals, looking for people we knew, noting the Processional Doors of the Basilica were open and that we'd never seen them open before, etc. We exited along the left, the side pilgrims typically enter, and suddenly someone noticed a different brick on the Square. We realized it was the marker where Pope John Paul II had been shot on 13 May 1981. A little nun was very excited to tell us about the stone. We nodded as though we thoroughly understood. The thought crossed my mind afterward that she might have known John Paul II. Regardless, that moment was a Providential time to find the brick; I had been searching the Square since we arrived at the beginning of February.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday dawned to a bright and crisp morning, the sky a brilliant blue. Crowds began to gather outside Saint Peter's Square and raced to fill the seats when the Square opened at 8:00am. The Holy Father entered at the start of the 9:30am Mass by "pope-mobile" to the obilisk in the center of the square. The blessing of the palms and olive branches took place there and the procession then came straight forward to the Altar set up in front of the Basilica.


Three deacons chanted The Passion of Our Lord. When it came time to kneel at the point in the Passion where Jesus died, the entire Square fell into a deafening silence. In a crowd of approximately 70,000 people, you could hear a pin drop. This same silence fell at the time of personal reflection following the Holy Father's homily and at the Consecration of the Body and Blood of Christ.

This evening, a group of us took another walk down to the Square. Alessandro Marchetti and I remained to stay until the Holy Father went to bed. The lights in his apartments remained lit and when the bells ran at 11:00pm, we decided to leave. After we returned our chairs back behind the barriers, the first light went out. We kept our eyes on the last window and a few moments

later, the final light went out at 11:02pm. An Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be for his intentions and we were on our way back to Bernardi to head to bed ourselves.

The Missionaries of Charity sat two rows behind us at Mass. Enough said.

I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! These words of Christ from the Gospel of Luke burn in my heart and should burn through all of us this Holy Week. The Church has and shall continue to undergo trials; She is currently suffering in a particular way from the sins of the world. May we cry out to the Lord for mercy and run like the Prodigal Son to His Healing Love. Those of us in the Church must stand firm in Her Teaching and be beacons of light to the whole world. Please pray for the Holy Father this week and for all his intentions as he continues to undertake his work as Successor of Peter. May the trials we have been allowed to endure purify us to greater closeness and union with Our Lord.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Hosanna in excelsis.

Learning to Live

The Chair of Saint Peter

In the midst of Lent, the Church still finds a few celebratory feast days and solemnities. Perhaps they could be considered oases in the penance of the season. For Saint Peter's Basilica, the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, 22 February, is one not to miss. Last year, when the feast fell on a Sunday, the Basilica was the only place in the world where the Feast overruled the Sunday.

In front of the foremost pillar of the left side of the nave, stands a bronze statue of Saint Peter sitting in his chair or the Cathedra, the physical representation of the teaching authority of the Church. Pilgrims for centuries have touched Saint Peter's foot in thankgiving for safe arrival at Saint Peter's, for the blessing of being able to pray at the Heart of the Church.

On the Feast of Saint Peter, the bronze statue is decorated with robes, candles, and a papal tiara. The candles are lit on the Papal Altar. The "Chair of Saint Peter" along the very back wall is covered with candles in celebration of this feast.

Lord, if this is how You treat Your friends....

"Lord, if this is how You treat Your friends, I'm glad I'm not Your enemy." ~St. Theresa of Avila

St. Theresa and I were of a similar mind this morning. My Lenten exercise this year is the ancient tradition of Station Churches. Since the Middle Ages, pilgrims have been attending Mass and venerating the relics of Roman martyrs at a different church in Rome each day during Lent. The Pontifical North American College (AKA the NAC) takes the responsibility of organizing the Masses each day; this tradition would not continue without them. The churches used to be listed with the Propers for Lent in the Roman Missal. It is a beautiful way to view Catholicism in Rome especially since some of the churches are only open on their assigned one day.

