Feast of Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels...

My father was good enough to remind me that today is not just the feast of St. Michael, but of all the Archangels. Duly noted. When I was a young boy I thought the name "Michael" meant "Who is like God!" with an exclamation point. It wasn't until later that I discovered it's actually accompanied with a question mark. It's a rhetorical question appropriately posed to Lucifer who revolted against God, to Adam and Eve who ate of the fruit so as to become like gods, and to each one of us who from time to time choose our will over the will of God.

St. Gabriel, "Strength of God" was the one to announce to Zechariah and Elizabeth of the upcoming birth of John the Baptist, and to Mary the words, "you will bear a son and name him Jesus". So appropriate that he is the one to speak powerful words, potent and fertile, all of which were precursors to the Word of God, Jesus Christ.

St. Raphael, "Healing of God" ministered to Tobias and we read in Matthew 4 and Mark 1 that after Jesus successfully withstood the temptations of the Evil One, he was ministered to by angels.

So, much to be grateful for, continued strength, protection and solace from these celestial beings.

Vocation Pilgrimage...

Consider me signed up.

Rome Vocation Pilgrimage Spring Break 2009

On this feast of St. Vincent de Paul and in this year of St. Paul, let us all renew today our dedication to pray for vocations to religious life and the priesthood. May the Lord move the hearts of young people to say yes to Christ's prompting to be consecrated to him in service to His Church.

Friday Afternoon With Caravaggio...

After doing just fine on my Italian test this morning I took a walk in the late afternoon North past Piazza Navona to see a parrucchiere, or barber. A certain Antonio did a fine job with the haircut, considering what he had to work with. I then stopped at the Abbey Theater Pub, an Irish pub that was showing a Detroit Tigers/Tampa Bay Rays game. I had a pint of Kilkenney Strong. Sorry, no photos. I'll leave that to other blogging priests...

I then made my way back toward Piazza Navona on what has to be one of the best weather days thus far. Chrystal blue skies, light breeze and warm sun seemed to show the best color of every building. I stopped at the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, the French church in Rome. There is housed three paintings by the artist Caravaggio.

I am slowly reading here and there the book M: The Man Who Became Caravaggio and have decided to try to systematically visit as many of his works here in Rome as possible. So today, I saw three.

The side chapel of St. Matthew shows a three-part series of the saint's life. To the right is the painting, Martyrdom of St. Matthew (Not Pictured). In the center is St. Matthew and the Angel. Then, to the left is the more famous Calling of St. Matthew. This latter painting really is a tremendous sight.

We read in the Gospel of Mark 2:14, "As Jesus passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alpheus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and followed him."


Christ, using the same gesture as Adam in the Michelangelo's fresco of creation, extends God's creation of man into vocation to follow his calling. The same extended hand crosses over the void which separates the two groups of people, the separation between man and God, human and divine, sin and mercy. This crossover thus becomes the opening of an alliance between God and men realized by the gift of mercy.

We notice as well the cruciform in the window, a prediciton of Christ's death. Also, it is St. Peter who stands next to Christ, his back to us. And so it is St. Peter, representative of the Church established on earth, to whom we relate, to whom we pass in order to find and follow Christ.

Uses of Our Energies...

A big "thank you" to the author Dan Brown for his gift to the world. A Roman Catholic priest is in emergency care and a number of others wounded after being stabbed by a man who suffers from a mental disorder and was most recently inspired by the inflammatory movie The DaVinci Code. Full story here.

Way to make the world a better place, Danny!!

Dan would do well to read about and follow the example of a Domer and his business partners who are trying to actually improve the lives of those who have so very little. Full story here. and a ND video here.

Please pray for Father Canistri and his parish, near Sant'Anselmo on the Aventine Hill.

A Lesson in Piety

Thanks to a housemate, Fr. Jim, I am now aware of a mistake I made in an earlier post over a photo I erroneously captioned as Blsd. Pius IX. And so, today we can have a "Lesson of Pio".

First, today it the feast of St. Pio di Pietrelcina, or Padre Pio as he is more commonly referred.

