Pax Christi vobiscum! Come Holy Spirit!
Wow, well there's been a lot going on these last couple of days--and though the date may say that I'm writing this on the 31st of January, I got interrupted yesterday and couldn't write the entry... So, to remain true to the blog, I will write it as though I were writing it yesterday.
Frid...err, Thursday, January 31st, 2008:
Have I got some stories to tell you all....
Heh, okay, so let's just say that finals found me a bit, shall we say, un-prepared. Not that I didn't know they were coming; I knew we would have finals in late January/early February ("Why not the normal time?" you ask. You obviously haven't been to Italy...), but I guess it didn't hit me that I would have to study.
So yesterday (remember, it's Thursday), I had my first exam in Italy, and the exam was in Italian, but I could answer in English, which helped to say the least. This test was over the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke (so called because they are very much alike (from the Greek parts "syn" meaning "together" and "optic" meaning "seeing" ("seeing together" (I guess I learned something in Greek (another parenthetical)))))). (That was a bit absurd (yes it was)).
So...to get back on track. This particular class taught us the Rhetorical Method for analyzing the Synoptic Gospels, which I have really come to like. Basically, we analyze a series of passages to find similar words and then compare them to each other to discover what that series of passages is trying to say. The result is often quite awesome, and it should make for good homilees in the future...that's right: good, long homilees....
When I received the test, I handed it right back in completely blank, because I realized they were all Rhetorical Questions.
That test went really well though, and it was all due to Providence (quickly becoming my favorite word). That is correct: the night before the exam, I had studied 10 of the 11 passages that we could possibly be tested on the next day--our professor would give us 2 of the 10 and we had to complete 1 of them. Well, it just so happened that one of the other seminarians, Phil, was walking by my room the night before the exam and asked how studying was going.
I said, "Pretty well, but I haven't really studied the last passage, but it should be fine."
He replied, "Oh, that one's easy. Here, let me show you."
Then he explained it to me in about 5 minutes....
Can you guess which passage showed up on the exam as one of the two options????? (I'll give you a hint (really? (yes)): you already know which one because I've given too many hints already, and this story can now really only go one direction without you getting upset at me...) You guessed it (you're good): I got that passage. And I told Phil that night that it would be on the exam "due to the providential nature of this encounter."
Sure enough, when I was fretting and trying to turn it over to God, He tossed me a bit of a soft ball.
Lest you think it pure coincidence, allow me to tell you of my second exam that I had today: Church History. Because of the other exam, I hadn't prepared near enough...much...anything but one question prior to the night before the exam. Well, as I got to looking over the material, I realized I still remembered a bit of it, but that wasn't enough. And I had to have 7 questions out of 14 ready, and the professor would pick two of those to test me on interview style. That is correct: I had to sit in front of the professor and chat with him about the material--no faking that.
So I prayed really hard, and I also asked for St. Joseph of Cupertino's intercession. Quick digression: St. Joseph of Cupertino desired and felt called to be a Priest, but he wasn't the brightest halo in the heavens. He could speak really well on one passage of Scripture, and that was about it. When it came time for his final examination before ordination to the Deaconate (the step before Priesthood), he was asked one question, and it was the one he knew really well. Providence.
Then before he was ordained a Priest, he was to be tested once more. The examiner asked the first 3 deacons some questions, and then something important interrupted him that required his attention. Since those 3 spoke so articulately on the matters discussed, the examiner assumed the rest to be equally as prepared and passed them all. God wanted St. Joseph of Cupertino to be a Priest, so He helped him past his limitations.
Well, back to my test. I went in with a good 4/7 of the 7 questions really ready, and the other 3 were, shall we say, not yet at their full potential. I could have spoken on them, but it would not have been too pretty. (Quick Sidenote: it is not that I didn't study before at all, but you try taking classes in Italian....) So I said my prayers, asked for St. Joseph's intercession (similar to asking your friend to pray for you for something, except we know this man to be in heaven--an added perk, you might say--which means his prayers get to God via Fedex, as opposed to Ground), and then I went to take the test.
The professor/examiner asked me the first question on the list, which just so happened to be the one I was most prepared for. I spoke pretty well on it, and then he said, "Well, you know a lot about the development of that most very important creed [the Nicene Creed]," and then he told me we were out of time. I only had to answer one question, and it was the one I knew the best. Thank you, St. Joseph of Cupertino. Glory to God!