To add to the penitiental feeling, our 50 minute walk to the particular churches on Thursday and Friday were blessed with a cleasing rain. By the time we arrive at the church, my pants, shoes, and coat feel like I just took a swim in the Tiber. Today was particularly bad because my group got lost. In hunting for the church, I began to reflect on the gypsy travellers who can be seen begging all around Rome and how they are open to these elements all the time. I would be returning to warm clothes and breakfast. A fitting reflection, I thought, as we are beginning our Apostolic Outreach today, one of these options being the Missionaries of Charity.

The delay in attending Mass also increased my desire for receiving Jesus, reminding me of the beautiful Gift of Himself. I come to find St. Catherine of Siena and I were of one mind: "Father, I am hungry; for the love of God give this soul her food, her Lord in the Eucharist." "O unfathomable depth! O Deity eternal! O deep ocean! What more could You give me than to give me Yourself?"

Santa Sabina, Ash Wednesday

Santo Giorgio, Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Your random moment for the day: Look through the hole in this door. Stand in Italy, look into Malta, and see Vatican City (St. Peter's Basilica Dome) on the other side. 3 countries!

All Roads Lead to Rome

I have a particular devotion to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. This is no suprise to anyone who knows me. She has been a guiding force in my life for many years now and I am ever grateful for her intercession. She has this incredible knack of turning up at the oddest times or in places where I suddenly realize I know I am where I am supposed to be.

On our first day of class at the Angelicum, I walked into the courtyard and within 30 seconds saw a familiar face I hadn't seen in two and a half years. Brother Juan Pablo, a seminarian I knew from a "come-and-see" experience with the Missionaries of Charity Fathers in Tijuana, is doing his four years of theological studies at the Angelicum. I come to find out later, Mother Teresa selected the school for her seminarians and all attend fours years here! There are more MCs around the Angelicum whom I hope to meet (or see again?) in the coming weeks.

I also learned Venerable Pope John Paul II attended the Angelicum but never graduated because he could not afford to publish his discertation. The school quickly fixed that once he became Pontiff. His grades were not stellar which provides much consolation to us students!

I randomly ran across the convent for the Missionaries of Charity sisters in Rome. Enough said.

On Saturday 13 February 2010, the seminarians in our group had the opportunity to serve for the anticipatory Mass at Saint John Lateran, the cathedral-church for the Holy Father. Father Corola, our chaplain, asked me to organize music for the Mass. A group of us gathered together in a scola singing the Missa de Angelis and some Latin hymns. It was a beautiful chance to praise God through music and what an opportunity to hear our voices ring out in the Lateran Basilica! I even had a chance to play a "mini-organ" for the processional and recessional hymns. (I ran into Brother Juan Pablo in the Basilica about an hour before Mass. Another sign from Mother?!?)

One final note of news: Rome had snow on Friday for the first time in about 25 years. This led to impromptu snowangels and a snowball fight in the Angelicum courtyard.

Hang with the Pope on any given Wednesday....

On Wednesday 10 February 2010, we attended the General Wednesday Audience in Pope Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father delivered the regular address in Italian. A clergyman for each language greeted the Holy Father and listed off the various groups registered in attendance to great cheering! The Holy Father greeted and acknowledged each including: "The Students and Faculty of the University of Saint Thomas...etc."

THE HOLY FATHER'S ADDRESS AND ENGLISH GREETING

The newly ordained Bishop Paul Sirba of Duluth, Minnesota was in attendance. Prior to his appointment he was on faculty at Saint Paul Seminary and was very excited to see us. The feeling was mutual.

Darin Schmidt got a little hungry during our two and a half hour wait for the audience to start. I wasn't aware the Vatican sold concessions....

After a quick lunch at a cafeteria-style restaurant next to Saint Peter's Square, we were off to meet our art history professor for an adventure on the metro to study the frescos in the catacombs.

S.P.Q.R.

God has poured infinite blessings upon me! My mind staggers at the thought that I am actually living in Rome! I am fully moved in at Bernardi Campus. The building was built in the early 20th century as a private residence. For about 50 years, an order of nuns used it as their convent. The University of St. Thomas purchased it in 1999 and ever since, semester after semester of students have come to experience life in the Eternal City.