While it was indeed Blsd. Pius IX who established Casa Santa Maria as a house for U.S. seminarians, the painting that hangs in the Pio Nono Room (where our Italian class is held each morning) actually depicts St. Pius X. For my simple mind it was confusing to have a painting of the tenth Pius in the ninth Pius's room.

However, a much larger painting of Blsd. Pius IX hangs at the end of the refectory.

All of these details are important as I prepare to be a good host and tour guide for all the many, many visitors who just might pass through this way some day.

Prayer for the canonization of Blessed Basile Moreau

Lord Jesus, Source of all that is good, you inspired Blessed Basile Moreau to found the religious family of Holy Cross to continue your mission among the People of God. May he be for us a model of the apostolic life, an example of fidelity and an inspiration as we strive to follow you.

May the Church proclaim his saintliness for the good of all people. Lord Jesus, you said, "Ask and you shall receive." I dare to come to you to ask that you hear my prayer. It is through the intercession of Blessed Basile Moreau that I ask...

May I learn to imitate his holiness and service and look to him confidently in times of need. Amen.

Guardian Angels for Italian Exams?

Had our weekly Italian test this morning. Not knowing that plural direct objects ( li and le) do not combine with "ho" as do "lo" and "la" (l'ho mangiato and l'ho mangiata) caused a lot of red ink to spill. But, now I know and as the old GI Joe cartoons use to say "Knowing is half the battle".

I was told somewhere along the way (high school or college) that we should name our Guardian Angels. Then, later along the way someone told me that that is damn presumptuous, "Doesn't the angel already have a name?" Nevertheless, I named mine Alexander. Saw a short but interesting piece today at Time.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1842179,00.html?cnn=yes

After pronzo I and another priest walked to the local supermarket to buy laundry soap for black clothing so that our clerics won't be grey or green in only a few weeks. The laundry soap offered here is just fine but harsh on black articles of clothing. Other than that, my Friday will be filled with language studies and some reading. Buona fine settimana!

A New Girl Arrives in Traverse City...

Congratulations to my friends Pat and Beth McIntyre who welcomed their third child, Anne Elizabeth McIntyre into the world yesterday. Their two sons will be great big brothers for their new sister. I'm sure Pat has already looked to see what camouflage clothes Cabela's offers for little girls. Blessings!

Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton, CSC

Prayer for Favors
Dear Jesus, Father Peyton devoted his priestly life to strengthening the families of the world by calling them to pray together every day, especially the Rosary. His message is as important for us now as it was during his life on earth. We beg you, therefore, to hasten the day of his beatification so that your faithful people everywhere will remember his message that the family that prays together stays together, will imitate him in his devotion to your Mother and ours, and will be inspired by his holy life to draw ever closer to you with childlike confidence and love. Amen.

Out and About II

It was the regular Wednesday Hamburger Night here at the Casa, food that gives me strength to blog. The burgers and fries were quite good, but I have yet to dare try the "baked beans" Italian style.

This past Saturday around 7AM I grabbed the bus with four fellow priest residents to the Vatican. Making our way past the Swiss Guard to St. Peter's sacristy, we donned our albs, cinctures, and stoles. We prayed the Mass at the Tomb of Pope St. Gregory the Great, which is next to the chapel that houses the tomb of St. John Chrysostom, whose feast day it was. After the Mass, we went downstairs to the Grotto and prayed at the tomb of St. Peter, and then at the tomb of John Paul II. There were only a few other people present and it was a quiet time for prayer. A tradition is to pray the Creed at the tomb of St. Peter.

Afterwards, we each went our own way upstairs for private prayer. But, by 8:30 we were hungry for caffe (espresso) and a cornetto (pastry). We then headed to the Vatican bookstore (yes, yes, I bought some things, I couldn't resist!) and the Vatican post office. We all noticed the marble inscription placed at the very spot of the piazza where an assassination attempt against John Paul II took place.

More bookstores followed but by around Noon I was tired and the habit a bit hot so we went back in time for lunch. I had to get some rest to prepare myself for the 9:30PM to 1:30AM ND/MI football game fortunately aired live on the house t.v.

Sunday morning, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, my religious community's titular feast day, I traveled by metro to our Generalate for Mass and lunch. Fr. Russ McDougall, CSC celebrated his 17th anniversary to the priesthood that morning and he presided. Fr. Russ is working on his PhD in scripture and knows the city well.

