school starts

well, its half way through october and we just finished our first week of classes.  i'm really excited for them this go around.  i'll have classes in study of the Church, Letters of St. Paul, study of the Holy Spirit, Christian Faith Hope and Love, Grace, Christian Spirituality, and Canon Law.  its going to be demanding but hopefully fruitful.  

   

i'm also taking more italian lessons and some greek classes on the side.  the weather here in Rome is cooling down nicely, there are less tourists around and life is picking up at the college--there are over 200 of us here, 4 seminarians are from pdx (we have 47 total seminarians for pdx).  here is a great little homily about politics that i just read, it helped me out, maybe you'll like it too.  also a few pics of my class retreat.  hope you are all well, sorry i'm bad in blogging.

      

Profile of a Catholic Politician

Gospel Commentary for 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap

ROME, OCT. 17, 2008 (Zenit.org).- This Sunday’s Gospel ends with one of those lapidary phrases of Jesus that have left a deep mark on history and on human language: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s , and to God what is God’s.”

It is no longer either Caesar or God, but Caesar and God, each on his appropriate level. It is the beginning of the separation of religion and politics, which until then had been inseparable among all peoples and regimes.

The Jews were used to understanding the future reign of God founded by the Messiah as a theocracy, that is, as a government directed by God ruling over the whole earth through his people. But now the words of Christ reveal a kingdom of God that is in this world but that is not of this world, that travels on a different wavelength and that, for this reason, can coexist with every other political regime, whether it be sacral or secular.

Here we see two qualitatively different sovereignties of God over the world: the spiritual sovereignty that constitutes the Kingdom of God and that is exercised directly in Christ, and the temporal and political sovereignty that God exercises indirectly, entrusting it to man’s free choice and the play of secondary causes.

Caesar and God, however, are not put on the same level, because Caesar too depends on God and must answer to him. Thus “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” means: “Give to Caesar what God himself wants to be given to Caesar.” God is sovereign over all, including Caesar. We are not divided between two loyalties; we are not forced to serve “two masters.”
The Christian is free to obey the state, but he is also free to resist the state when it goes against God and his law. In such a case it is not legitimate to invoke the principle about the obedience that is owed to superiors, as war criminals often do when they are on trial. Before obeying men, in fact, you must first obey God and your own conscience. You cannot give your soul, which belongs to God, to Caesar.

St. Paul was the first to draw practical conclusions from this teaching of Christ. He writes: “Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God. … Whoever resists authority opposes the order that God has appointed. … This is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities who are in charge of this are ministers of God” (Romans 13:1 ff.).

Paying appropriately levied taxes is for the Christian (but also for every honest person) a duty of justice and therefore an obligation of conscience . Guaranteeing order, commerce and a whole series of other services, the state gives the citizen something to which it has a right for compensation in return, precisely to be able to continue these same services.

The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” reminds us that tax evasion, when it reaches certain proportions, is a mortal sin equal to every other grave act of theft. It is stealing, not from the “state,” that is from no one, but from the community, that is, from everyone. Naturally, this supposes that the state is just and equitable in imposing taxes.

Christian cooperation in building a just and peaceful society does not stop at paying taxes; it must also extend itself to the promotion of common values such as the family, the defense of life, solidarity with the poor, peace. There is also another sphere in which Christians must make a contribution to politics. It does not have to do with the content of politics so much as its methods, it s style.

Christians must help to remove the poison from the climate of contentiousness in politics, bring back greater respect, composure and dignity to relationships between parties. Respect for one’s neighbor, clemency, capacity for self-criticism: These are the traits that a disciple of Christ must have in all things, even in politics.

It is undignified for a Christian to give himself over to insults, sarcasm, brawling with his adversaries. If, as Jesus says, those who call their brother “stupid” are in danger of Gehenna, what then must we say about a lot of politicians?

