First Sunday of Advent

Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man. - Luke 21: 34-36

Ospiti qui a Roma...

The month of November, like last year, brought a swarm of guests into the eternal city. I was pleased to host Frs. Peter Rocca, CSC, Virgil Elizondo, and Dan Groody, CSC for a week here at the Casa.

Frs. Elizondo and Groody were participants in the Vatican's Sixth World Congress for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. Both priests are faculty of the Notre Dame Theology Department. As an "expert" at the conference, Fr. Groody was invited to help craft the congress's concluding summary document.

Congregational business brought Fr. Rocca to Rome and offered him a chance to reconnect with his Italian roots. I think the four of us were up till 11 or midnight each night having night caps and talking about the day's activities. It was great to see my brothers in community. Toward the end of their visit and work here we went to a restaurant nearby where the staff is always very friendly and patient. We were joined by Fr. Terry Ehrman, CSC who is working on his dissertation in systematic theology from Catholic University but is spending this year in Austria studying and researching in German. We were also joined by Fr. J.P. Kimes, a Notre Dame graduate who now works in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It was a great evening.

The first Sunday Fr. Rocca was here, we and a group of my priest friends traveled to the Catacombs of St. Callistus outside the ancient Roman wall on the Via Appia Antica. We arrived around 10:00 in the morning of a November day with bright sun mixed with occasional light and misty rain. We then joined the English speaking tour at 10:30. Once we arrived at a chapel, we stayed for Mass while the rest of the tour continued on their way. We prayed the Mass in the chapel entitled "Orante", meaning "praying". It was in these catacombs that we find some of the earliest depictions of the Orans position, or praying position - the arms extended position the priest assumes when praying the Mass.

The following Sunday we celebrated Mass with the community here at the Casa Santa Maria, donning the Holy Cross habit as is customary for Sunday Mass and pranzo.

Thanks to my guests for bringing a bit of home to me here in Rome!

A Papal Theologian

Congratulations to Prof. John Cavadini, chair of the theology department at the University of Notre Dame, for being appointed to the International Theological Commission. The commission is comprised of thirty theologians who assist the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the prefect of which chairs the commission.

This appointment is, among other things, a tribute to Prof. Cavadini's vigorous theological work as well as his deep love and concern for the Church's beautiful teachings and counsels.

The confirmation students at St. Matthew's Cathedral in South Bend will have another reason to listen well to their catechist!

Archbishop Burke on The Year for Priests

Last night the Casa Santa Maria priest community was honored to have present for supper Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura. Afterwards, His Excellency gave a reflection on The Year for Priests, declared by Pope Benedict XVI to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney.

The archbishop spoke from his heart and his experience as a priest and over 14 years of service as a bishop. He reminded us 60 or so priests present that it is all too easy to be timid in our priestly paternity either due to our self-consciousness or at times our self-absorption. And such timidity is, at its root, a failure to recognize the great gift of the priesthood to the Church. Whether it be timidity in our teaching office or our timid use of clerical garb, it is all the fruit of a false humility that relies more on ourselves than on the power of Christ Jesus Himself.

The archbishop often referred back to the saintly example of the Cure of Ars who himself suffered under the office of the priesthood. He had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as did many in that French milieu. Blessed Basil Moreau, CSC, for instance, dedicated the priest society of the congregation to the care of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The archbishop reminded us that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is surrounded by the crown of thorns. If indeed the priesthood is "the love of the heart of Jesus" as defined by St. Vianney, then surely this love is mingled with the pain of the crown of thorns.

Here the archbishop speaks from the heart and his own experience as a man whose own good name has been mocked in popular media resulting in a gross caricature which is far from the truth.

And lastly, it is in the liturgy that the priest's true identity shines through, but not when we manipulate the liturgy, but when we obediently submit to the rite and to the mystery.

Bern: Swiss Capital

This post is a bit late in coming. As you may recall, I spent two weeks of September in the Northern Italian region of Verbania, just northwest of Milan. One weekend Fr. Eric Fasano of the Diocese of Rockville Center, and I traveled to the Swiss capitol of Bern - just a few hours north by train.

This was my first time to see any of Switzerland - flying into Zurich doesn't count. Historically, Bern is one of the oldest establishments and held political and economic importance making it the capitol city once the Swiss Federation came into existence.

