As I Thought...

An article appeared on CNN's website regarding the "morning after" pill that shares the same views as mine - I'd recommend reading.

Etched in Marble...

A few marble slabs adorn the foyer walls leading into the main refectory here at the Casa Santa Maria. Today, a new line was carved into the stone underneath the name of Timothy M. Dolan.

I have never before witnessed live marble carving. The artist first wiped the chosen space with some sort of liquid and then used a blowtorch to heat the same spot. Then out came the chisel. Notice that enough space was left so that the line "Cardinal" can be added eventually.

Alas, foresight did not allow for much space to be left under Archbishop O'Brien's name, who is now of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Glendon Declines Laetare Medal...

As posted on the First Things website. N.B. The book Glendon references in her first paragraph is entitled Go Forth and Do Good - a collection of Notre Dame commencement speeches as compiled by Fr. Wilson (Bill) Miscamble, CSC.

By Mary Ann Glendon
Monday, April 27, 2009, 9:32 AM

April 27, 2009
The Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President
University of Notre Dame

Dear Father Jenkins,

When you informed me in December 2008 that I had been selected to receive Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal, I was profoundly moved. I treasure the memory of receiving an honorary degree from Notre Dame in 1996, and I have always felt honored that the commencement speech I gave that year was included in the anthology of Notre Dame’s most memorable commencement speeches. So I immediately began working on an acceptance speech that I hoped would be worthy of the occasion, of the honor of the medal, and of your students and faculty.

Last month, when you called to tell me that the commencement speech was to be given by President Obama, I mentioned to you that I would have to rewrite my speech. Over the ensuing weeks, the task that once seemed so delightful has been complicated by a number of factors.

First, as a longtime consultant to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I could not help but be dismayed by the news that Notre Dame also planned to award the president an honorary degree. This, as you must know, was in disregard of the U.S. bishops’ express request of 2004 that Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” and that such persons “should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” That request, which in no way seeks to control or interfere with an institution’s freedom to invite and engage in serious debate with whomever it wishes, seems to me so reasonable that I am at a loss to understand why a Catholic university should disrespect it.

Then I learned that “talking points” issued by Notre Dame in response to widespread criticism of its decision included two statements implying that my acceptance speech would somehow balance the event:

• “President Obama won’t be doing all the talking. Mary Ann Glendon, the former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, will be speaking as the recipient of the Laetare Medal.”

• “We think having the president come to Notre Dame, see our graduates, meet our leaders, and hear a talk from Mary Ann Glendon is a good thing for the president and for the causes we care about.”

A commencement, however, is supposed to be a joyous day for the graduates and their families. It is not the right place, nor is a brief acceptance speech the right vehicle, for engagement with the very serious problems raised by Notre Dame’s decision—in disregard of the settled position of the U.S. bishops—to honor a prominent and uncompromising opponent of the Church’s position on issues involving fundamental principles of justice.

Finally, with recent news reports that other Catholic schools are similarly choosing to disregard the bishops’ guidelines, I am concerned that Notre Dame’s example could have an unfortunate ripple effect.

It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have concluded that I cannot accept the Laetare Medal or participate in the May 17 graduation ceremony.

In order to avoid the inevitable speculation about the reasons for my decision, I will release this letter to the press, but I do not plan to make any further comment on the matter at this time.

Yours Very Truly,

Mary Ann Glendon

Mary Ann Glendon is Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. A member of the editorial and advisory board of First Things, she served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican from 2007 to 2009.

The Wrong Side of History...

Here is an article by CNS of Cardinal George's recent statements to a gathering of priests in Louisiana. Obama and Douglas are, ironically, on the same side.

What Is Really After the "Morning After" ?

The F.D.A. will soon make available a "morning after" pill to be sold over-the-counter to those 17 years of age or older. In its article, The New York Times reports that, "The agency’s decision came after Judge Edward R. Korman of Federal District Court in New York ruled last month in a highly unusual case that the agency’s decision to limit easy access to Plan B to those 18 and older was driven by politics, not science. He gave the agency 30 days to lower the age limit to 17."

We see here, as in the stem-cell debate, a manipulated one-way use of the politics/science pairing.
Bush used politics to form policies.
Obama uses science to form policies.

Who wants science to determine policies? I want a politician who serves the polis to form policies. Science serves the decision, it shouldn't determine it. Science can determine whether a "morning after" pill successfully chemically aborts or prevents implantation of the fertilized embryo, but that is where science's voice ends. It can't form policy.