[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]

* * *

Father Raniero Cantalamessa is the Pontifical Household preacher. The readings for this Sunday are Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b; Matthew 22:15-21.

long time

well, its been a long time since i've blogged, i don't know if anyone will still check this, but here is a brief overview of my summer until i can talk with you:

19 June 2008 - commissioned as an officer in the US NAVY with my buddy Rich

-Lourdes and Paris France helping pilgrims for 2 weeks with Rich and Aaron

-helping on a pilgrimage to Rome and Medjugorje with youth and adults from Rockford, Illinois for 2 weeks

-consecration to Jesus through Mary with Rich - 16 July 2008

-living with the Rossetto family near Turin, Italy for 3 weeks

now i'm back in rome helping the orientation team with the "new men" like i was 1 year and 5 days ago.  hope you enjoy the pics!  it was and awesome time of faith this summer, i am full of gratitude.  i look forward to hearing from you soon. - matt libra

may is gone

june is the month of the Sacred Heart.  just as Mary in her life prepares and shows the way to Jesus, may the month of May that is traditionally known as the month of Mary, prepare us to draw closer to Jesus in His Sacred Heart this June.  here is a video you might like.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMBu_ZpHuMY

peace to you,

matt libra

may?

can it already be may?  i can't hardly believe it.  first off i want to apologize for not posting in a few weeks, and perhaps more heinously, for not posting pictures.  but i have a good reason...i'm lazy.  i'm sorry.

on another note, i hope you are all well.  home, and moreso my friends and family from home, have been weighing in on my thoughts to no small degree.  it will be still another year before i return, but i am learning to pray better for you, learning bits of what it means to be "priest" for you in this time where i feel lack.  please keep us here in your prayers as we finish the last month of classes, begin finals in June, and begin our summer apostolates.  it is a somewhat busy time here and i am particularly worn and stressed.  pray for humility, pray for trust.  thank you.  it will take a few minutes to read, but this meditation was encouraging to me and i hope it aids you too.

distantly,

matt libra

Christ's call to be Corageous by Fr. Servais Pinkaers OP (+April 2008)

It takes courage simply to believe, and to go on believing, in a world that accepts only material, tangible, purely human values, and that has become allergic to the spiritual and supernatural.  To make the leap of faith, to throw oneself somehow wholly into the Word of the Lord, is the greatest risk and takes the greatest courage possible.  It is no easier today than it was in former times.  As Kierkegaard wrote, "the highest passion in man is faith, and no generation begins where the preceding one left off; each generation starts all over again."  It is an adventure like no other, to plunge into the mystery of faith, into the desert of interior solitude where only God sees us, and where he draws us in order to speak with us, when so many human voices deafen our ears, trying to hold us back.

It takes courage to build one's life on the unknown territory of God and to put one's hope in "things above, where the Risen Christ is seated," when so many interests, values, tasks, and needs compete for our attention here below.  It takes real audacity and even a touch of madness, that we see in those who bury themselves in cloisters for their whole lives and who dare to look useless for Christ's sake in a world that values only the productive.

It takes courage to articulate to others the truth of the faith that enlightens us, to profess the Credo which has been confided to us and to transmit it, whatever the divergent opinions raised up around us.  Does it not take courage even to talk about the Lord in our daily conversations?

It takes courage to meet the small needs of every day, to carry out our simple and monotonous work, in a spirit of faith, and to be naive enough to believe that the light of the Lord penetrates even there, just as the light of the sun shines in our kitchen, our office.

It takes courage to carry on firmly and to persevere when storms arise and shake us up interiorly and exteriorly, when fidelity is shattered by the very ones who were constituted its guardians, and God seems to be silent, to the point where we perceive that the courage that remains to us unaccountably comes from his hand, discreetly sustaining us and preparing, in the midst of our trial, the flash of a new light.

visit of the Holy Father

Pope Benedict XVI is now in the United States, and even though you may not be able to be near him physicially i hope that his visit heartens you spiritually, reviving your spiritual life and fervor. for me personally, he is a tremendous man, faithful, and fixed steadfastly on the Lord. i am convinced he wants this for each of us: encounter with Christ. it is his mission and it is what he does. so far i have read/watched all of his homilies/speeches and have found them very poignant for those who wish to live the authentic Christian life. you might be able to find youtube clips of him, but here is an address where you can read what he said: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/travels/2008/index_stati-uniti_en.htm. President Bush's welcome speech i found very humble and honest and moving. i hope that you will be willing to make the sacrifice of time to read them and ponder on what he has to say to you as Jesus' messenger. in his video message he said: "It is God who saves us, he saves the world, and all of history. He is the Shepherd of his people. I am coming, sent by Jesus Christ, to bring you his word of life." you all have my most fervent prayers, and my heartfelt love.

