A Great Witness

Seminarians from the Pontifical College Josephinum wearing their house cassocks (which identify them with their particular seminary), and praying outside of an abortion clinic:

http://www.pcj.edu/2011-12/clinic.html

Suffering

I recently came across these wise words about suffering from Fr. Stephen Doyle, O.F.M. We all suffer in one way or another, but what is our reaction to this suffering? Please consider the following passage:

Suffering can diminish people or make them grow. How sad it is to encounter those who have become whiners or complainers when faced with the burden of illness or age. What a joy to come in contact with those whose spirit glows even or perhaps because of suffering. What accounts for the difference? Some ask the right question, and some ask the wrong question.

Some ask, "Why is God doing this to me," or "What did I do to deserve this?" That is the wrong question, but even Jesus' disciples asked it. "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?" (John 9:2) The question presumes that all suffering is due to personal sin and comes as a punishment from a vindictive God. It has been called "ambush" theology. It presents an angry and mean-spirited God who is just waiting for us to make a false move. Hardly the image of his Father that Jesus gives us.

Such a question is fundamentally wrong because it has no answer. It can only lead to frustration or even loss of faith. Even Jesus did not tell us why there is suffering in the world or where it comes from. Instead, he helped us to ask the right question. "What can I do with this illness, this suffering?" This question has an answer that will enable us to grow and to help others. We can do with our suffering what Jesus did with his. We can embrace it with love and join in his saving work. Because we are one with him, he is willing to make our sufferings his own. Jesus did not physically cure everyone he met, as he cured this man at the pool. He does not say to everyone, "Rise and walk." But he is always willing to heal. He may begin the healing by helping us to ask the right question.

Diocesan Cause for Father Price Opens

Story and photos from the Diocese of Raleigh website:

The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge officially opened the Diocesan phase for the Cause for Beatification and Canonization of Father Thomas Frederick Price on March 9, 2012. The opening took place within the context of Solemn Vespers (Evening Prayer). In attendance were Bishop Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte, and Right Reverend Placid Solari, Abbot of Belmont. Also in attendance were Reverend Monsignor David D. Brockman, Vicar General of the Diocese; Reverend Edward M. Dougherty, Superior General of the Maryknoll Catholic Foreign Mission Society; Very Reverend James F. Garneau, V.F., Ph.D., Episcopal Delegate for the Cause of Father Price; and Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, Postulator of the Cause of Father Price. Dr. Ambrosi was appointed to his position by the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

The installation of the Tribunal, including the Historical Commission and Theological Commission then took place with the appointees taking an oath, beginning with Bishop Burbidge:

"I, the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh, legally constituted in the trial of Beatification and Canonization on the life, virtues, and reputation of sanctity of the Servant of God, Father Thomas Frederick Price, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and carefully execute the duty committed to me and will keep secret all that I may learn during said trial. In fulfilling my duty, I will keep before my eyes only God and the good of the Church. May God help me and these Holy Gospels, which I touch with my hand.”

In his homily, Bishop Burbidge addressed the testimonial portion of the trial. “We will discover that, like all of us, he had strengths and limitations, and he met successes and obstacles. Father Price loved the Lord our God and longed to spread His Truth throughout this State and even the world. Father Price,” Bishop Burbidge said, “tried to always remember that such a mission was dependent on the amazing grace of God and the intercession of Our Blessed Mother. That belief is made clear in a retreat homily at which he said: ‘There is a danger if we depend on ourselves too much. That is a grave error. For in the end, God’s grace is everything, and only our conformity with His grace will render our deeds and ministry successful.’”

I had the honor of having a photo taken with the Bishop and Fr. Dougherty, the Superior General of Maryknoll:

The Diocesan website features a special page for the Cause of Father Price with a direct link from the home page. Resources will be frequently added to the page. You are invited to visit it often to learn more about Father Price, now formally a Servant of God.

Medical Update

My friends, I am sorry that I never posted an update after my last appointment in Baltimore on March 1st. Everything went well, and the MRI scans showed that the tumor is stable, and perhaps slightly smaller (the change is so slight that it's hard to tell if a change actually occurred). Overall, good news.