Politicians who serve the polis take the scientific data and form policies. The Bush administration didn't "ignore science" and think only of "politics" (as if that's a four letter dirty word), instead the admininstration took into account the moral implications and from that made a decision. Obama's administration is doing nothing different. It's not about a politics/science word game, it's about one group making decisions based on one set of values and another administration doing precisely the same thing but with a whole other set of values.

This false "politics/science" pairing doesn't help the debate, because at its heart it doesn't mean anything. Same dynamic is/was occuring in the stem-cell debate.

In 2000 the Vatican made a statement regarding the "morning after" pill.

And yesterday, the USCCB made a statement as well.

God help us.

Upcoming Eucharistic Procession

This Sunday, April 26th, a Eucharistic Procession will commence at the conclusion of the 11:45 AM Basilica Mass at the University of Notre Dame. I'll be a bit out of town, but encourage whoever is able to attend this beautiful devotion to Christ present in the Eucharist. Many thanks to Fr. Kevin Russeau, CSC and many others who are working to make this year's procession beautiful and prayerful. More information can be found here.

Some nice photos from last year's procession can be found on the Kloska Blog.

UPDATE:
ND NewsInfo has an article here.

La Festa di Sant'Anselmo...

Today is the Feast of St. Anselm - a benedictine archbishop who served the people of France and England until his death in 1109. As Archbishop of Canterbury he wrote in areas of philosophy and theology including the phrase "fides quaerens intellectum" (faith seeking understanding) all of which led to the declaration of St. Anselm as a Doctor of the Church.My school, the Pontifical Academy of Sant'Anselmo, observes this feast, among other ways, by giving students a free day - un giorno libero! So, I'm happy. This year also marks the 900th anniversary of his death in this life.

International Man of Mystery...

During my retreat over Palm Sunday I began to read Those Mysterious Priests, written by the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979). It was providential in that a section of the book spoke directly to me the same way the Spirit had leading up to the retreat - a spiritual insight to assist me in my priestly life. So, I am grateful for this. Here are some nice excerpts.

Every priest has the Mary-question put to him: “Will you give God a human nature?” Somewhere, sometime, during life, hidden in his vocation to the priesthood, the same query was asked. The hesitation, the doubts, the deep sense of unworthiness were all conscious responses to the wonder of the call. “How shall this be?” is as much a part of vocation as it was that of the Virgin Mary. Why should God want my poor humanity – a “pot of earthenware to contain this treasure” (2 Cor 4:7)? The Lord came into Jerusalem on an ass and He can do it again! What endows the priest with power is not his worthiness, but the fact that he becomes an instrument of Christ. God will work through his human nature, miserable as it be. God did not choose angels as His ministers, nor did He choose anyone because he was better than the rest of men. – pg 80. ("did not choose angels" reminds me of Cardinal Newman's homily "Men, not angels, the priests of God" as printed in the handy edition by Notre Dame Press.)

Two telling touchstones of a priest’s life are his attitudes to the Crucifix and the Eucharist. The three possible attitudes to Christ on the Cross are: antipathy, apathy, empathy.

Antipathy was represented by those who wanted a Creed but no Cross: “Let Him come down from the Cross, and then we will believe Him” (Mat 27:42). Belief but no discipline; catechetics but no mortification; assent but no self-control; dissent but no reform. The scoffers at the foot of the Cross were ready to believe everything the Lord has taught: the Eucharist, the Keys of Peter, the Trinity, even His Divinity. But there was one condition – no Cross. Much disbelief is not due to a want of an explanation or proof, but of a refusal to obey.

Apathy was personalized in those who shook dice: “After fastening Him to the Cross they divided His clothes among them by casting lots. And then sat down there to watch” (Mat 27:36). Spectators but no participators, they were involved with the world but not with redemption. Like the scribes whom Herod consulted as to where Christ would be born, they knew, but they did not go.

Empathy [is] represented by those who stood with Mary at the Cross. Everyone in the world is either on or underneath the Cross. No escape is possible. Some are on it through actual physical suffering or because they are identified with the sufferings of others in Christ’s name, like Mary and others standing at the Cross, missionaries, social workers, mothers of handicapped children, etc. Others are beneath it, demanding His Crucifixion, ridiculing sacrifice or being indifferent enough to play games under its shadow, or telling saintly priests they are “behind the times.” --- pgs 100 – 101.