Benedict XVI

The Pope is coming to visit you next week, so i wanted to share this little video homily he sent to the US.  i hope you enjoy his visit, even if he is far away from where you are.  if you at all can, watch his homilies/speeches on tv or radio, or read them over the internet.  i am praying for you, please pray for me.

  

Benedict XVI's Message to the United States

"I Am Coming, Sent by Jesus Christ, to Bring You His Word of Life"

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 8, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the video-message that Benedict XVI sent to the people of the United States on the occasion of his imminent visit to Washington, D.C., and New York. His visit will take place April 15-20.

* * *
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the United States of America,

The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you! In just a few days from now, I shall begin my apostolic visit to your beloved country. Before setting off, I would like to offer you a heartfelt greeting and an invitation to prayer. As you know, I shall only be able to visit two cities: Washington and New York. The intention behind my visit, though, is to reach out spiritually to all Catholics in the United States. At the same time, I earnestly hope that my presence among you will be seen as a fraternal gesture towards every ecclesial community, and a sign of friendship for members of other religious traditions and all men and women of good will. The risen Lord entrusted the Apostles and the Church with his Gospel of love and peace, and his intention in doing so was that the message should be passed on to all peoples.

At this point I should like to add some words of thanks, because I am conscious that many people have been working hard for a long time, both in Church circles and in the public services, to prepare for my journey. I am especially grateful to all who have been praying for the success of the visit, since prayer is the most important element of all. Dear friends, I say this because I am convinced that without the power of prayer, without that intimate union with the Lord, our human endeavours would achieve very little. Indeed this is what our faith teaches us. It is God who saves us, he saves the world, and all of history. He is the Shepherd of his people. I am coming, sent by Jesus Christ, to bring you his word of life.

Together with your Bishops, I have chosen as the theme of my journey three simple but essential words: "Christ our hope". Following in the footsteps of my venerable predecessors, Paul VI and John Paul II, I shall come to United States of America as Pope for the first time, to proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture and social condition. Yes, Christ is the face of God present among us. Through him, our lives reach fullness, and together, both as individuals and peoples, we can become a family united by fraternal love, according to the eternal plan of God the Father. I know how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in your country. I am coming to share it with you, in a series of celebrations and gatherings. I shall also bring the message of Christian hope to the great Assembly of the United Nations, to the representatives of all the peoples of the world.

Indeed, the world has greater need of hope than ever: hope for peace, for justice, and for freedom, but this hope can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God, which Christ brought to fulfillment in the commandment to love one another. Do to others as you would have them do to you, and avoid doing what you would not want them to do. This "golden rule" is given in the Bible, but it is valid for all people, including non-believers. It is the law written on the human heart; on this we can all agree, so that when we come to address other matters we can do so in a positive and constructive manner for the entire human community.

[The Pope continued in Spanish]

I direct a cordial greeting to Spanish-speaking Catholics and manifest my spir itual closeness, in particular to the youth, the ill, the elderly and those who are in moments of difficulty of feel themselves in need. I express my heartfelt desire to be with you soon in this beloved nation. In the meantime, I encourage you to pray intensely for the pastoral fruits of my imminent apostolic trip and to keep high the flame of hope in the resurrected Christ.

[Translation by ZENIT]

Dear brothers and sisters, dear friends in the United States, I am very much looking forward to being with you. I want you to know that, even if my itinerary is short, with just a few engagements, my heart is close to all of you, especially to the sick, the weak, and the lonely. I thank you once again for your prayerful support of my mission. I reach out to every one of you with affection, and I invoke upon you the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Que la Virgen María les acompañe y proteja. Que Dios les bendiga. [May the Virgen Mary accompany and protect you. May God bless you.]