After lunch he invited me for a walk. We took the metro to the Villa Borghese Gardens which I have never been too. It is a quiet and cool respite from a normally loud and dirty Rome. We walked through the park along with a good number of Roman citizens. We headed out toward the Spanish Steps, down Via Corso, stopped at Giolitti's, which is one of the more famous gelato shops in town. But, by then it was late and I had Italian homework to finish and vocab to memorize. I'm grateful for Fr. Russ's hospitality.

Last night I was invited to dinner with my friends, Max and Nancy Johnson. Max is a professor of liturgy at Notre Dame and was the 2nd reader of my MA Thesis two years ago. Among other things, Nancy is a loyal and generous lector at my former parish, Holy Cross and St. Stanislaus. They are in town for a liturgy conference. We were joined by Frs. Michael Naughton, OSB and Fr. Patrick Regan, OSB, both of whom live at San'Anselmo, my school. Naughton is the prior of the monastery and Regan is a professor of liturgy. Also, Fr. Daniel Findikyan, a professor of liturgy at the Armenian Seminary in New York, joined us. It was a good time.

Lest you think this is all I do, please know that the four hours of Italian each morning are quite helpful and thorough. It is certainly reinforcing the good grammar and vocab I learned this summer. Having Blsd. Pope Pius IX staring at me keeps me honest in doing my homework! It was he who established this house as an American Seminary and to him our classroom is dedicated.

Solemnity of Our Lady of Sorrows, Patroness of the Congregation of Holy Cross

There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother Mary, who knew grief and was a Lady of Sorrows. She is our special patroness, a woman who bore much she could not understand and who stood fast. To her many sons and daughters, whose devotions ought to bring them often to her side, she tells much of this daily cross and its daily hope. If we drink the cup each of us is poured and given, we servants will fare no better than our master. But if we shirk the cross, gone too will be our hope. It is in fidelity to what we once pledged that we will find the dying and rising equally assured. The footsteps of those men who called us to walk in their company left deep prints, as of men carrying heavy burdens. But they did not trudge; they strode. For they had the hope. It is the Lord Jesus calling us. "Come. Follow me."

- Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Nos. 120-123

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathize with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart. I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request…. To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows

The Seventh Sorrow of Our Lady, the Burial of Her Son

Most sorrowful Virgin, sorrow again filled your heart when the sacred body of Jesus was taken from your arms and placed in the grave. I wish to join with you in this last sorrow of yours, and ask you to obtain for me, through the sufferings of Jesus, which were the cause of all your sorrow, a sincere sorrow for my sins, a burning love for God, and a tender and practical devotion towards you.
Hail Mary…

The Holy Father on Summorum Pontificum today...

I have two questions after reading the following response given by the Holy Father today:

"This 'motu proprio' is simply an act of tolerance, with a pastoral objective, for people who have been formed in this liturgy, who love it, know it and want to live with this liturgy," he said. "It is a small group, given that it presupposes a formation in Latin, a formation in a certain culture. But it seems to me a normal demand of faith and pastoral concern for a bishop of our Church to have love and tolerance for these people and permit them to live with this liturgy."

"There is no opposition whatsoever between the liturgy renewed by the Second Vatican Council and this liturgy," Benedict XVI continued. "Each day, the Council fathers celebrated Mass according to this old rite and, at the same time, have conceived a natural development for the liturgy in all of this century, since the liturgy is a living reality that develops and that conserves its identity in its development."

"Therefore, there are certainly distinct accents, but a fundamental identity that excludes a contradiction, an opposition between the renewed liturgy and the preceding liturgy," the Pope affirmed. "I think that there is the possibility of mutual enrichment. It's clear that the renewed liturgy is the ordinary liturgy of our times."

1. The first paragraph seems to not have explicitly in mind young people who did not exist before the Second Vatican Council and therefore I ask, does the Holy Father's response have, actually, in mind a community of people who by the very fact of their more elderly age were "formed" in a pre-Vatican II society? I know that 40 years is enough time to "form" even those in their teens or 20s, BUT, the Holy Father does seem to have the "older" crowd explicitly in mind when giving this response.