Again, it's not that I didn't study. St. Joseph of Cupertino also studied a lot. So I am not advocating not preparing for an exam and assuming God will get you out of it. That's called presumption, which is a sin. So don't do it. What I do know is that, if we are trying to seek His will, God takes care of us when we can't always get the job done ourselves. It really was amazing, and I was just blown away by how it all worked out.
God is good, and if we are seeking to serve Him, He will take care of everything or show us the way out.
Oh, and I will try not to use too many parenthetical statements in the future (seriously)--or dashes. You all are in my prayers. Keep seeking the Truth because He's seeking you! God bless!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Six Month-iversary!
Pax Christi vobiscum! Come Holy Spirit!
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That's a really bad firework explosion, but it's celebrating a really good event: James and I have now lived in another country for 6 months, to the day! And neither of us are legal citizens yet! Only in Italy!
It is amazing, first, how fast the time flew by (the only thing that moves quickly in this country is the time), and, second, how much has happened. There have been so many graced moments, many challenges, and a faithful God behind them all. I need to be more thankful than I am, at all that I have received. Even the challenges have been blessings, and I have grown so much. I know I have a long way to go, but I look forward to every step, because I know Who is guiding me. As C. S. Lewis said, "I may not know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future." We really can have a lot of peace when we entrust our lives to God--I'm definitely still working on it, but I know that much. I may struggle with the surrender, but at least it's a struggle...I suppose, right? (insert ceaseless affirmations from you here). Aw, shucks. Thanks, guys.
Well, now that I feel so good about myself, I should tell you that I can now read! Some of you are saying, "About time," while others are saying, "No way," and the other (wiser) ones among you are asking, "Whatever do you mean, Paul?"
"Good question," I respond.
"I know," you all reply.
"Get over yourselves...I mean, *cough, cough*, absolutely right," I say as I hastily move on.
Well, I am now an officially instituted Lector or Reader for Mass and Morning and Evening Prayer (from the Liturgy of the Hours, which can be prayed by clergy or the laity)--basically, I have received the second order of Holy Orders. So I have taken one small step for me, one giant leap for me-kind (i.e. the other guys in my class). I received Candidacy before I left the States, meaning that I am now a Candidate for the Priesthood, and just this last Sunday we New Men were instituted as Lectors by Archbishop Gregory of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Georgia. He handed us the Lectionary, or the book of Readings for Holy Mass, and he said, "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," was our response. Now we have been commissioned by the Church to proclaim the Word of God. It may not seem like much, but it is, and it really was a good discernment opportunity for me; it really gave me a sense of what it will be like on my Ordination day, God willing. I will kneel before the Bishop, and he will lay hands on me, and I will be ordained. There's more to it than that, but it's a good taste of what's to come; and it all seemed right. So praise God for that!
Well, please keep us in your prayers as we take on this new ministry, that we may be faithful in our duty and help bring others closer to God. And please pray for our exams! They are rapidly approaching, and I have a lot of catching up to do (remember that whole thing about time moving quickly? Well, my study habits didn't...). So please keep us in prayer, and know that you all have been in mine. Remember, God is good!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not. In all your ways be mindful of Him, and He will make straight your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6
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That's a really bad firework explosion, but it's celebrating a really good event: James and I have now lived in another country for 6 months, to the day! And neither of us are legal citizens yet! Only in Italy!
It is amazing, first, how fast the time flew by (the only thing that moves quickly in this country is the time), and, second, how much has happened. There have been so many graced moments, many challenges, and a faithful God behind them all. I need to be more thankful than I am, at all that I have received. Even the challenges have been blessings, and I have grown so much. I know I have a long way to go, but I look forward to every step, because I know Who is guiding me. As C. S. Lewis said, "I may not know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future." We really can have a lot of peace when we entrust our lives to God--I'm definitely still working on it, but I know that much. I may struggle with the surrender, but at least it's a struggle...I suppose, right? (insert ceaseless affirmations from you here). Aw, shucks. Thanks, guys.
Well, now that I feel so good about myself, I should tell you that I can now read! Some of you are saying, "About time," while others are saying, "No way," and the other (wiser) ones among you are asking, "Whatever do you mean, Paul?"