Book Reminder...

The daily reflections found in The Gift of the Cross ended today. Published by Ave Maria Press, this devotional booklet provided some insightful points for each day of Lent. I was pleased that it followed the lectionary cycle. Look for it next year.

The Priesthood....

In a few hours, three Holy Cross religious will be ordained to the Order of Presbyter in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame. Having taken final vows in Holy Cross and ordained to the transitional diaconate last August, they will today be ordained as priests. Archbishop John Vlazny of the Archdiocese of Portland, OR will preside. Please keep in your prayers

Rev. Mr. Vincent A. Kuna, CSC
Rev. Mr. Charles F. McCoy, CSC
Rev. Mr. Aaron J. Michka, CSC

Thanks be to God for the vocation given to these three religious for service to the Church!

Also, yesterday, the 17th, marked my 5th anniversary as a priest. Throughout the day I was mindful of the many ways God has blessed my life through the priesthood and, hopefully, the ways God has been able to use me as an imperfect instrument of His grace and presence in our world. Here is a quote that comprised my first blog post back in May of 2008.

"To live in the midst of the world without wishing its pleasures; to be a member of each family, yet belonging to none; to share all sufferings; to penetrate all secrets; to heal all wounds; to go from men to God and offer Him their prayers; to return from God to men to bring pardon and hope; to have a heart of fire for charity and a heart of bronze for chastity; to teach and to pardon, console and bless always. My God, what a life! And it is yours, O Priest of Jesus Christ." - Lacordaire

Well Said, Without the Disparaging...

By Richard Allen, Double Domer and former Nat. Security Adviser to Reagan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/opinion/12allen.html

Sites of Norcia

Here are a few more photos from Norcia during my recent retreat. Thanks to Fr. Fasano of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY for taking and sharing these photos.
A nice shot of the main piazza with a statue of St. Benedict in the center.

Yours truly in the same piazza.

Yours truly hiking up a mountainside.

Funeral Mass for l'Aquila Earthquake Victims...

Remember in prayer the repose of the nearly 300 souls who perished in this week's earthquake and for the comfort and consolation of the loved ones who now mourn. May the event of the Resurrection bring them hope in the promise of life everlasting.

A Priest for All Liturgical Seasons...

Last Thursday I went to St. Peter's to attend Mass on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of John Paul II's death, stopping first at Ancora bookstore next to St. Peter's square. And while there I picked up a small but quite good book entitled A Priest for All Liturgical Seasons. Written by five American monsignori who work at the Vatican and with a forward by Cardinal Foley, this book offers meditations on the priestly life as understood by the light shed by the liturgical year.

A highlight:

There is a subtle affinity between the creation of man as narrated in the Book of Genesis and priestly ordination. The Genesis narrative speaks of God forming man out of clay and then breathing His Spirit into him and thereby "created man in His image" (Gen 1:27). The dust from which that clay was formed, rested on the ground. At the time, it had no character, no life. In an analogous manner, God forms a priest out of a man and breathes into him His Spirit at ordination and creates him into an alter Christus. With St. Paul, the priest can affirm, "It is not I who live now, but Christ lives in me" (Galations 2:20). Furthermore, the priest during the ordination ceremony, like the dust of clay, rests prostrated on the ground while the Litany of the Saints is being chanted. At the time, the candidate lacks priestly character and life. However, Our Lady and all the angels and saints are invoked not only to pray for but also to witness the new creation which is about to take place through ordination. While, in the first creation, God created man so that He would walk with him in the breeze of the evening (Genesis 3:8), in the new creation, God breathes upon the candidate and gives him the character and life of a priest so that Jesus Christ may continue to walk the earth with us, particularly through His Real Presence in the Eucharist. The key role which the priest plays in the new creation is that there can be no Eucharist without a priest and that a priest is useless without the Eucharist. Moreover, there can be no authentic Catholic Church without the Eucharist.

Easter Sunday Mass from Notre Dame

NBC affiliates will broadcast Easter Sunday Mass from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. My classmate, Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC presides and preaches with the Notre Dame Folk Choir providing the music.

More information can be found here and a listing of local affiliates, here.

Retreat in Norcia...