May God bless you all.

© Copyright 2008 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana

pictures - 

1 - the day Benedict XVI was elected Pope

2 - my picture of Benedict XVI at World Youth Day in Germany 2005

John Paul II

  

  


today is the 3rd anniversary of John Paul II's death.  here is excerpts of Pope Benedict XVI's homily today:

MAY THE CHURCH FOLLOW TEACHINGS, EXAMPLE OF JOHN PAUL II VATICAN CITY, 2 APR 2008 (VIS) - In St. Peter's Square at 10.30 a.m. today, Benedict XVI presided at a Eucharistic celebration to mark the third anniversary of the death of Servant of God John Paul II. Members of the College of Cardinals concelebrated with the Holy Father.   Addressing the more than 40,000 people present, the Pope in his homily returned to the hours following the news of John Paul II's death on 2 April 2005, recalling the innumerable faithful who prayed before his body and participated in the funeral.   "Among the many human and supernatural qualities" of the late Pontiff, Benedict XVI mentioned "that of an exceptional spiritual and mystical sensibility. It sufficed to watch him as he prayed: he literally immersed himself in God and, during those moments, it seemed as if everything else was foreign to him. ... The Mass - as he often said - was for him the focal point of every day and of his entire life. The 'living and holy' reality of the Eucharist gave him the spiritual energy to guide the People of God along the path of history".   After recalling how John Paul II died on the eve of the second Sunday of Easter, the Holy Father highlighted how the late Pope's pontificate, "both as a whole and in many specific moments, appears to us as a sign and testimony of Christ's resurrection. The paschal dynamism which rendered John Paul II's existence a complete response to the call of the Lord, could not be expressed without his participation in the suffering and death of the divine Master and Redeemer".   Pope Benedict pointed out that the words from the Gospel that figured in today's Mass - the "do not be afraid" addressed by the angel to the women at the empty tomb - "became, from the solemn beginnings of his Petrine ministry, a kind of motto on the lips of Pope John Paul II".   He always pronounced these words "with unbending firmness, at first while carrying his bishop's staff with its cross and later, when his physical strength was waning, almost while supporting himself on it, until that final Good Friday in which he participated in the Way of the Cross from his private chapel, holding the cross in his arms. ... That eloquent scene of human suffering and faith ... revealed to believers and to the whole world the secret of an entire Christian life".   As little by little the late Polish Pontiff "lost everything, in the end even the power of speech, his trust in Christ became increasingly evident. As it was with Jesus, so with John Paul II, in the end words gave way to the extreme sacrifice, to the gift of self. Death was the seal of an existence entirely donated to Christ, conformed to Him even in physical terms, in his suffering and faithful abandonment in the arms of the heavenly Father".   The Holy Father also reminded those present that today marks the opening of the First World Apostolic Congress on Divine Mercy, which aims to study Pope John Paul's "rich Magisterium on this subject.   "God's mercy", Pope Benedict explained, "is a good key to understanding John Paul II's pontificate. He wanted the message of God's merciful love to reach all mankind and exhorted the faithful to bear witness to it".   "Servant of God John Paul II personally knew and experienced the immense tragedies of the 20th century, and for a long time he asked himself what could stem the tide of evil. The answer could not but be in the love of God. In fact, only Divine Mercy is capable of limiting evil; only God's all-powerful love can overcome the arrogance of the wicked, and the destructive power of selfishness and hatred".   The Holy Father gave thanks to the Lord "for having given the Church this faithful and courageous servant" and to the Virgin Mary "for having incessantly watched over his person and his ministry". He also asked John Paul II "to continue to intercede from heaven for each of us, and particularly for me whom Providence has called to take up his priceless spiritual legacy.   "May the Church", Pope Benedict added in conclusion, "following his teaching and example, continue in her evangelising mission faithfully and without compromise, tirelessly spreading Christ's merciful love, source of true peace for the whole world".HML/MASS JOHN PAUL II/...                                                      VIS 080402 (740)

Divine Mercy

Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!

as the Easter Season gets in to full swing, i hope and pray that you and your families are doing well.  my friends Brad and Vince have been in town visiting me this week and it has been good to learn from them and see some people from home.  unfortunately, i have held on to the cold i caught 2 weeks ago and continue to remain weak.  they took a lot of pics and if they share them with me i will send them along to you [i was lazy and didn't bring my own camera along].  may God grant you the grace to recognize His mercy in your life in a special way today.