2. If indeed, as we read in the third paragraph, there exists the "possibility of mutual enrichment" by the two forms of the Roman Rite, what exactly are the points whereby the Missal of Paul VI enriches the '62 Missal? I'm quite aware of the points made by some whereby the usus antiquior enriches the Ordinary Form, but, in my opinion, there exists a grave lack of making prominent the points whereby the Ordinary Form enriches the Extraordinary Form. I suppose, however, it could be said that the very existence of a "reformed" rite (the ordinary form) is by its very self, an enrichment of the 1962 Missal. The reform took place for a reason(s), did it not?

One more thought, the Holy Father uses the word "small" in reference to a "small community" for whom Summorum Pontificum was intended. Now, he was not speaking ex cathedra with prepared texts, so let's not read too much into it (as people so often seem to do), BUT, it is certainly an interesting word choice, this "small".

It's late, and I have an early Mass at St. Peter's tomorrow. (That's a really really cool sentence to type, by the way!) Pax. mbw

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows

The Sixth Sorrow of Our Lady, Holding Her Crucified Son

Most Sorrowful Mother, sorrow filled your heart when the slain body of your divine Son was taken down from the Cross and laid in your arms. I wish to join with you in this sorrow, and ask you to obtain for me the grace to receive Jesus into my soul before I die, so that I may be perfectly united to him forever in heaven.
Hail Mary…

Out and About...

Besides the regular mornings of Italian class, this week has also been filled with good dinners and important errands. Wednesday night the Casa hosted 61 "New Men", as the first year seminarians are referred to, from the NAC. They, along with their formation staff, enjoyed a six plate dinner in our courtyard. It was good to welcome the young seminarians as they finish up their week of orientation to Rome and the seminary system. After dinner we enjoyed aperitivi in the garden.

During that time, I was glad to meet a Benedictine Sister from Ferdinand, IN who is a librarian at the NAC. I think that resource will be most important in the upcoming years. I also met the Vice-Rector of the seminary at Louvain who spoke highly of our Old College seminarians currently living there this semester.

Thursday, after morning classes and pronzo I and Fr. Jim from the Camden Diocese headed to Barbiconi's, only a short walk from the Casa. I needed a few cleric shirts and he did as well. Surprisingly, they were cheaper than what I usually buy in the States. I distinctly remember the first time I saw this store, in the Summer of '95 and being taken aback by the sight of a display window of clerical goods. Only in Rome.

Afterwards we walked across the piazza to Gammarelli's, the famous tailor shop that, among other things, makes vestments and cassocks for the Holy Father. We also visited two other nearby stores to just see what they had.

We then made a short visit to the Casa Habana store near Piazza Colonna. I may or may not have bought Cuban cigars. Forse si, forse no. Moving on...

Later in the afternoon I took a lengthy stroll to St. Peter's Basilica to meet up with three Notre Dame students, one of whom is a parishioner where I formerly served as Associate Pastor. She did inform me that the Spiritual Bouquet her family gave me is being fulfilled regularly. That means a lot to me.

I took them to one of my favorite restaurants in Rome. After a week and a half of being here this was my first real outing: the first time to see the facade of St. Peter's and to visit any restaurant. We weren't disappointed. The owner who seated us was nice enough to say that today is a "brutto giorno", an ugly day for Americans, in reference to the 9/11 events.

Later today I will go with a few other priests to officially apply for our Soggiorno, the document that lets us remain here past our 3 month visa deadline. And, hopefully, my UPS packages will arrive safe and sound today too.

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows

The Fifth Sorrow of Our Lady, Standing at the Foot of the Cross

Most sorrowful Mother, the greatest sorrow filled your heart when you stood near the Cross of Jesus, and watched him die in suffering for the sins of the world, without being able to do anything to help him. I wish to join with you in this sorrow, and ask you, O Queen of Martyrs, to obtain for me the grace to fight against all my temptations, even though it costs me effort and suffering and death, so that, strengthened by his love when I am dying, I may obtain the grace of a happy death. Hail Mary…

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows

The Fourth Sorrow of Our Lady, Meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa

Most sorrowful Mother, sorrow filled your motherly heart when you followed your dear Son to Calvary, and saw him falling under the weight of the Cross. I wish to join with you in this sorrow, and I ask you, O Queen of Martyrs, to obtain for me the grace to bear with patience whatever cross it will please God to send me.
Hail Mary…

Photos, Photos...