Our first days are filled with orientation and becoming acquainted with our new way of life. One of the full-year students took us to Piazza del Popolo yesterday to a great first view of the city. We will walk through this square every time we walk to class at the Angelicum.







During the first Mass as a group in the Chapel at Bernardi, Father Carola, chaplain for the residence, reminded us that the Eucharist is the centre of life at Bernardi; It is the life-blood and reason for all we do. The whole group is united by one goal: We are here to love and serve the Lord, doing whatever He asks us to do.

On Wednesday, we have the privilege to attend a General Wednesday Audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The closeness of the Holy Father these next four months will be filled with such graces. All one has to do is climb to the terrace atop Bernardi to realize the power of the Roman Catholic Church and the Shepherd’s promise to be with us always until the end of the age.

Sister David Ennis, CSA

30 October 1926 - 12 January 2010

Sister David Ennis was principal at my elementary school beginning in 1991. I began pre-school in the fall of 1993. She ended her time there at the end of my sixth grade year in the spring of 2001. She has left a permanent impression on my life, the growth of my faith, and my devotion.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Sister David (Norma) Ennis, 83, died on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, at Nazareth Center where she resided.

In Beloit, Wis., the day before Halloween, Oct. 30, 1926, James "Arthur" and Vera Ennis, along with their son, Patrick, welcomed a daughter into the world and named her Norma.

Her childhood years were spent in Beloit where she attended Brother Dutton School, and first met the Sisters of St. Agnes, her teachers. After her graduation from Brother Dutton in 1941, the Ennis family moved to Detroit, Mich. But Norma had been impressed by her teachers and returned to her Wisconsin roots by entering the Congregation in Fond du Lac in 1944.

Later, her brother Pat's family would join her, working with the Sisters on the farm east of town.

On Aug. 15, 1947, Norma made her first profession of vows as Sister David, the name she had received as a novice.

Assigned as a teacher in the tiny town of Nanty Glo, Pa., she began what would be more than a half-century as an educator and principal in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, and New York. Over the years, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Marian College (now Marian University) of Fond du Lac; a Bachelor of Science degree in library science from St. Catherine's College in St. Paul, Minn.; and a Master of Education degree in administration and supervision from Siena Heights in Adrian, Mich. Sister David successfully taught every grade from three through eight, but said she was "most comfortable" with seventh and eighth-graders.

Nearly 25 years of teaching were followed by more than 25 years as principal, the majority of those years in Fond du Lac where she served as principal in all the Catholic elementary schools except St. Louis. In 1991, 40 years after her graduation from Brother Dutton, Sister David returned to Beloit as principal of St. Peter's School. When she needed to lighten her load, she remained in education by serving as librarian at St. John the Baptist School in Jefferson, Wis.

Firm and competent as a teacher and efficient as an administrator, she leaves a lasting legacy on many of those students and colleagues who knew her over the last half of the 20th Century. Whatever her accomplishments, Sister David credited the Congregation with her success because of the many opportunities provided for spiritual and intellectual growth.

Although her ministry was education, Sister David was first, last, and always a woman religious.

Her loyalty as a member of the Congregation is equaled by the loyal and close friends she has made. For her family to whom she has remained close, she is an inspiration and a mentor to many. Her younger sister, who followed her into religious life though in a different community, found in her a model from whom she learned integrity, honesty, faithfulness, and fairness over the years. Sister David was a woman of principle and integrity; strong in the face of challenges, she faced her final illnesses in the past five years with courage, determination and dignity — and always with gratitude for any act of kindness shown her. A woman who often laughed at herself and joked with her friends about wanting to be always in control of herself and of situations, Sister David finally and peacefully gave over that control to the God who called her home last Tuesday.

Sister David is survived by a sister, Sister Mary Ann Ennis, OP, of Jefferson, Wis.; a sister-in-law, Eva Ennis of Fond du Lac; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; and the Sisters of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed, and ministered.

Preceding her in death were her parents, James "Arthur" and Vera Noonan Ennis; two brothers: James (Jr.) Ennis, who died as an infant, and James "Pat" Ennis; and one sister: Rosemary Ennis, who also died as an infant.