  

pictures:

1 - a statue of St. Faustina's vision at the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow

2 - the inside of the Divine Mercy Shrine

Good Friday

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross"What Have We Done With This Gift?"
ROME, MARCH 21, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a transcription and translation of the reflection Benedict XVI offered today at the end of the Way of the Cross in the Roman Colosseum.
* * *
Dear brothers and sisters,
This year too we have walked along the way of the cross, the Via Crucis, evoking again with faith the stages of the passion of Christ. Our eyes have turned to contemplate the sufferings and the anguish that our Redeemer had to bear in the hour of great sorrow, which entailed the highpoint of his earthly mission. Jesus dies on the cross and lies in the tomb. The day of Good Friday, so permeated by human sadness and religious silence, closes in the silence of meditation and prayer. In returnin g home, we too, like those who were present at the sacrifice of Jesus, beat our breasts, recalling what happened. Is it possible to remain indifferent before the death of the Lord, of the Son of God? For us, for our salvation he became man, so as to be able to suffer and die.
Brothers and sisters: Let us direct today our gaze toward Christ, a gaze frequently distracted by scattered and passing earthly interests. Let us pause to contemplate his cross. The cross, fount of life and school of justice and peace, is the universal patrimony of pardon and mercy. It is permanent proof of a self-emptying and infinite love that brought God to become man, vulnerable like us, unto dying crucified.
Through the sorrowful way of the cross, the men of all ages, reconciled and redeemed by the blood of Christ, have become friends of God, sons of the heavenly Father. "Friend," is what Jesus calls Judas and he offers him the last and dramatic call to conversion. "Friend," he calls each of us, because he is the authentic friend of everyone. Unfortunately, we do not always manage to perceive the depth of this limitless love that God has for us. For him, there is no distinction of race or culture. Jesus Christ died to liberate the humanity of old of their ignorance of God, of the circle of hate and violence, of the slavery to sin. The cross makes us brothers and sisters.
But let us ask ourselves, in this moment, what have we done with this gift, what have we done with the revelation of the face of God in Christ, with the revelation of the love of God that conquers hate. Many, in our age as well, do not know God and cannot encounter him in Christ crucified. Many are in search of a love or a liberty that excludes God. Many believe they have no need of God.
Dear friends: After having lived together the passion of Jesus, let us this night allow his sacrifice on the cross to question us. Let us permit him to challenge our human certainties. Let us open our hearts. Jesus is the truth that makes us free to love. Let us not be afraid: upon dying, the Lord destroyed sin and saved sinners, that is, all of us. The Apostle Peter writes: "He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24). This is the truth of Good Friday: On the cross, the Redeemer has made us adoptive sons of God who he created in his image and likeness. Let us remain, then, in adoration before the cross.
Christ, give us the peace we seek, the happiness we desire, the love the fills our heart thirsty for the infinite. This is our prayer for this night, Jesus, Son of God, who died for us on the cross and was resurrected on the third day.
Amen.
[Transcription and translation by ZENIT]
© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Holy Week

it is Holy week here in Rome. we celebrated Palm Sunday Mass this morning and in the homily the priest reminded us to stay close to the foot of the Cross this week, there will be many distractions, opportunites to do social activites, many things that clamour for our attention. hold firm and stay at the foot of the Cross, this is the climax of all our faith. it is this week, right now be with Jesus.