Early last Saturday, the 4th, I traveled with two other priest-students to the medieval town of Norcia located in the mountainous Abruzzo region of Italy, some 80 miles East of Rome. We traveled by train from Rome to Spoleto, where we picked up a bus that took us to Norcia itself. From door-to-door the trip took four hours and was filled with beautiful scenery of mountains, tunnels, and rivers.

We were hosted by the Benedictine Monks of the Monastery of St. Benedict. They were very welcoming and hospitable for the five days we were with them. The monks pray their daily office in the crypt of the monastery which is historically thought to be the old homestead where Sts. Benedict and Scholastica were born. The liturgy is prayed entirely in Latin and chanted.

The Palm Sunday Mass was celebrated in Latin with the readings and Passion proclaimed in Italian. The main monastic church was filled with the families who make up the town of Norcia. We were pleasantly surprised to see a good number of young families and children in the town.

My travel companions are not monks and so we found the lenten meal schedule of the monastery to be a bit lacking. They offered a simple breakfast (bread, jelly, honey, coffee, milk) and then a simple cena each evening. No pranzo. So, we each enjoyed a free morning and then gathered around Noon to find a local restaurant for lunch. Norcia is known for its pork and truffles. The famous pasta dish "Norcina" comes from the name "Norcia". We ate well and at a much lower cost than Rome usually demands.

It was a very blessed retreat. I particularly enjoyed the daily Mass the three of us prayed together each morning at 6:45. We were joined by two American students from Rome and the whole experience was quite prayerful.

And yes, we were awoken by the devestating earthquake and the tremors that have proceeded it. I woke up to my bed swaying and went and stood in the doorway of my room and bathroom - not knowing what else to do. It occurred around 3:32AM. The next morning, a tremor occurred around 1:30AM. And once I returned to Rome, I felt another tremor late on Holy Thursday night. Let us keep the Italian people in our prayers as they continue to look for the remains of their loved ones.

A Well Made Point...

A quite good article from Zenit regarding Notre Dame and the much much larger question regarding Catholics and issues pertaining to unborn life.

http://www.zenit.org/article-25615?l=english

Messa Crismale

After the praying of Terce the Chrism Mass began around 9:30AM with His Holiness Benedict XVI presiding. This is the one time a year when any priest is invited to concelebrate with the Holy Father. As is customary for this particular liturgy, after the homily and before the oils are blessed, priests renew their promises and recommit themselves to the priestly life. It was the first time I answered the questions with the Latin, "Volo".

This second photo was taken from my seat. Afterwards a festive pranzo was served at the Casa and then preparations were made for a 6PM Mass of the Lord's Supper.

Again, I wish you all a Blessed Triduum.

Holy Week and the Triduum...

Friends, in a couple of hours the Holy Father will preside at the Chrism Mass for the Diocese of Rome at St. Peter's Basilica. Priests are welcome to concelebrate. I will keep my loved ones in prayer, specifically asking the Lord in His Mercy to grant each of us the graces we need to persevere daily in love of and service to God and neighbor.

You wanted to get somewhere so badly
You had to lose yourself along the way
You change your name, well that's okay, it's necessary
And what you leave behind you don't miss anyway

Gone - U2

Open Letter to the Editor

We write as priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross and as proud graduates of the University of Notre Dame to voice our objection to the University’s decision to honor President Barack Obama by inviting him to deliver this year’s Commencement address and by conferring on him an honorary doctor of law degree.
We wish to associate ourselves with and encourage those courageous students and treasured alumni who, while deeply loving Notre Dame, vigorously oppose this sad and regrettable decision of the University administration.
It is our deep conviction that Notre Dame should lead by word and deed in upholding the Church’s fundamental teaching that human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception. In so doing the University must take seriously the 2004 instruction of the U.S. Catholic Bishops that “Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors, or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”
We especially regret the fissure that the invitation to President Obama has opened between Notre Dame and its local ordinary and many of his fellow bishops. We express our deep gratitude to Bishop John D’Arcy for his leadership and moral clarity. We ask that the University give renewed consideration to Bishop D’Arcy’s thoughtful counsel which always has Notre Dame’s best interests at heart.
The University pursues a dangerous course when it allows itself to decide for and by itself what part of being a Catholic institution it will chose to embrace. Although undoubtedly unintended, the University administration’s decision portends a distancing of Notre Dame from the Church which is its lifeblood and the source of its identity and real strength. Such a distancing puts at risk the true soul of Notre Dame.
We regret that our position on this issue puts us at odds with our brother priest in Holy Cross, Fr. John Jenkins, CSC. Yet, in this instance, for the good of Notre Dame and the Congregation of Holy Cross, we cannot remain silent. Notre Dame’s decision has caused moral confusion and given many reason to believe that the University’s stance against the terrible evil of abortion is weak and easily trumped by other considerations such as the desire for secular prestige.
We prayerfully request that Fr. Jenkins and the Fellows of the University, who are entrusted with responsibility for maintaining its essential character as a Catholic institution of higher learning, revisit this matter immediately. Failure to do so will damage the integrity of the institution and detract from all the good work which occurs at Notre Dame and from the impressive labors of its many faithful students and professors.
We offer these views as we enter Holy Week, recalling the triumph of Christ’s holy cross. As “men with hope to bring” we are confident that Notre Dame may yet give true honor to its patroness and witness to Her Son.
Respectfully in Holy Cross
Wilson D. Miscamble, C.S.C.
Stephen M. Koeth, C.S.C.
Gregory P. Haake, C.S.C.
Daniel J. Parrish, C.S.C.
Michael B. Wurtz, C.S.C.
Mark R. Ghyselink, C.S.C.
Terrence P. Ehrman, C.S.C.
John A. Herman, C.S.C.
Ronald J. Wasowski, C.S.C.
Vincent A. Kuna, C.S.C.