Since returning home from the seminary, my blood counts have also gotten better, and I am no longer "immuno-deficient."

I have chosen to remain on the daily low-dose chemotherapy. I don't have many side effects from it and it seems to be doing the trick, so why not! There is some concern about long-term effects of chemotherapy (causing secondary cancers due to long-term exposure), so I'll probably stop taking it around September or October. At that time, I'll have MRIs every few weeks to monitor the tumor. If it starts to grow again, I can begin the chemo again with no problem.

So for now, please keep praying for me. My MRIs have been extended to 3 months between appointments because I have been stable for so long and changes aren't expected. I should go back for another MRI at the end of May/beginning of June.

Thanks for your prayers!

Cheers! It's Sunday!

Go To Frequent Confession - Even Weekly

"My Father in Heaven, here I am - help me!"

"You who tend to lose heart, I will tell you something that is very consoling: when a person does what he can, God will not deny his grace. Our Lord is a Father, and if, in the silence of his heart, one of his sons says to him: ‘My Father in Heaven, here am I, help me...’ If he goes to the Mother of God, who is our Mother, he will get through. But God is demanding. He asks us to love him truly; he does not want traitors. We must be faithful in this supernatural struggle, which makes us happy on earth by dint of sacrifice" (Escriva, The Way of the Cross, Tenth Station, 3).

"I would like to see you going to the holy Sacrament of Penance, the sacrament of divine forgiveness, every week, and indeed whenever you need it, without giving in to scruples. Clothed in grace, we can cross mountains, and climb the hill of our Christian duty, without halting on the way. If we use these resources with a firm purpose and beg Our Lord to grant us an ever increasing hope, we will possess the infectious joy of those who know they are children of God: ‘If God is with us, who can be against us?’ Let us be optimists. Moved by the power of hope, we will fight to wipe away the trail of filth and slime left by the sowers of hatred. We will find a new joyful perspective to the world, seeing that it has sprung forth beautiful and fair from the hands of God. We will give it back to him with that same beauty, if we learn how to repent.

Let us grow in hope, thereby strengthening our faith which is truly ‘that which gives substance to our hopes, which convinces us of things we cannot see’. Let us grow in this virtue, let us beg Our Lord to increase his charity in us; after all, one can only really trust that which one loves with all one’s might. And it is certainly worthwhile to love Our Lord. You and I know from experience that people in love surrender themselves unhesitatingly. Their hearts beat in a wonderful unison, with a single love. What then will the Love of God be like? Do you not realise that Christ has died for each and every one of us? Yes, for this poor little heart of ours, Jesus consummated his redeeming sacrifice.

Our Lord speaks frequently to us of the reward which he won for us by his Death and Resurrection. ‘I am going away to prepare a home for you. And though I do go away, to prepare you a home, I am coming back; and then I will take you to myself, so that you too may be where I am.’ Heaven is the final destination of our path on earth. Jesus has gone ahead of us and awaits us there, in the company of Our Lady and of St Joseph, whom I so much revere, and of all the angels and saints" (Escriva, Friends of God, 219-220).

Catholic Missionary Suing Government Willing to Risk Health Over HHS Mandate

Please pray for my dear friend, Stacy Molai, who is suing the HHS over the current mandate. Article from PR Newswire:

DENVER, March 6, 2012. A missionary with FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, is one of two private citizens who has joined states, senators and others in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' mandate that nearly all health insurance plans cover contraceptives free of charge, says she would give up her critically important health insurance if the mandate is not overturned.

Stacy Molai, of Omaha, Neb., suffers from Crohn's disease and says her health insurance coverage is critical in order to avoid financial ruin and possibly life-threatening consequences. Medical supplies for her condition cost up to $400 every month.

Molai, 31, raises her own salary as a lay Catholic missionary and says that, "Should the mandate be upheld, I would gladly give up my insurance coverage, despite the very real risk that would pose to my financial well-being and my health."

"The government mandate violates my constitutional guarantee of the Freedom of Association," Molai added. "I'm no longer free to associate with another Catholic employer without grave risks in abandoning a grandfathered insurance policy. I have had four surgeries and countless hospitalizations because of my Crohn's disease."