in moral theology class this week (my teacher is the Pope's personal theologian) pointed out something very interesting: in the Gospels Jesus calls men (vocation). they are looking to hear a call, wanting to know what God is asking of them. the women follow Him naturally, they didn't need to have Jesus come tell them to follow Him, somehow they just knew to do it (look who stayed at the Cross). its beautiful the way God made men and women differently. today at the end of Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's square the Pope said to all the english pilgrims: be a witness of charity to your friends.



a couple of my buddies are coming over here for Easter week and i am excited to spend some time with them here. it will be a refresher for me from home. but i'd like to leave you with this reflection i found in the Magnificat from Benedict XVI for your Holy Week reflection:

"Only when someone values love more hightly than life, that is, only where someone is ready to put life second to love, for the sake of love, can nlove be stronger and more than death. If it is to be more than death it must first be more than mere life. Jesus' total love for men, which leads Him to the cross, is perfected in total stepping-over to the Father and therein becomes stronger than death, because in this it is at the same time total 'being held' by Him"



please pray for deep conversion, i will do the same.

pictures:
1 - a pic of JP2 i had on my computer
2 - crucifix from the salt mines
3 - St. Maximilian Kolbe who died in at Auschwitz taking the place so that another might live
4 - the 11th station outside Jasna Gora
5 - see 1 above

Lourdes: stories

St. Bernedette and the apparitions of Lourdes:

in 1858, a young, frail, french girl from a poor family went out to gather firewood with her sister and a friend. that night Mary appeared to St. Bernedette. from february 11th until the 16th of july, Mary would appear to St. Bernedette 18 times. now these visions are "private revelation" which means they do not have to be believed for salvation, but nonetheless are approved by the Church as a way of recognizing God's love and care for us now in our daily lives. The main message that Mary brought to Bernedette was penance: "penance! penance! penance! pray for the conversion of sinners! kiss the earth for the conversion of sinners" (appriation of 24 feb).

the thing that strikes me about the whole shrine and the stories is the humble simplicity of it all. there is nothing fanciful about Bernedette or how Mary appeared there, it is all about following and loving Jesus. Letting His love penetrate our hardness and the way we expect Him to be/work in us/love and responding to that love is the beauty of the place for me.

the Spring:

at one of the appiritions Mary told Bernedette to go and drink and wash at a spring. there was no spring there but Mary indicated a spot, Bernedette dug, and miraculously a spring appeared. from these waters many people have been healed of all kinds of illnesses and sicknesses at Lourdes. while i was there it was explained to me like this:

as you look at the grotto, you will notice that Mary is not at the center. this is because Mary does not seek her own glory, but she is always about the will of her Son, she always indicates the way to Him. the spring is like Jesus' Sacred Heart, Mary stands nearby pointing the way so that all might come to Him and drink of His love.

Mary reveals her name:

the priests told Bernedette to validate these appiritions and messages by telling the name of "the lady" who was in the visions. Bernedette didn't know her name. one priest said "you expect us to believe this from a 14 year old girl with little catechism. to which Bernedette responded "i was not sent to make you believe but to tell you" finally on the 25th of March Mary revealed her name to Bernedette when she appeared: "i am the Immaculate Conception". this name is not something that Mary took for herself for her own glory, but even in her name she attests to her Son. by accepting the title Immaculate Conception Mary testifies that not even the "impossible" (that a human could be conceived without sin), is out of the reach of God. God can do anything, Mary receives this title in witness to what God has done for her.

my last morning there:

it was the anniversary of the 2nd apprition. i wanted to wake up early and pray at the grotto before the hustle and bustle started. i woke up early, packed up and headed downstairs. however, the door was locked--you could only open the outside door with a key that i didn't have. i was bummed. i offered a prayer: "Lord, these were my plans for this morning, but if You have other plans help me to be open to them" i sat down in the parlor and as i was pulling out my breviary to pray i said to Mary that if she wanted me to pray at her grotto then she would have to interceede for me. i offered up all my intentions for those who asked for my prayers and those who i promised to pray for while i was there. i called to mind each person that i could. just as i was about to open my breviary, the door opened: the bread man came to drop of the daily bread for the sisters. i think i scared him as i sprang to the door. i started down to the grotto and prayed the angelus as the bells chimed.

