"I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe." - St. Augustine

"No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother." - St. Cyprian

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

A Sin is a Sin is a Sin

In light of the failure of the SCOTUS this morning, it's even more imperative that we know and love and profess our faith to the wider collapsing culture. We need to evangelize those that do not believe and catechize those who claim to believe. I think we will soon be in a similar age as the Dark Ages, where the only light remaining will be the Catholic Church and everything she stands for.

I will not stand for a redefinition of something that transcends definition in virtue of it's nature. It's possible to redefine anything to suit particular purposes, but that in reality does not change it. To call a sin not a sin is a contradiction. A sin is a sin is a sin no matter how one tries to spin it.

To quote a great man and modern philosopher, G.K. Chesterton: "Over-civilization and barbarism are within an inch of each other." This cannot be truer than in what we have been witnessing lately. 

This country needs God. We Christians need to show God to the world and revitalize civilization.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Invitation

I want to take this time, to anyone who reads this blog, especially non-Catholic, to invite you to try Catholicism. Or at least be open to her claims.

I invite you to experience the richness of the Catholic faith.

If you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind do not be afraid of where He might lead you!

Show up to a Mass (don't take communion...yet).

Say a rosary - the prayers are completely Christocentric.

Pick a saint and find out more about them. You don't have to invoke their intersession; just get to know a fellow Christian who has won the race.

Pray to the Holy Spirit to open your mind and cast your net on the otherside of the boat.

It just might change your life.

I'll be praying for you.


Monday, June 3, 2013

The Feast of Corpus Christi

Yesterday, we celebrated a beautiful feast day in the liturgical calendar of the Church. Corpus Christi, literally, the "Body of Christ", is primarily concerned with the Eucharist. However, it seems that it was not so, at least according to what I heard during the homily at my parish the other day.

I've given up to the fact that my current diocese where I live, as opposed to my former one, needs some catechetical help and that it is far from unflinching orthodoxy. It's sloppy. It's not purposefully blatant, it's just the same, old, watered down Catholicism that has become a hallmark in this country; a sort of banal protestant-y type of Catholicism. After 40+ years in the feel-good, spirit of Vatican II culture, I have come to expect this from some corners of the country. It makes me sad.

I love our priests and I want the best for these men called by God. Pray for them. We have a good man as pastor, but he lost the opportunity yesterday to highlight the main point of the feast day. Instead of what makes us distinct as Catholics in our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, it was "how can we be servants to others in the model of Jesus?" He started strong with how at one Mass when he was a kid, his friend, the priest, and himself were the only ones to receive communion that day. There were hundreds in the pews, yet only 3 received. I was hoping he would say that we need to reclaim our reverence for the Eucharist and how grave our sins are and how we shouldn't receive the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin. Nope. He mentioned something that the thought at that time was as if the Eucharist was a reward for being good, etc. etc. etc. and also the fact that now it seems to have gone the other way and everyone receives now. He mentioned something about the readings and the feeding of the 5,000 and then how we should be serving others like Christ. Not a bad thing, to serve others like Christ, but save that homily for a different day.

We, as Catholics, are the only ones who take Christ at His words in John 6. Our priests, rather Christ's priests, are the only ones with the power to confect the Eucharist and change simple bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior!...and we talked about serving others in the example of Christ. Am I the only one to think that there was something missed here?

My current parish, while I love them, are in current need of some sound catechesis and real doctrinal truths to bite into. People want something to believe in, something true and real. Our pastor has good days and not so good days and this day could have been better. I was surprised that there was not even a participation in the Eucharistic holy hour that the pope called the world to. We found it on EWTN before Mass, but when we actually got to the church, there was nothing going on. People were filling the pews, but there were whispers and talking. It was really disheartening for me. For 10 minutes, I was on my knees staring at the tabernacle, which is in a dark corner, and saying "sorry". Sorry for my personal sins and for the unintended disrespect for his Presence in our midst.

In adoration, we are stripped bare of our worldly concerns and are merely in the presence of the creator. We stare at him and he stares directly at us, as we are. How beautiful. We could change the world if more people made adoration a priority.