"Good question," I respond.
"I know," you all reply.
"Get over yourselves...I mean, *cough, cough*, absolutely right," I say as I hastily move on.
Well, I am now an officially instituted Lector or Reader for Mass and Morning and Evening Prayer (from the Liturgy of the Hours, which can be prayed by clergy or the laity)--basically, I have received the second order of Holy Orders. So I have taken one small step for me, one giant leap for me-kind (i.e. the other guys in my class). I received Candidacy before I left the States, meaning that I am now a Candidate for the Priesthood, and just this last Sunday we New Men were instituted as Lectors by Archbishop Gregory of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Georgia. He handed us the Lectionary, or the book of Readings for Holy Mass, and he said, "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," was our response. Now we have been commissioned by the Church to proclaim the Word of God. It may not seem like much, but it is, and it really was a good discernment opportunity for me; it really gave me a sense of what it will be like on my Ordination day, God willing. I will kneel before the Bishop, and he will lay hands on me, and I will be ordained. There's more to it than that, but it's a good taste of what's to come; and it all seemed right. So praise God for that!
Well, please keep us in your prayers as we take on this new ministry, that we may be faithful in our duty and help bring others closer to God. And please pray for our exams! They are rapidly approaching, and I have a lot of catching up to do (remember that whole thing about time moving quickly? Well, my study habits didn't...). So please keep us in prayer, and know that you all have been in mine. Remember, God is good!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not. In all your ways be mindful of Him, and He will make straight your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Crossed My Mind...
Pax Christi vobiscum! Come Holy Spirit!
Just had a thought that I had to say (and if you know me, that happens with most of the thoughts I have):
Perfect Love could only show itself perfectly in being completely rejected by the beloved and loving her all the more anyways.
That is why the Cross is the only place you will find perfect love (read as Perfect Love): Love Himself was rejected but did not refuse His Love.
Happy and Holy New Year to you all! God bless!!!
Just had a thought that I had to say (and if you know me, that happens with most of the thoughts I have):
Perfect Love could only show itself perfectly in being completely rejected by the beloved and loving her all the more anyways.
That is why the Cross is the only place you will find perfect love (read as Perfect Love): Love Himself was rejected but did not refuse His Love.
Happy and Holy New Year to you all! God bless!!!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Buon Anno!
Pax Christi vobiscum! Come Holy Spirit!
Happy New Year or Buon Anno, as they say over here in Italia! I hope that you are enjoying the Christmas Season and are ready for an epiphany, the Epiphany to be exact, this Sunday. I also hope your new year is full of life...and not just credit card debt from the Christmas rush.
Well, I have to say that New Years over here was truly a blessing in just about every sense of the word...come to think of it, I can only come up with one sense. But still, it was awesome. First, my family was here, which made my Rome away from home more like home. It was great to see my family and share my experiences over here with them. In fact, I shared with them all the restaurants I had been wanting to visit but could never afford....
They arrived on Christmas Eve, and like true troopers (truepers?), they managed to go to Midnight Mass with the Pope the same day they arrived. Talk about jet lag. I had them on a Coffee IV and they still couldn't stay awake. They made it though.
Then, after a week filled with Churches, good food, and me still being taller than my youngest brother Kevin, we rang in the New Year on the roof of the North American College. There we were able to witness, in stereo (where available), a full bombardment of fireworks that would have made any pyrotechnician light up. It was the one time that I've seen that many Italians do something on time or even early (some started before midnight). Amazing. Italians: "you can learn all there is to know about them in a month, and after a 100 years, they can still surprise you" (Gandalf to Froddo in The Lord of the Rings). (Just kidding of course.)
I digress. After my family walked home that morning (only because there were no taxis...honestly), I went to bed trying to get what rest I could before the big day. Yes, that is correct, God blessed me with the grace of getting to serve Holy Mass for the Holy Father. At 10 o'clock that morning, while most parties were just beginning to die down back in the States, I walked out from the Sacristy of St. Peter's, about 10 feet behind the Holy Father, the Successor of St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI. It was like walking in a dream. And as we rounded the high altar and reached the back, I was handed his crozier--which is the bishop's staff (for lack of a better term). This crozier, however, was the same one used by Pope John Paul II, which he took with him all over the world. I was utterly speechless (which I guess was good since Mass isn't a good time to be talking).