Folks (throngs really) have been asking for photos so here are a few.

Window view from a nearby stairwell into the main garden.












Another window view of the garden.













View of the main courtyard with a pillared statue of Our Lady.












Another photo of the same courtyard.













A walk through the house garden.













A fountain with lilies.













Statue of Our Lady.

















A closer look at La Vergine Immaculata.

















A garden pathway.













Statue of St. Theresa Lisieux.

















A stairwell leading to my floor.
















My humble abode.














Another shot of the same room.

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows

The Third Sorrow of Our Lady, Losing the Child Jesus in the Temple

Most sorrowful Virgin, sorrow filled your heart when you were separated from your divine Son, who remained lost for three days in Jerusalem while you looked everywhere for him. I wish to join with you in the sorrow you felt then, and I ask you, O Queen of Martyrs, to obtain for me the grace never to lose Jesus your Son, but always to remain united to him by the help of his grace.
Hail Mary…

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows

September 15th is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Patroness of the Congregation of Holy Cross.

The Second Sorrow of Mary, the Flight into Egypt

Most holy and sorrowful Virgin, sorrow filled your motherly heart when you saw your divine Son hated by Herod and you had to flee with him to Egypt, to save him.
I wish to join with you in this sorrow
and ask you, O Queen of Martyrs, to obtain for me
the grace to avoid all the temptations of my enemies
on the difficult road to heaven.
Hail Mary…

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows

Today, Sunday, September 7, 2008 begins a novena to Our Lady of Sorrows, the Patroness of the Congregation of Holy Cross, whose feast falls on September 15th.

The First Sorrow of Mary, the Prophecy of Simeon

Most sorrowful Virgin,
sorrow filled your heart when,
on offering your divine Son in the temple,
holy Simeon told you that a sword would pierce your soul,
and you knew then that you would be asked to suffer with Jesus.
I wish to join with you in this sorrow,
and I ask you, O Queen of Martyrs, to obtain for me
the grace that I may always remember my death, which will help to keep me from all sin.
Hail Mary…

Mio Nipote

In the early afternoon today my sister Kerri and my brother-in-law Jan, welcomed to the family Collin Joseph Obert, weighing in at 6 pounds 4 ounces with a span of 20". Colin has been named after my paternal grandfather, Camillus Joachim, who has always gone by C.J. and so too will the newest C.J. in our family.

I'm half way around the world, so I've only received basic info, but everyone is indeed resting comfortably. I'll meet my new nephew, C.J., for the first time when I travel home in December. Congratulations to Jan and Kerri and praise God for a healthy delivery!

Due Giorni...

No photos to share yet, but thought I'd type a small update. I've spent two full days here in Rome so far and am still feeling the effects of Jet-lag or "fuso orario". I took a heavy 1 1/2 hour nap this morning to catch up.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was spent in an Italian class in the morning followed by 1PM pranzo (lunch). The afternoon was spent by a shopping trip with three other priest residents. They needed printers, floor rug, and power strips. I found a new favorite spot. This store has two levels of books along with a air conditioned cafe right inside. The third floor is filled with computer supplies, especially mac items. Each night we pray Vespers at 6:45 followed by supper.

Today I concelebrated Mass in the main chapel at 7:15 followed by breakfast. It's easy to see we are an American house. The table has peanut butter at breakfast and ice at lunch. Also, last night we had hamburgers for supper. I think that is a Wedneday night tradition here.

I then went to Italian class followed by a deep nap. I then proceeded to walk to Piazza Barberini to take the metro-subway to the last station, to the Northwest of Rome. Then I caught a bus to the Holy Cross Generlate where I was welcomed for pronzo and a tour of the grounds. It was good to see familiar CSC faces.

I'll try to post some photos by weekend's end. Thanks for all the prayers.

Sono Arrivato a Roma...

Just a short post to say that I arrived a few hours ago into Rome and am busy getting situated while trying to stay awake through jet-lag. Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes. I'll post more later.