"But my relationship with Jesus Christ is at the core of who I am, and the government mandate violates my unalienable rights by interfering with that sacred relationship. I'm no longer free to follow the dictates of my conscience and the teaching of my Church without great financial and health risks. That's not freedom."

Jeremy Rivera, director of communications at FOCUS, stated that, "FOCUS is proud to have a woman like Stacy among our missionary staff. As her employer, we stand in solidarity with her and her convictions to remain true to her conscience and to exercise her religious liberty in the face of the government's proposed HHS mandate. Given the reality of Stacy's serious health issues, her courage should inspire all Catholics and people of faith to reinforce the necessity to overturn this unjust law."

At the March for Life with Stacy in 2010:

More on St. Gabriel Possenti - As Promised

I received many comments and emails asking for more information about St. Gabriel Possenti. He was the eleventh of thirteen children of Sante Possenti, a lawyer and the Governor of Assisi, Italy. He was born in 1838 and was baptized "Francis," then later educated at the Jesuit college at Spoleto. His mother died when he was a small boy.

He joined the Jesuits when he was seventeen after he had vowed to do so if cured of an almost fatal illness, but he delayed entering the novitiate. His father, who misunderstood the meaning of the worth of a religious vocation did much to try to dissuade his son from entering the religious life. But Francis was devoted to the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. It was Our Lady who helped him to bear suffering during this trial.

While still in his teens, set his heart on that which transcends anything of this world. Answering the call of his Crucified Lord, he joined the Passionist Congregation at 18 years old, taking the name Br. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (or the Sorrowful Virgin). The heart of his spirituality was to study and imitate the virtues of our Suffering Savior as mirrored in the heart of the Sorrowful Virgin Mary.

He led an exemplary life as a religious, filled with penances and self-effacement, was stricken with tuberculosis before he could be ordained, and died at Isola di Gran Sasso on February 27, 1862 - months before his 24th birthday. Yet, he had attained such remarkable sanctity in that short time he was a Passionist that he was canonized a Saint by the Church in 1920. Only five years later, weekly devotions in his honor were begun in St. Michael Church, Union City, N.J. For over 55 years, thousands of favors, some of a most extraordinary nature, have been granted and are attributed to his powerful intercession with Christ Crucified and the Sorrowful Mother Mary.

He is known to be a patron of youth, and more recently has been considered a patron of handgunners, since as a seminarian he once singlehandedly defended his town from robbers with two handguns:

St. Gabriel, pray for us!

Happy Sunday

Happy 2nd Sunday in Lent! Some say "let Lent be Lent" and keep up their penance, but I like to rejoice on the Lord's day:

St Therese of Lisieux

"At meditation, I was for a long time always near a sister who never stopped fidgeting with either her rosary or something else. Perhaps I was the only one who heard her, as my ears are very sharp, but I could not tell you how it irritated me.

What I wanted to do was to turn and stare at her until she stopped her noise, but deep down I knew it was better to endure it patiently- first, for the love of God, and secondly, so as not to upset her. So I made no fuss, though sometimes I was soaked with sweat under the strain and my prayer was nothing but the prayer of suffering.

At last I tried to find some way of enduring this suffering calmly and even joyfully. So I did my best to enjoy this unpleasant noise. Instead of trying not to hear it- which was impossible- I strove to listen to it carefully as if it were a first-class concert, and my meditation, which was not the prayer of quiet, was spent in offering this concert to God." (St. Therese of Lisieux)

St. Gemma and St. Gabriel: A Love Story

I wrote before about St. Gabriel Possenti, but only as an aside in a reflection about one of my favorite Saints, St. Gemma Galgani. They never met each other in this earthly life (St. Gabriel died from an illness 10-15 years before St. Gemma's birth), but there is still a beautiful love story to be told.