•Visitation: Visitation for Sister David will be held on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett St. Fond du Lac. A prayer service will be held there at 11 a.m.


•Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Jan. 15 at 1:30 p.m. in the St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett St., Fond du Lac. Father Tom Coyle will preside. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery.

Memorials can be directed to the Sisters of St. Agnes Development Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center and of Hospice Hope for their care of Sister David in her retirement years.

Zacherl Funeral Home of Fond du Lac is serving the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes. Additional information is available at www.zacherlfuneralhome.com.


FIRC: Office for the Dead, 15 January 2010

Haitian Earthquake

On the 12 January 2010 about 5pm local time, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck 10 miles from the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. The nation, 80% of whose citizens live below the poverty line, has suffered horrible damage and destruction as well as an ever rising death toll.

At his Wednesday audience on 13 January, the Holy Father gave a plea for emergency help and the generosity of people all around the globe. He has pledged the assistance of the Vatican. Archbishop Serge Miot lost his life in the earthquake. He was found in the rubble of his office early on the morning of the 13 January.

Besides financial generosity, please offer fasts, sacrifices, and prayers for those who have died and those who are beginning to recover.

FIRC: Office for the Dead, 14 January 2010

The Reform of the Reform and other stories

NEWSREEL

The Reform of the Reform begins at the Vatican
Msgr. Guido Marini, chief liturgist to the Holy Father, endorses the "reform of the reform" of the liturgy according to an article by Catholic News Service. In trying to unify the plethora of liturgical opinions and consequently controversies that have plagued a Church working to correctly interpret the Second Vatican Council, the Holy Father stresses continuity between the past and the present. He also calls for adoration as the central focus in music, vessels, etc. The Holy Father has made it the norm in papal liturgies for those receiving from the Holy Father to receive kneeling on the tongue, promoting this sense of adoration.
Source: Catholic News Service article by Father Matthew Gamber

JPII Gunman to be Released
Mahmet Ali Agca, the gunman who attempted to kill Pope John Paul II in 1981, will be released from prison 18 January after serving time in Turkey for a murder two years previous to the Holy Father's near-assassination. He is reported to be seeking a movie and two book deals upon his release.
Source: Fox News

40 entries complete
When I began to blog again, I promised myself 40 entries. The article of 8 January 2010 marked the 40th entry. The objectives I stated at the beginning have been modified and changed but one thing remains consistent. All is for the glorification of God! It is perhaps needless to say, but I will continue to write. I look forward to writing about all I learn and discover as I pursue Jesus Christ in Rome, so near to the Heart of the Catholic Church. Thank you for reading. I will be praying for you. We are United in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!

Youth Group Promotes Error

Bishop Thomas G. Doran of the Diocese of Rockford along with Monsignor David D. Kagan, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, released a statement regarding the error promoted by a youth group, "Young Catholics for Choice". The statement was published in the Friday 8 January 2010 issue of The Observer, the Catholic newspaper for the Diocese of Rockford.

December 21, 2009

My Dear Friends in Christ,

It has been reported to me that an organization calling itself "Young Catholics for Choice" has recently entered into collaboration with some of the family planning services in the State of Wisconsin. Through items placed in the secular media in advertising and in other ways, "Young Catholics for Choice" is attempting to convey the message that Catholics can disregard church teaching regarding conception, abortion and human sexuality in general and remain Catholics in good standing.

This is the egregious error of many Catholics in political life who are unfaithful to the Church and who purport to remain Catholics while deserting the moral teaching of Christ and the Church. Sadly, examples of this kind of conduct are not far to seek even for us in the Midwest.

This message of "Young Catholics for Choice" and of unfaithful Catholic politicians could not be further from the truth. People can call themselves by whatever name they wish, but it is the duty of the Bishops of the Church to state clearly, unequivocally and unambiguously that by professing and disseminating views in grave contradiction to Catholic teaching, members of organizations like "Young Catholics for Choice" in fact disown their Catholic heritage, tragically placing themselves outside that communion with the Church to which they are called. We pray that they may repent of their errors and renounce opinions which are contrary to the Catholic faith which they claim to profess.