when i got to the grotto there was hardly anyone there, so i got to go right up to the altar near the spring and got to interceede for you through a rosary. i was particularly struck by the mystery of Jesus turning the water into wine. just as i finished the rosary in the calm and quiet of the morning, an italian man who i met the day before came to say goodbye to me. as he left he pointed out to me a spot right next to where i had been: the place where John Paul II prayed when he came to Lourdes. and so as i pulled out my breviary i got to pray the prayer of the Church, for the Church, on the same spot John Paul II prayed for the Church. just as i finished morning prayer the bell rung and Mass was beginning in the grotto. as i took my seat a few feet back the Word of God was being proclaimed just as the sun was breaking over the hills; Light came flooding in. it was a beautiful morning.

there is much more to tell you, but i haven't the ability or the time. i hope you are able to find a good book on Bernedette and the opportunity to go to Lourdes one day yourself.

pictures:

1 - one of my favorite spots: in the sun across the river from the grotto

2 - front of the "lower cathedral" Our Lady of the Rosary

3 - candlelight procession on the vigil of the 1st appirition

4 - cathedral at night

5 - the grotto at night (note how unshakey i can be at 0 degrees celsius)

Lourdes

this last week i have been sick with some version of the flu. i slept for about 21 hours one day and then exhausted myself the next day taking 6hrs to do one load of laundry. i can't believe how weak and fragile i really am, i'd rather not think that. i'm still trying to recoop but i wanted to put up pics from Lourdes for you.

Lourdes: 150th anniversary

one travel book for france in general read: if you are not looking for a spiritual experience, Lourdes is best to be avoided. that sobered us up sufficiently. from the moment we got there till the day we left we were not lacking in blessings or "chance encounters" that the Lord provided. Mary too was very gracious. She shows the simple way of Love. never did she study theology and nowhere is it recorded amazing teachings about her Son that she gave; yet she always marks the way to Christ, she always points towards Him, is always following Him. "do whatever He tells you"

next time i will recount a few stories: about Lourdes and the apparitions to St. Bernedette, about the spring, about the baths, about what Mary revealed her name at Lourdes, and about my last morning there. please pray for conviction of sin, which is necessary for conversion.

pictures:

1 - the only 2 flowers on the riverbank

2 - sunrise from the convent where we stayed

3 - entrance view to the shrine

4 - the basilica built where Mary asked right on top of the grotto

5 - the grotto where Mary appeared to Bernedette Suborious in 1858.

6 - Paul Kolker (Dallas), Laura who we met there, and me at the grotto at night (freezing)

Poland: Czestochowa - Jasna Gora

greetings all. this is my last post of Poland. some from Lourdes are to follow in the coming weeks. we started class this past week: it is going to be a very demanding semester, but very rewarding if i am able to give my whole heart to it. all my energy, effort, and discipline are required of me-- thank goodness for the coming graces of Easter!! Lent has been very...lenten this year. i feel stretched to trust beyond what i can conceive of trust. each time i do the Lord always provides all that i need, and i feel at peace. but i am also recognizing more the times i have an opportunity to trust and i don't, i turn away, and that doesn't feel so good, it is full of anxiety and self assured disappointments. i am growing in thankfulness. i hope you are all well, you are constantly in my prayers. please pray for ever deeper conversion to the Lord.

day 7: 1 jan 2008

the feast of Mary Mother of God is today and we went to the shrine in Czestochowa, the monastary of Jasna Gora where there is the icon of the "Black Madonna". this place was more than i expected it to be. it is a castle turned into a monastary, it was there that twice the intercession of Our Lady of Czestochowa was invoked and the city saved from opposing armies. outside the castle walls are huge and moving bronze stations of the cross made around 1900. inside above the chapel of Our Lady there are paintings of the stations with the Polish history in the background which are also very moving-made around 2000. around the field surrounding the castle are statues marking the 20 mysteries of the rosary. this place is built for prayer, i wanted more time there to pray.

