Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Year of Faith

Today begins the Year of Faith as proclaimed by our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.  During this year His Holiness has called the entire Church to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and the twentieth anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  For this Year of Faith, I thought it might be a nice practice to take a closer look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as choosing a Doctor of the Church as a bit of spiritual reading for my free time (if such a thing exists for a seminarian).  And so it begins:

For the past few days  I have been pondering the endless possibilities for the year, I realized that my perception of faith was a bit convoluted.  Faith is not supposed to be complicated! Though I have told myself this a thousand times and have been reminded of this by the many great witnesses of faith in my life, it finally sunk in.  Looking at the statue of the Child Jesus that sits on my desk, I said to myself, "Faith is simple. Faith is for children.  Our Lord, the Child Jesus joyfully gives us His heart.  Though we have the best intentions, we will give Him our hearts and in return wound His by our little, or sometimes blatant turning away from Him.  Yet, He will still give us His own heart to draw us closer to Himself."  Then I realized that if I am to gain this child-like trust, freedom, and faith I should turn to someone who would be able to help me.  Who would be better than the Little Flower, St. Therese of the Child Jesus? So, I turn to this humble Doctor of the Church (of which there are now 35!) asking for her intercession and aid with this endeavor.   I would encourage you all to do this as well.  Choose a Doctor of the Church and read their writings or biography along with the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

O Jesus meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like your heart.
Holy Ghost, set our hearts on fire.
St. Therese, pray for us.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

This Joyful Eastertide

The Altar of Repose for the Holy Thursday Mass



 The Sanctuary prepared for Easter Sunday Mass


Christus resurrexit! Resurrexit vere!
Alleluia! Alleluia!


Sunday, March 25, 2012

Spring at the Josephinum

This past week, I began to realize that my exile to the Mid-West isn't that terrible after all. However, I am looking forward to Holy Week at Home in North Carolina.  Hopefully this week I'll add a few pictures of the chapels decked out for Passiontide.





 

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Prayer for the Eucharistic Congress


O Jesus, who art really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament to be the food of our souls, deign to bless and bring to a successful issue all Eucharistic Congresses and gatherings, and especially the coming Congress of the Diocese of Charlotte. Be Thou the inspiration of our labors, resolutions and vows; accept graciously the solemn homage we will render to Thee; send Your Holy Spirit to kindle the hearts of priests, religious, and all the faithful, especially the children, so that devout participation in the Holy Mass and frequent and daily Holy Communion may be held in honor in all the countries of the world; and grant that the Kingship of Your Sacred Heart over human society may everywhere be acknowledged to the glory of God, the Father. Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, bless the Congress.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Patroness of our Diocese, pray for us.
Saint Paschal Baylon, pray for us.
Saint Patrick, pray for us.
Amen.

For more information, take a look over here.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

It's the good life...


It's hard living in a newly renovated room on the third floor of what we call Hotel Josephinum.  This terrible view doesn't help much at all.  Oh well...

Seriously, this is the beautiful view from my window.  I was very fortunate to get one of the twenty newly renovated rooms in the college division.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Fatima and surrounding areas.


 Portugal's monument to Christ the King in Lisbon


The Basilica Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima


The apparition sight at Valinhos


The representation of the Angel of Peace bringing Holy Communion to the seers





The sacristy in which St. Anthony left the Augustinians to become a Franciscan...and some lovely nuns


Beautiful architecture 


Altar of the Tree of Jesse 


Our Lady in procession
The lift and statue combined weigh 800lbs.  

These are only a few of the photos.  

Saturday, August 20, 2011

..the silence has ended?

Now that I have returned from pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal and have moved in at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio I will be attempting to blog a bit more.  I am very excited to be here at the seminary!  Facebook will rarely be used so this will be the best way to keep tract of me.  Pictures from the pilgrimage soon...I hope.