The Most Reverend Thomas G. Doran, D.D., J.C.D.
Bishop of Rockford

The Reverend Monsignor David D. Kagan, J.C.L.
Vicar General/Moderator of the Curia

"...the buck stops with me."

NEWSREEL
This new "Newsreel" feature is a summary of news that has recently caught my attention. The title of the feature refers to the segments that appeared before films in movie theatres in the first half of the twentieth century, a major source of news for the people of the era. My opinions, where applicable, have been written in plain text and italicised.

The President comments on attacks
President Barack Obama gave a press conference to address the results of inquiry and investigation regarding the recent terrorist attacks and attempts on our nation, especially the Christmas Day attempt on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. He commented that a plan is in motion to improve communication between intelligence agencies and avoid further mistakes. Among these comments he said, "We are at war with Al Qaeda."

Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary, led a press conference with Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security, among others. Helen Thomas, a member of the White House Press Corps, asked among other things, why Al Qaeda wishes to attack us. The government officials tap danced around the issue.
Source: Fox News

Benedict XVI encourages youth in vocations
At the Thanksgiving Vespers December 31st at St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged vocations among the youth, that they should not be afraid of living out God's will for their lives. The 25th anniversary of World Youth Day will be celebrated 25 March 2010.
Source: EWTN

New Jersey defeats gay marriage bill
The New Jersey Senate defeated the gay marriage bill on 7 January. Supporters of the bill worked to push the bill through before Republican Governor-elect Chris Christie takes office 19 January. Outgoing Governor Jeff Corzine vowed to sign the bill while Governor-elect Chris Christie will veto the bill if it reaches his desk.
Source: Fox News

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord this Sunday
This Sunday the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The conclusion of Vespers that day marks the end of Christmastide. Pope Benedict XVI, continuing in tradition, will celebrate Mass and the Sacrament of Baptism in the Sistine Chapel this Sunday. EWTN will broadcast the Mass at 3am CT with an encore at 11am CT.

The Proclamation of the Date of Easter on Epiphany

Dear brothers and sisters, the glory of the Lord has shone upon us,
and shall ever be manifest among us, until the day of his return.
Through the rhythms of times and seasons
let us celebrate the mysteries of salvation.

Let us recall the year's culmination, the Easter Triduum of the Lord:
his last supper, his crucifixion, his burial, and his rising, celebrated
between the evening of the 1st of April
and the evening of the 4th of April.

Each Easter - as on each Sunday -
the Holy Church makes present the great and saving deed
by which Christ has for ever conquered sin and death.

From Easter are reckoned all the days we keep holy.
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, will occur on the 17th of February.
The Ascension of the Lord will be commemorated on the 13th of May.
Pentecost, the joyful conclusion of the season of Easter, will be celebrated on the 23rd of May.
And this year the First Sunday of Advent will be celebrated on the 28th of November.

Likewise the pilgrim Church proclaims the passover of Christ
in the feast of the holy Mother of God, in the feasts of the Apostles and Saints,
and in commemoration of the faithful departed.

To Jesus Christ, who was, who is, and who is to come, Lord of time and history,
be endless praise, for ever and ever.
Amen.

January Intentions of Pope Benedict XVI

The intentions of the Holy Father for January 2010:

Young People and Media. That young people may learn to use social communication media for their personal growth and in preparation to serve society. (General)

Christian Unity. That every believer in Christ may understand that unity among all Christians is necessary for effective proclamation of the Gospel. (Mission)

www.apostleshipofprayer.org

Catholics Come Home

Our world is crying out for Truth. Our world is looking for something concrete. The only way to stop the hurt is to sanctify our world and sanctify our lives.

Whether you used to be Catholic, are Christian, non-Christian, or even a devout practicing Catholic, visit "Catholics Come Home" and explore just what Catholicism is all about.

Welcome home.

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Dioceses around the United States are participating in the Catholics Come Home campaign. In this new year, I hope to help reach out to those who want to learn more about Catholicism, misunderstand the Church, or are searching for answers in their life.