everything here has permenance-solidly built and meant to last, perhaps it is a message that co

mes from their faith. there were 2 chapels side by side with Mass going on each hour of the day--all full. there was so much significance there, i wasn't preparred to process it. as you entered the shrine area a sign read: "this is a holy place, enter as a pilgrim" i would like to heed that more next time. this was our last day in Poland. that night we would go to dinner with the brothers that hosted us, listen to the bugler of Krakow toot his horn, then rise early to leave home--it was sad to leave. i read Spe Salvi while i was here and that was a real spiritual boost to the trip. if i were to come again, i would want to spend more time at Czetochowa and the Divine Mercy Shrine. it would be good preparation to read a little about the bugler of Krakow, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Jasna Gora itself, and some of Sr. Faustina's Diary.

pictures:

1- Jasna Gora from afar

2- an outdoor reproduction of the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa

3- an outdoor station of the cross (Christ is nailed to the Cross)

4- a polish station of the cross (Christ dies on the Cross)

5- me with superior tactical advantage as we had a little snowball war on the walls of Jasna Gora

6- our last dinner in Krakow (Aaron, Br. Benedykt, Jeff, me, Chris)

Poland: Divine Mercy and Wadowice

30 dec 2007:


about an hour away from krakow is JP2's hometown of wadowice. his parish church, St. Mary's, is now a minor basilica. when we got there we went to Mass-- it was completely packed with people standing in all the isles and sitting around the edges, even pouring outside. it was like that all day with Mass every hour and a half. outside the church is the school that JP2 attendend and near the end of the church is the house he grew up in with his dad. the whole town is a testimony of faith, so tangible and part of daily life for the people there.

at the Divine Mercy Shrine i got to see St. Faustina's cell, her relics in the sisters' adoration chapel, and providentially, i entered the shrine right at 3pm and was able to pray a chaplet of Divine Mercy with all the people there during the hour of Divine Mercy. they prayed simply and meaningfully, not slow and not rushed--matching the whole pace of life i see here.




pictures:
1- Divine Mercy Shrine
2- JP2's parish in Wadowice where he was baptized, received first communion and confirmed
3- phil the thrill and me at JP2's house flashing our "W" for wadowice signs
4- bill the thrill and JP2 in front of the church
5- one area inside the church

Poland: Salt Mines

tomorrow morning i leave for a week in Lourdes, France. it is a place where Mary appeared to a poor peasant girl in 1858 and where a miraculous spring appeared and many healings have taken place. i will be praying for you all, for any type of healing you need. it will be the 150th anniversary while we are there. when we get back about 50 of us will be participating in a retreat to surrender ourselves and ask the Lord to stir up our spirits, so if you could please pray for us, we'd greatly benefit. well, here's some more Poland info:


Wieliczka Rynek: 29 dec

the salt mine is not a place i would have gone on my own, but one of the other guys really wanted to do it so i went; i'm glad i did. the mine has been in operation for over 800 years, and is still in operation today. we walked down 150 meters below the earth, went on a nearly 2 hr tour and saw less than 1% of the mine. the most amazing thing to me was how the faith of the workers was so integrated to their daily life. they built 4 chapels so that they could have Mass during the work day.


when i say made chapels i mean they carved out a cavern of salt and made the entire "room", the decorations, even the floor out of salt. all the work was done by workers, not outside artists. the only way to explain it is to show you these pictures and tell you to remember that everything you see is made of salt. the guide told us we could lick the walls if we wanted, one of the guys in our group never stopped licking the walls the whole time, he was licking it like it was sugar or something. at dinner he felt a little sick, i wonder why? presently there is Mass every Sunday at 8am, and you can get married in the salt chapel if you want. John Paul II even celbrated Mass down there at least once (and there is a salt statue of him to commemorate the event).


pictures:
1- the "king's chapel" - chandeliers made of 97%+ pure salt, floor of salt carved to look like marble tiles
2- the sanctuary, altar, crucifix, ambo, presider's chair, all carved out of salt
3- close up of crucifix
4- rendition of da Vinci's Last supper carved in the salt wall
5- salt statues