January 16th

At the Congregation for the Causes of Saints

This morning we visited the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.  We spoke with a priest that has worked in the Congregation for 35 years.  We learned about the process of canonization from the diocesan level all the way to the Pope's final decision.  We learned that men and women are canonized so that they can be imitated by us and so that we can take advantage of their intercessory power.  We also learned that sin in the life of the person does not disqualify them absolutely from being canonized; what is important is that the person repented of the sin and cooperated with God's grace to reach perfection before death.  Knowing that the worst of sinners can become the greatest of saints, with God's grace, should give all of us hope.  God is so good.

Our Lady of Confidence

We celebrated Mass at the Roman College at the Chapel of Our Lady of Confidence.  This title of Mary has special significance for the St. Paul Seminary.  Our rector went to the Roman College and developed a devotion to Our Lady of Confidence.  We now have a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Confidence in St. Mary's Chapel at SPS.  It was a wonderful opportunity to reminded (just months before our priesthood ordination) that our confidence does not lie in our own strength, abilities or talents, but rather in the mercy of God.  Mary shows us what complete and boundless confidence in God looks like.

In the evening we visited the Pontifical Council for Integral Human Development (a new council at the Vatican that combined four previously existing councils into one). This Pontifical Council has mediated the Church's outreach to the thousands and thousands of refugees that have had to flee the threat of terrorism and civil war.  The Christian is called to "welcome the stranger".  It was fitting to start our day talking about saints and to end it talking about seeing Jesus in those who are suffering, which has always been a disposition of the saints.

God bless you and may we all remember the call we have by our baptism to be saints.

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January 13th

The morning was free but many of us went to the major basilica, St. John Lateran. This church is built on the site of the first legal Christian church, built by Constantine.

In the evening we met up with our new friends of the Emanuel Community to evangelize in St. Peters square. We were all pushed out of comfort zone a bit. Is not easy to walk up to a stranger not knowing if they even speak English, but overall it was a good experience. It was especially interesting to talk to non-Christians about their experience of St Peter's. Then we joined them for Holy Hour, Mass and a dance party...we didn't dance.

We have the weekend off but we'll see you again on Monday. Ciao!

January 12

We had the morning open for study and prayer. Before lunch we met for class to discuss the various visits we made this week.

After lunch we met with Fr. Sweeney, an aid at the Congregation of Bishops. His office coordinates the Ad Limina visits Bishop's are required to make every five years. We also got to learn about process the Vatican goes through to choose new Bishops. It was complicated and fascinating.

In the evening we climbed the famous Spanish Steps to visit the Emmanuel Community. They're a community focused on the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church today. It was a beautiful evening with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We celebrated Mass with the young community in a small chapel, famous for its image of Mary. St Therese of Lisieux prayed here before meeting with the Pope to request to become a Carmelite. This is our second encounter with her in Rome, which is so fitting because she's the patroness of missionaries.

St Therese of Lisieux, Pray for us!

January 11th

Praying for the missions in front of St. Therese of Lisieux's habit

We started our day by visiting the Propaganda Fide (the Propagation of the Faith).  This congregation is responsible for the pastoral care of the mission territories in the world, those places where the Gospel of Christ has still not been fully proclaimed.  The collections that the Church takes up on World Missions Sunday goes to this congregation so that they can help support these missions.

The priest who spoke to us said that the goal of the Propaganda Fide is to run itself out of business; in other words, to help proclaim Jesus Christ to every corner of the world so that there is no longer any need for missions.

One of several archive rooms containing the documents from the missions

In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to go on the Scavi Tour.  This is the excavation that have taken place underneath St. Peter's Basilica and square.  There is an entire City of the Dead  (collection of large tombs) from Roman times underneath the Church.  In the midst of the tombs is the grave of St. Peter. We were able to pray just a few feet from St. Peter's bones.  As I prayed to St. Peter and thought about the mistakes he made in his life, with the massive St. Peter's Basilica above me, I appreciated how the Lord could build his Church on rocky foundations, how God can make saints out of sinners.