St. Charles Lwanga and companions, pray for us!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

The Return of Benedict to the Vatican

Today, it is reported, our emeritus Roman Pontiff will be returning to the small Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the Vatican gardens. He will be just across the way from the Domus Sanctae Marthae where Pope Francis lives.

Pope Francis has called upon his predecessor a few times since he became pope in early March. Even more has he referenced Benedict numerous times in his talks and sermons. I'm sure that semi-frequent visits to Benedict may just in fact be a part of Francis' papal activity. Again, these men are two of the greatest living Christians in the world. I love them both.

Let us continue to pray for our Pope and our Pope Emeritus. St. Athanasius, ora pro nobis!

UPDATE: Benedict has landed!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Happy Feast of St. Mark!

Celebrate the great St. Mark today!

And St. Mark, ora pro nobis!

Holy Apostles College & Seminary


In approximately 18 days or so, I will be embarking on the task of earning my masters degree in theology from Holy Apostles College in Cromwell, CT. My masters degree will officially be an M.A. in Theology with a concentration in Church history. Plus, I have 6 years from the start date to complete the distance program. Realizing my dreams of not only getting an advanced degree, but also in what I want to do, is a beautiful thing. God is good and I have been truly blessed!

Some background: My love for history made itself apparent at a young age. I loved discovering things and finding out more information about them. It started with me wanting to be an archeologist. I loved dinosaurs (still do). I then moved on to a love of American history. I knew that we needed to know where we came from as a society to better understand ourselves and our state and move into the future. Finally, with my deeper investigation into my Catholic faith, I realized I had a new found love and desire to learn more about Church history. My grandfather had quite the effect on me as well. His love of history and his true desire to be a teacher (which he never did, sadly - formally at least) left a mark and urged me to truly find what I want to do with my life and then do it!

Let me tell you about how I got to this point. It started about a year and a half ago when I was preparing to take the GRE. A good buddy of mine sat me down in front of a computer and had me go to the website to register. He had apparently been talking to my wife (girlfriend at the time) and she told him I was putting it off...for no good reason. I was procrastinating and he just took me by the shoulders and had me go to a website. It was nice of him to do this, I realize now. Well, I took the test and I got a pretty decent score. I sent the results off to a few schools, not really finding a program in exactly what I wanted to do.

Fast forward to last summer; I sent off an actual application. Needless to say, I did not get in. However, I did e-mail the director asking if there was anything that I could do to improve my chances the next time and moving further in my quest. They were gracious enough to send me back an e-mail. I thought it was my GRE scores, but they said I shouldn't have a problem getting into any program with those. That was relief. I continued to search for a program and I started to really look at distance ones.

I knew that the Augustine Institute had a distance program. But, I wanted a school that was accredited which at this time the A.I. still is not. So I moved on. I also wanted a legitimately Catholic school, not just one in name only. I frequent a website called www.calledtocommunion.com. I've mentioned it before on this blog. A frequent commenter was asked to write a guest post. I was always impressed with his knowledge of argument and his well reasoned thinking. As part of his bio at the beginning of the article, I noticed that he was from Ohio, yet was completing his degree in Church history in Connecticut. I did a virtual double take. He mentioned his university and sure enough it was Holy Apostles. I decided to investigate more.

I wandered around their website (www.holyapostles.edu) and was absolutely impressed. My favorite part, besides the distance piece, was that they were accredited and were one of the Newman Society top Catholic schools in America. Orthodox teaching in line with the Magisterium! Everything seemed to be perfect for what I wanted to pursue. The price was competitive and something that I could swing over the next few years. I asked my priest from college to write another letter of recommendation and a few other professors from undergrad. They're friends really. I got through the application, the letters, and the other pieces needed pretty quickly. The one thing that kept me from submitting the whole packet was the entrance essay. I went through many drafts and revisions until it was perfect. It took a few months actually. Soon I sent everything in and prayed for the best.

It was a few weeks later when the response came. My wife called earlier and told me that she had a present for me. I was not thinking that it was the correspondence. I got home and saw the mail on the counter. I immediately planned for the worst. I had been in that position before and if I didn't get in this time, I was going to assume that this was not what God wanted me to do. I was about to have a vocational crisis!