There's more: after the consecration, where the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (See John 6:55 - "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink."), they led all of us servers around to the front of the altar, where we waited to receive Holy Communion from Pope Benedict himself! As if it's not a big enough blessing to receive God, I was graced to receive Him from the Rock of the Church, the Pope!
To summarize: God wants to bless us abundantly! If I have learned anything at all, it is this: following God is not always easy, but it is the best and only real way to live, because God loves to give. And we cannot see all ends, but God can--and everything He lines up is not only for our good but for the good of so many others. So I dare you, this new year, try a resolution that you will not only keep, but that is actually worth keeping: offer each day (only one at a time) to God, and see where He takes you. Just say, "God, I offer you this day." If you do this, you will find that the year of our Lord, 2008, is a year unlike any other you have ever experienced.
Although, now that I've begun my year with an unbeatable experience, I suppose it's all downhill from here....but then, God always has something up His sleeve...I mean those have got to be some huge sleeves.
Well, I love you all and am praying for you. Please pray for us seminarians. Remember, God is good, and He loves you more than you know! Peace be with you in this New Year!
Happy New Year or Buon Anno, as they say over here in Italia! I hope that you are enjoying the Christmas Season and are ready for an epiphany, the Epiphany to be exact, this Sunday. I also hope your new year is full of life...and not just credit card debt from the Christmas rush.
Well, I have to say that New Years over here was truly a blessing in just about every sense of the word...come to think of it, I can only come up with one sense. But still, it was awesome. First, my family was here, which made my Rome away from home more like home. It was great to see my family and share my experiences over here with them. In fact, I shared with them all the restaurants I had been wanting to visit but could never afford....
They arrived on Christmas Eve, and like true troopers (truepers?), they managed to go to Midnight Mass with the Pope the same day they arrived. Talk about jet lag. I had them on a Coffee IV and they still couldn't stay awake. They made it though.
Then, after a week filled with Churches, good food, and me still being taller than my youngest brother Kevin, we rang in the New Year on the roof of the North American College. There we were able to witness, in stereo (where available), a full bombardment of fireworks that would have made any pyrotechnician light up. It was the one time that I've seen that many Italians do something on time or even early (some started before midnight). Amazing. Italians: "you can learn all there is to know about them in a month, and after a 100 years, they can still surprise you" (Gandalf to Froddo in The Lord of the Rings). (Just kidding of course.)
I digress. After my family walked home that morning (only because there were no taxis...honestly), I went to bed trying to get what rest I could before the big day. Yes, that is correct, God blessed me with the grace of getting to serve Holy Mass for the Holy Father. At 10 o'clock that morning, while most parties were just beginning to die down back in the States, I walked out from the Sacristy of St. Peter's, about 10 feet behind the Holy Father, the Successor of St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI. It was like walking in a dream. And as we rounded the high altar and reached the back, I was handed his crozier--which is the bishop's staff (for lack of a better term). This crozier, however, was the same one used by Pope John Paul II, which he took with him all over the world. I was utterly speechless (which I guess was good since Mass isn't a good time to be talking).
There's more: after the consecration, where the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (See John 6:55 - "For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink."), they led all of us servers around to the front of the altar, where we waited to receive Holy Communion from Pope Benedict himself! As if it's not a big enough blessing to receive God, I was graced to receive Him from the Rock of the Church, the Pope!
To summarize: God wants to bless us abundantly! If I have learned anything at all, it is this: following God is not always easy, but it is the best and only real way to live, because God loves to give. And we cannot see all ends, but God can--and everything He lines up is not only for our good but for the good of so many others. So I dare you, this new year, try a resolution that you will not only keep, but that is actually worth keeping: offer each day (only one at a time) to God, and see where He takes you. Just say, "God, I offer you this day." If you do this, you will find that the year of our Lord, 2008, is a year unlike any other you have ever experienced.
Although, now that I've begun my year with an unbeatable experience, I suppose it's all downhill from here....but then, God always has something up His sleeve...I mean those have got to be some huge sleeves.
Well, I love you all and am praying for you. Please pray for us seminarians. Remember, God is good, and He loves you more than you know! Peace be with you in this New Year!
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