In the evening, we visited the Neocatechumenal Way.  They are an Ecclessial Movement in the Church dedicated to giving people a post-baptisimal catechumante.  In other words, to help adults already baptized, to go deeper into their faith and their commitment to Jesus Christ. We were inspired by their zeal and love for Jesus and the Church.

Listening to members of the Neocatechumanal Way

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January 10th

Last night we all returned to Rome and shared the stories and graces from our personal travel.

We started the day early with a Mass in St Peter's Basilica. Our Rector Mgsr. Callaghan celebrated Mass at the tomb of Pope St. John XXIII, who opened the Second Vatican Council. In his homily Monsignor encouraged us as we approach the priesthood this spring to be as open to the Holy Spirit as was the good Pope. He also reflected that it didn't seem very long ago that he was ordained a priest in that very Basilica.

After breakfast and an espresso we walked to the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life.  Dicasteries are special offices in the Vatican (though not necessarily physically within the Vatican) which focus on particular areas of the Church's mission. After lunch we visited the Dicastery for the New Evangelization as well.

What struck me the most about these visits was seeing how these offices actually function. Too often we have this image of the Vatican as the huge, powerful, institution. And it's true that the Pope has the authority and the Fatherly duty to correct people who have fallen into theological error. However, the Vatican officials that we spoke to all stressed that it was not their job to force the Church to do this or that. Rather they are there to guide and facilitate the work God is already doing among his people. They couldn't point to any programs they were undertaking but they could tell us about the work men and women from around the world were doing to spread the Gospel. I think we all learned a lot.

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January 7th-9th

This past weekend was free for us to do personal travel.  Some traveled north to Milan.  Others went to Florence.  Others went to Naples.  And some remained in Rome.  We start back with another busy program in Rome tomorrow.

God bless.

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January 6th

Today we had the incredible opportunity to be ministers of Holy Communion at Holy Mass of the Epiphany at St. Peter's with Pope Francis.

Deacon Chris Weber shared some of his experiences:

We had been told we would be vesting as Deacons and distributing Holy Communion, but we did not have any details on how this would work.  When we arrived half of our group got split off and sent to the front of the Basilica while the rest of us were sent to a side area behind a curtain.  Eventually we were reunited and an American MC (Msgr. Cihak who works in the Congregation for Bishops) helped get us squared away. 
 
We were sent to the Blessed Sacrament chapel where we waited and wondered whether we would get to serve or if we would be forgotten and left to listen to the Mass from the side chapel.  Eventually they brought out Cottas (surplices) and stoles for us and lined us up for the procession to our seats.  A choir from Dallas was helping with the music, and as we processed in they sang “Carol of the Bells.”  As we turned the corner to go down the main aisle I heard “ding, dongey dong.” 

When we arrived at the front of the Basilica an MC ushered VanHoose, Froehle, and myself off to the right, while the rest of our classmates went up and to the left.  We didn’t know why we had been separated, but at least we had good seats. 

Then an MC from somewhere in Eastern Europe came up to the three of us and said, “you three will help with communion to cardinals and bishops. You will take chalice and ciborium to main altar at offertory.  After consecration you will take chalice and ciboria from main altar and bring to cardinals and priests.  You follow me.”  After he left I turned to Froehle and said “I’m not entirely sure how that’s going to work, since I can’t feel my legs.”

Deacon Chris Weber distributes Holy Communion

Chris and a few other deacons were able to give Communion to the Cardinals and Bishops.  The rest of us were able to give Communion to the lay faithful.

God is good.  May He bless you and reveal His love to you in a new way just as He revealed Himself to the Magi.

Here is a quote from Pope Francis from today's homily:

"The Magi were able to worship, because they had the courage to set out.  And as they fell to their knees before the small, poor and vulnerable Infant, the unexpected and unknown Child of Bethlehem, they discovered the glory of God."

And here is the link to a video of the Mass:

https://youtu.be/ACbdzY1e640 

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