The name of the city, Bern, comes from a legend dating back to the founding of the settlement when hunters captured a wild bear and treated it as a sign of good luck and fortune. Through the centuries, Bern has always had bears in captivity - even now.The city is charming, with its miles and miles of colonnaded shopping walkways, it's medieval towers and walls, and its outdoor markets and churches. The clock tower pictured to the right is now near the heart of the city, but when it was built, it stood as the main defense of the city. As the decades progressed along with the city, wider and larger walls encircled the growing city. A treat is to see the clock chime at noon with its intricate designs.The city streets and piazzas are decorated with various ornate statuary. This one, in the piazza near the cathedral is of Moses. At the top of this post is a photo showing the beautiful design above the main doors. The cathedral was formerly Catholic but after the Protestant Reformation it fell into the hands of those Christians whose understanding of sacramentality and the beauty of art is far different than Catholic's. In a word, the church is "empty". Though, the gift shop at the entrance is well stocked. We did find a Catholic church in the heart of the city though we were shocked by the limited hours it was open. Our hearts were downtrodden. But that same night, in a newer section of the city, we found a Catholic church celebrating a vigil Mass in French and it was well attended and looked "alive" and "full".After much touring one is able to get those endorphins flowing again with classic Swiss chocolate - and there was plenty to choose from. The food in Bern provided a welcomed change from typical Italian fare. Some of the typically Bern/Swiss foods listed were beers, pumpkin, chestnuts, and wild boar. Again, quite different from their Italian neighbors.Our departure took us along a different route, this time, through the lower Alps that connect Switzerland and Italy. The views were spectacular and I was amazed by the people who were capable of living in the many small villages that dotted our route.

A New Shepherd for Fort Wayne - South Bend Diocese...

Our Holy Father today announced that Most Rev. Kevin Rhoades, Bishop of Harrisburg, PA, is to be the new ordinary for the Diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend.

Having served as a priest for 26 years, and as a bishop for five years, the Holy Father now entrusts him to care for the faithful of Northern Indiana.

Bishop Rhoades has Roman roots, having studied at the North American College for his seminary training. In addition he earned an STL from the Gregorian University as well as a doctorate in Canon Law.

I wish His Excellency a warm welcome and pledge my prayers and priestly support.

These days of announcements also bring the opportunity to say thank you to Bishop John D'Arcy who has so faithfully and carefully lead the diocese for nearly a quarter century. I will forever remember and be grateful for the day he ordained me to the Order of Deacon and under whom I was fortunate to serve as Associate Pastor for three years.

Ad Multos Annos to both bishops. Auguri!

Here is a statement released by Bishop Rhoades:

Statement by Bp Rhoades in Ft Wayne-South Bend 111409

Auguri!

Congratulations and blessings to seven priests of the Diocese of Fort Wayne / South Bend who this weekend were named as Chaplains to His Holiness and now receive the title of monsignor.

Article can be read here.

Ad multos annos!
Auguri!

Beautiful Vid...

Aired this weekend during the ND/Navy football game on NBC:

Solemn Pontifical Mass with Cardinal Canizares

This past Sunday, November 1st, the Solemnity of All Saints, I walked with four fellow priests to the church of Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini to attend a Solemn Pontifical Mass in the Extraordinary Form celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Canizares, Prefect for the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

As priests we attended "in choir" wearing the cassock (for me, the Holy Cross habit), surplice, white stole to be worn for reception of Holy Communion, and a biretta. The investiture of the cardinal began at about 10:20 and the concluding prayers of thanksgiving back in the sacristy ended around 12:40. The photo above shows part of the opening procession where an MC is telling me to sit in the front pew (oops), not the second.

This third photo shows the proclamation of the Gospel. The deacon stood facing the north as is customary in the Extraordinary Form. The underlying significance of such a stance is that the Gospel is proclaimed to the barbarians of the north. How sadly ironic that a collapsing Christian Europe lies to the north of Rome!

The next photo shows the elevation of the precious chalice during the consecration. I was quite moved by the beauty of this solemn rite along with the heavy and deep silence with which it was celebrated. To pray with this cardinal who has such an important office and duty was a real privilege for me.

This final photo, I believe, was taken after reception of Holy Communion and shows the location of the clerical choir in relation to the sanctuary and nave.

These photos were provided by the following sites, where more photos, descriptions, and the usual back-n-forth semi-bickering comments which permeate the blogosphere can be found:
New Liturgical Movement.
Orbis Catholicus
FSSP