They both loved the Passionist spirituality - St. Gabriel was a Passionist seminarian, and St. Gemma desired to become a Passionist nun even though her health prohibited her from doing so. Most importantly, St. Gemma called upon the intercession of St. Gabriel when she was sick, and God healed her. Saint Gemma wrote about her illness:

One evening, more disturbed than usual I complained to Jesus saying that I would not pray any more if He would not cure me, and I asked Him why He made me so ill. My Angel replied to me: "If Jesus afflicts you in the body, He does it to purify your spirit. Be good." Oh how many times in my long illness He let me hear consoling words in my heart! But I never took account of them.

Soon after this realization, her devotion to her spiritual brother, St. Gabriel, commenced. She had never heard of the young man before (He was "Venerable" at the time), and it took a while before her devotion to him grew:

One day a lady, who used to come to visit me brought a book to read, "The Life of the Venerable Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother.” Almost with contempt I took it and put it under my pillow; I begged the lady to commend me to him, but I gave him no more thought. The family, however, began to say three Paters, Aves, and Glorias to him.

One afternoon a terrible temptation came to me. I said to myself that I was weary and that lying in bed had become intolerable.... I ran in spirit to the Venerable Gabriel and said to him, vehemently, "Save my soul first and then my body." Nevertheless the demon continued with more violent assaults. A thousand evil thoughts flashed through my mind. Again I had recourse to the Venerable Gabriel; and this time I conquered. I regained control of myself; I made the sign of the cross and in a quarter of an hour, I began to unite myself to my God whom I had treated so disrespectfully. I remember now that very evening I began to read the "Life" of Brother Gabriel which the lady had left me. I read it many times. I could not read it often enough. I admired greatly his virtues and determined to follow his example.

From the day that my new protector, Venerable Gabriel, had saved my soul, I began to have a particular devotion to him. In the night I could not sleep if I did not have his picture under my pillow, and I began at last to see him near me, that is, Father, I seemed to feel his presence. In every bad deed I was about to do I turned to Brother Gabriel in spirit and he restrained me. I did not fail to pray to him every day with these words: "Save my soul, then my body."

"Save my soul, then my body" - what a great meditation for all who are sick, for we know that the salvation of our soul matters more than anything. This became the "battle cry" of Saint Gemma when she was in pain, begging Saint Gabriel to intercede and "save her soul, then her body."

Saint Gemma continues her story, telling of how she got so close to Saint Gabriel that she had visions of him:

Then came the day when the woman took back the Life of Venerable Gabriel. In taking it from under my pillow and giving it to the lady, I could not refrain from crying. She, seeing how much it grieved me to give it up, promised to return it after she had obtained permission of the one from whom she had borrowed it. She returned after a few days but she did not bring the book. This made me very unhappy. But that Saint of God wanted at once to recompense me for my disappointment and at night in a dream he appeared to me clothed in the garb of the Passionists.

I was slow then in recognizing who he was. I remained in silence before him. He asked me why I had wept on being deprived of his Life? I did not know what to answer but he said to me, "You see how much I am pleased with your disappointment, so much pleased that I have come myself to see you. Are you glad to see me?" I did not reply. He then caressed me many times and repeated, "Be good, because I will come back to see you." He permitted me to kiss his habit and his rosary and then he went away.

I found myself that evening perfectly calm. When night came I slept. All at once I saw again at the foot of my bed my Protector. He said to me, "Gemma, make willingly the vow to become a religious." "Why?" I asked. And he replied, giving me a kiss upon my forehead. "My sister," he said, looking at me and smiling. I understood nothing of all this. To thank him, I kissed his habit. He took the woolen heart badge that every Passionist wears on his breast and let me kiss it. Then he placed it on the sheet above my breast, and repeated "My sister!" and vanished. Upon the sheet in the morning, however, I found nothing. I received Holy Communion, and I made the promise that he asked.

The two continued a spiritual relationship, and she often had visions of St. Gabriel. He continued to guide her in her spiritual life.

St. Gemma is an outstanding example of how to deal with suffering, and is a wonderful patroness for all of the sick. As she commented in 1902: "When I shrink from suffering, Jesus reproves me and tells me that He did not refuse to suffer. Then I say 'Jesus, Your will and not mine'. At last I am convinced that only God can make me happy, and in Him I have placed all my hope!"

