Two Nephews!

Paul Gerard Johnson (3) and Matthew Thomas Johnson (1) after Traditional Latin Mass on Low Sunday.  Their youngest brother is expected sometime in May!

Medical Update

Thanks for everyone's prayers during my doctor visit on Thursday.  Since I stopped treatments last Summer and the tumor has remained stable since that time, the doctor is convinced that the tumor is now in remission. Not completely cured, but not growing either. There is still a mass in my brain, but there are no signs of active cancer cells or growth right now.

The doctor did warn that this type of tumor typically grows again (branching off from the original tumor), but pointed out that I am already in the "long-term survival" range for this type of tumor (Anaplastic Astrocytoma), so the fact that I have few symptoms right now means that statistically, my expected survival from now on should be measured in years and not months. Overall, great news!

Please continue to remember me and all who suffer from cancer in your prayers!  I will be praying a 9-day Novena of Thanksgiving to Our Lady of Lourdes for this good news.  Please join if you would like!  http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=1217

Veterans' Day Mass at St. Benedict Parish (FSSP), Virginia

On Monday, November 12, 2012, Benedictine College Preparatory (Richmond, VA) revived their traditional Veterans' Day Mass for the 101st Anniversary of their school.  Diocese of Richmond Bishop DiLorenzo granted permission for a special Votive Mass of Thanksgiving.  The Solemn High Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form took place at St. Benedict (Fraternity of Saint Peter) parish in Chesapeake, VA.  Chesapeake is in the Tidewater area, so many active and retired military members attended in uniform.

Celebrant: Fr. Kevin Cusick, Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. (Reserve Navy Chaplain)

Deacon: Fr. Neal Nichols, F.S.S.P. (Graduate of Benedictine College Preparatory)

Subdeacon: Seminarian Philip Johnson, Diocese of Raleigh, NC (Retired Navy Officer)

Photos taken by Benedictine College Preparatory and Fr. Cusick.

The ministers vest:

The Benedictine cadet honor guard marches in:

Presentation of the colors (flags):

The honor guard provides arched swords for the servers and ministers:

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Prayers at the Foot of the Altar:

The Confiteor:

Incensation of the altar at the Kyrie:

The deacon chants the Gospel:

For some of the cadets, this was their first Latin Mass.  Special programs helped them to follow along:

The honor guard salutes Our Lord during the Consecration:

Fr Cusick distributes Holy Communion:

"Eternal Father Strong to Save" is sung before the recessional, "Holy God We Praise Thy Name."

Admission to Ministry of Lector

On Thursday evening, August 2, 2012, the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge joined the seminarians of the Diocese for Mass and a reception at St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Raleigh. During the Mass, five of the seminarians were admitted to Candidacy while a sixth was instituted in the Ministry of Lector.

Those admitted to candidacy were Timothy Ahn, Michael Schuetz, Myles Casanova, John Kane and Edison Urrego. The Rite of Admission to Candidacy is celebrated when it has been established that the intention of those aspiring to Holy Orders is supported by the necessary qualifications and has achieved sufficient maturity. During the rite, the intention of receiving Holy Orders is to be expressed publicly by aspirants. The Bishop publicly accepts the aspirant’s intention.

Seminarian Philip Johnson was instituted in the Ministry of Lector. This ministry calls the seminarian to be a servant of the Living Word of God. In proclaiming the readings at liturgy, the reader does more than simply read. Those who exercise the ministry of lector must be truly suited and carefully prepared, so that the faithful may develop a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture from listening to the sacred readings.

Bishop Burbidge began his homily by reflecting on the seminarians’ retreat over the previous four days. “It was a great joy to spend time this week with our seminarians,” the Bishop said. “I am very proud of them. They are strong in their faith; they share a wonderful fraternity; they are joyful and long to serve Our Lord Jesus and all those in our wonderful diocese. With them, I express profound thanks to their dear parents, family members, future brother priests, and all those who support them by their love and prayers.”

Addressing the candidates, the Bishop said, “In the secular and political world, candidates are individuals who present themselves as worthy for a position. They speak about their vision and views. They hold the office for a term or particular period of time.

“Dear candidates, you are so radically different. It is the Lord our God who calls you by name and brings you forth. It is Jesus Christ and His Gospel that you are to live and proclaim. God willing, the office you will assume one day as an ordained priest is not temporary. It is forever!”

Taken from http://www.dioceseofraleigh.org/news/view.aspx?id=1573

 "Lord God, source of all goodness and light, you sent your only Son, the Word of life, to reveal to mankind the mystery of your love. Bless + our brother who has been chosen for the ministry of reader.  Grant that as he meditates constantly on your word he may grow in its wisdom and faithfully proclaim it to your people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen."

"Take this book of holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the word of God, so that it may grow strong in the hearts of his people. Amen."

Final Days in Lourdes/Meeting the New Bishop

My last week in Lourdes was very nice. For my birthday, a priest friend and I went to Da Marco restaurant for pizza and the Mousse au Chocolat with pralines.

And a great Bordeaux!

After the Eucharistic Procession, I caught the last part of Couperain's Motet, "Jubilemus Exultemus," which sounds like great First Mass music!

Fr. George prays at the Rosary procession:

The grotto. It is empty and peaceful around 8pm. This is the best time to walk inside, or just sit and pray:

"I am the Immaculate Conception" is inscribed in the local Bigourdan dialect. This is language used in the conversations between Our Lady and Saint Bernadette:

A few days before I left, the new bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes invited the seminarians to dinner at his Lourdes residence. Bishop Nicolas Brouwet was installed as the new bishop in March 2012. For the past few years as Auxiliary Bishop of Nanterre in France, he participated in the yearly traditional pilgrimage to Chartres. Here he is hearing confessions one year:

He has also ordained for some of the traditional Priestly Fraternities in the Extraordinary Form:

After Vespers and a wonderful talk about the Sacrament of Confession, the Bishop walked us to his residence up the road from the Sanctuary:

After dinner, we walked back to the sanctuary for the nightly Rosary Procession. I was able to speak with him about my illness, and he offered his Rosary for me that evening. He exudes joy, and he kept talking about how much he loves being a priest:

Don't Leave Mass Before a Prayer of Thanksgiving!

"The best prayers for our souls are those that we pray after Communion." - St. Alphonsus

A Hail Storm in July?

People lined up for the Rosary procession like normal on a 95 degree day...

When all of a sudden a severe hail storm hit....in the middle of July:

The ice was larger than a dime:

Afterwards, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the grotto:

I lit a candle near the grotto for everyone's prayer intentions:

Happy 5th Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum!

Lourdes

Greetings from Lourdes! I have been here for two days now and will be updating the blog with photos periodically. Feel free to send me prayer requests to take to Our Lady in the grotto!

Archbishop Sheen Declared "Venerable"!

haha!

The Eastern Church baptizes by immersion:

Bishop Burbidge Confirms in Extraordinary Form - June 6, 2012

Assisted by priests, seminarians, and altar servers of the diocese of Raleigh, Bishop Burbidge conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on over twenty confirmandi at Sacred Heart Cathedral on June 6, 2012.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Benediction followed the Confirmation ritual:

Photos by Valerie Pajerski