The Observer - April 7

Vacanza e Settimana Santa

All the Roman Pontifical schools have begun their two week vacation in observance of Holy Week and the Easter Octave. These are good days for final preparations in Lent as well as catch-up on studies and reading.

Last night the Holy Father celebrated Mass on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death. The crowd was quite large and seats were scarce. Many young people had traveled to pray and to visit the tomb. A large Polish contingent seemed present as well. Some had speculated that the Holy Father would announce a date for the beatification of John Paul, but it did not happen.

At the end of Mass the Holy Father processed to John Paul II's tomb while the schola sang:

Totus tuus sum, Maria, Mater nostri Redemptoris, Virgo Dei, Virgo pia, Mater mundi Salvatoris.

Afterwards, a few priests and I grabbed dinner on the Borgo Pio at what might now be a new favorite of mine and raised a glass in honor of the late pontiff, thankful for his witness to the Gospel as the Light of the World.

I and two other priest friends will travel tomorrow to the Monastery of St. Benedict in Norcia, the hometown of Sts. Benedict and Scholastica. We will spend five days on retreat, returning in time for the Triduum liturgy here in Rome. I will spend the Triduum itself with the Holy Father, assisting in the distribution of Holy Communion. I look forward to these holy days immensely.

I will keep family and friends in prayer during these days.

Two More Bishops' Statements...

First, Bishop Morlino of the Diocese of Madison, WI made some comments at the Illinois Catholic Prayer Breakfast as reported by Creative Minority Report.

Second, Bishop Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL wrote the following in his blog:

Finally, Notre Dame University has created quite a stir by announcing that at the Spring Commencement ceremony they have invited President Barack Obama to give the graduation address and receive an honorary doctor of laws degree. It is a very prestigious platform to offer a President who is leading the battle for an expansion of abortion rights which may ultimately end up being unparalleled in recent history. Early “markers” are not encouraging in this regard but hope needs to spring eternal and while Notre Dame may have acted way too early and too generously, I am more alarmed that the rhetoric being employed is so uncivil and venomous that it weakens the case we place before our fellow citizens, alienates young college-age students who believe the older generation is behaving like an angry child and they do not wish to be any part of that, and ill-serves the cause of life.

Notre Dame has in the past and continues to give this local Church fine, professional and very Catholic women and men who both know and live out their faith. Most of them I know are ardently pro-life and like myself are probably disappointed with their alma mater. They and I will choose to convey our sadness to the Board of Trustees and Administration in a calm and dignified manner.

I am especially sad for Bishop John D’Arcy, bishop of the diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in which Notre Dame is located. For almost two decades he has supported the University and loved the University, even when he felt it necessary to correct the University privately which I can assure you he did. Now in the waning days of his tenure as bishop there, he is told of the invitation shortly before its public announcement and in words clearly laced with pain has had to announce that he will choose not attend the final commencement of his time as bishop. What sadness for this good man as well. I see Father Ted Hesburgh quoted as saying that “visits to campus of leaders has never changed the campus but has often changed the visitor.” One can only hope and pray for this outcome.