Final France Photos

Next, to Rochefort:

Famous for their candied fruits:

And chocolates. I didn't eat any - I just coveted:

The parish church:

A special statue of Our Lady. My rough translation from this description near the statue: "Here, in the 12th Century, a shepherd discovered a statue of the Virgin Mary in a hollowed out portion of a tree, called 'Our Lady of Tronchaye.' This statue was hidden during the Normand invasions during the 10th Century. This discovery was the origin of a place of pilgrimage in this community church where in the 16th Century a community of priests between 1500 (? the band is covering the date and could not be touched) and 1789 prayed the Divine Office here in choir every day":

Very ancient statues decorate the church. This is St. Mathuran. He was an exorcist, and this statue is from the 17th Century, depicting him in the middle of an exorcism:

At the nearby library at the Vannes seminary - many Missals that I was tempted to steal :)

We also visited St.-Anne D'Auray. Saint Anne (the Mother of the Blessed Virgin) is the patron Saint of Brittany:

The tomb of a local priest from the 1600's:

La Trinite-sur-mer and Quiberon - the southern coast and peninsula of Brittany. One of the most lovely places I have ever visited. In that time of year, it was very cold, fast wind blowing, and sea spray blowing everywhere. I thought a lot of my friends The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, as I picture their monastery having a similar (if not more extreme!) climate:

Next, to the town of Carnac:

The relics of St. Cornely:

Next, driving North. Here is the Cathedral of Rennes:

And the Basilica Saint-Sauveur de Dinan:

The town of Dinan. Beautiful:

The church of Sant Malo in the town of Dinan, which is a town with many historical monuments preserved:

More of Dinan:

We walked around the wall:

Looking down from the wall into the street in the town. How I would love to live here:

Next, a stop at Mont Saint-Michel. The island has been a strategic point holding fortifications since ancient times, and since the 8th century AD it became the seat of the Saint-Michel monastery, from which it draws the name. During certain seasons, the high tide prevents access to the monastery, so visits have to be carefully planned ahead of time:

Inside the large monastery:

Looking down at night from the monastery. This is the area that floods during certain seasons. Be careful and plan well!

Next to the town of Caen, which has preserved much of its historic "flavor." The Church of St. Pierre in Caen:

The lovely altar, still intact. This church is one of the most prayerful places we visited:

Next, to Lisieux in Normandy - to the shrine of St. Therese of Lisieux! I have always wanted to visit here, so I am glad that Fr. Cusick insisted that we make it a priority. Father celebrated a Latin Mass in the crypt chapel. I joked with the nun in French: "You are the sacristan here, just like St. Therese was." She blushed and said, "yes, it is a great grace."

The basilica:

One of Saint Therese's bones on display for prayer:

Down the road at the Carmel where St. Therese spent the final years of her life, a wax sculpture of St. Therese with some of her relics. The rest of her remains are in a coffin below this shrine. The coffin is only brought out for veneration at certain times of the year.

Also below the shrine are the remains of Therese's three sisters, all nuns, and I believe all were at the same Carmel:

In the crypt of the basilica, here are the remains of St. Therese's parents, both "Blessed." They are entombed together as a great witness to the sanctity they achieved through married love:

In the sacristy, a banner of St. Therese with a quote from her: "I want to spend my eternity doing good on earth."

Construction on the basilica started in 1929 and was finished in 1954. It is decorated with mosaics, and while I am not very fond of the upper basilica, I found the lower crypt section to be quite peaceful and beautiful:

Next, to Rouen where we visited Saint-Ouen Abbey:

The tower where Joan of Arc was held (it is debated whether or not she was actually held here, but it is "advertised" as such):

This is the spot where St. Joan of Arc was killed:

Finally, to the Institute of the Good Shepherd's school to celebrate Epiphany with the families. It is traditionally the youngest child's job to pass out the pieces of King Cake:

Thanks to my friend, Fr. Beaugrand, for hosting us and showing us around his home territory of Brittany. He used up his vacation days to host us and take us around. Please pray for him and his priesthood!