I slowly opened the packet. I grabbed the letters inside and took the top sheet, nice paper too, and flipped it over. I read the first few words and then there it was "ACCEPTED"! I was jumping all over the living room in thanksgiving and dancing like a crazy person. I remember my wife saying something along the lines of "just wait until you start doing the school work. Try and remember this moment." I called family members and told them all the good news.

Over the next few months, I was finalizing everything that I needed in order to start as soon as possible. We talked finances, classes, and other things. I figured that I would start with the class that everyone needed - PHTH600 Philosophy for Theologians taught by a Dominican priest! I love the fact that I have a priest for a teacher. It's been a while.

So that brings us up to date. I've got all the course materials needed and now I'm just waiting to start. It really became official when I got the Holy Apostles e-mail account. Pray for me as I go along! This is an exciting time!

I think grandpa would be proud.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

A Tale of Two Popes: Benedict & Francis

It has been a very busy two months since the last post: Benedict retired, a conclave happened, and Jorge Mario Bergoglio was chosen as the 266th successor to St. Peter on March 13, 2013. Since then, we have learned of the many stories in his life, especially as archbishop of Buenos Aires. I think it's time for me to delve in deeper to what I think of these two men, these two popes.

There will always be a transition when one person steps in for another. We are all unique and have different strengths that we bring to the table. As Fr. Z says on his blog, "Read Francis through Benedict." That being said, I absolutely love our new Holy Father. Sure, some of what he does we are not used to, just as Benedict did things we were not used to after JPII died, but that is the beauty of the Holy Spirit. His Will be done. This man is exactly what we need in the world today and in the Church. Benedict was also the man that we needed in his own way. Each man's humility is truly inspiring. Thus we see in these last two popes such a great "hermeneutic of continuity".

I have a great love of Benedict XVI and what he did for the Church. His revision of the English translation of the Missal and his efforts to restore the office of the Papacy its proper dignity, were some of the high points. I especially loved his outreach to other Christian communities and how seriously he took his role as shepherd and as an instrument and principle of Christian unity. One of the legacies of his pontificate will be his teaching prowess and efforts. In a way more like that of a father teaching his children, he gave us an understanding of our Faith that we sorely needed after the poor catechesis and liturgical abuses of the last 40 years. Only in time will we truly be able to see what rich treasures that Benedict shared with us. I am not going to lie, I will miss him. I had a lump in my throat when I watched him get into the helicopter and fly to Castel Gondolfo. I take it as a privilege that I was able to witness it in real time and also receive his final blessing as Pope, even if it was through the T.V. screen. We are blessed to live in this time and to be Catholics. I, for one, am glad he is still here praying fervently for the Church.

During the Sede Vacante, I was hopeful that none of the papabile would get chosen. I prayed for it. "Thy Will be done" was my mantra. I just wanted someone who would carry on the good work that Benedict started. Like others, I was completely confused and had never heard of Cardinal Bergoglio. But I was so ecstatic to see him emerge as our new Holy Father. What a blessing! An American! A Jesuit! His name is Francis! Many firsts. And I have a feeling many more wonderful surprises. His approach to people is refreshing and the world is taking notice. Many lapsed Catholics, especially in Latin America, have or are returning to the Church. The fact that an Orthodox patriarch attended his installation Mass is an indicator of something truly special going on that only God knows. We are still getting used to his style and his papacy and I have no doubt in my mind that he will be a great pope. I love the guy already and he is challenging me to be more aware of the shortfalls that I have in living my faith and in my proclamation of the gospel. May God grant him a long reign! This is truly an exciting time in the history of our faith and of the world!

Viva il Papa!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

On Pope Benedict's Resignation & Graduate School

I pray for the Holy Father and all his intentions. I pray that the guidance of the Holy Spirit will continue to guide the college of cardinals to choose the next successor of St. Peter. Il Papa is truly a just and humble man and we would do well to imitate him and his humility during this time of Lent. Fratres, ora pro Benedetto!

On another note, Holy Apostles College & Seminary has another student! May I do right by them and may God grant me patient and the grace to get through the next few years.

Ash Wednesday, February 13, 2013