Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Fork in the Road...
Once I was told that if I ever came to a fork in the road I should take it. Well that is precisely what I've mulled over in discernment throughout the last few years of my life. Am I at a fork in the road, and if so where do I take it?On the twentieth of July, 2009 my Lord helped me answer that question, and I did exactly that, took it. Everything that has come to pass in this last month, every change of place, job, and life style has come from that motionless day. It seems as though I have simply experienced rest from my travels, and with that has come a new sense of interior freedom. To say that the goodness of this life has come by any other means than love would be a lie, as it has been characterized by only one thing - effortlessness. A new spring has come into my life, and I choose to serve the Lord.
To thank those in my life would be too long of a list, suffice to offer thanksgiving to my Lord and my God, for his guidence at that fork, my Spiritual Directors for their holiness and witness, to Katie and all those who have inspired me to strive for holiness, to the whole people of God, Thank You!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Happiness is Love
"Their lives were too human for science, too beautiful for numbers, too sad for diagnosis and too immortal for bound journals."
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/print/200906/happiness?x=31&y=1
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Fanciscan Point
JMJ
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So what does a good seminarian do on a Friday evening in the Month of Mary? Well, I should think it obvious, he should walk along the lake shore with Rosary in hand, Our Lady's intercession up above, and Irish tunes on his lips.+
A lot has happened since my last post, which is precisely why I have not posted on the lots. If I had, then the lots would have been more like a little, and then we would have no reason to post. But, thankfully there has been lots, and not little. However, with all this lots it could turn out to be of little meaning, but "since brevity is the soul of wit, I"ll be brief" (Polonius).
This evening, myself and several other guys made our way around the winding road of our school's lake. All in all it measures three miles, which might not be much, but it is everything one needs for a beautiful walk around a three mile lake. About half way around the old blacktop roadway is a moss covered path that leads through the ever thickening forest toward the lake shore. It is a trail worn by years of priests at prayer as well as the occasional family of deer. The seemingly ancient passageway winds its way past the yonder smelly swamp and the spring grasses that have just inhabited the forest floor, and plants you along the east shore line, on a beautiful nook known as Franciscan Point. There you are able to wonder at the miracle of a spring sunset, and take in the silhouette of our chapel's spire as the day draws to a close. It was at this place that the men of Mundelein seminary spent their Friday night.
After setting up the fire pit and grabbing the evermore immobile concrete benches, we sang to our hearts content and then to our voices' detriment. We recalled the Ol' Black and Tans, rejoiced at Ol' Finnegan's Wake, and sang to the Whiskey in the Jar. As the night drew to a close, and our smoke filled eyes screamed out for our concession, we gave into the call of our distant beds and sang our last song to Sweet Molley Malone. We found our way back to the now blackened path and after some searching the old winding blacktop roadway. With the sounds of Dublin's finest pub still ringing in our ears we walked the few miles back to our beds and said our goodnights to our sweet mother, thanking her for her intercession.
Well, perhaps it wasn't so brief, but it was a good Friday night nonetheless. It was either Franciscan Point or the tales of Ugly Tie-day Friday, but I'll save that for another post.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
D. It is written
In 2008, the film Slumdog Millionaire hit the world stage and gave testimony to the reality that "it is written" and that indeed there is a writer. In this tale of a young Indian "slumdog" there emerges several great truths that capture and inspire the heart, as he seeks to reunite with his one true love. It is a story of cooperation of man with God's grace, with love triumphant, and God's intamacy with his creation. If you have not watched this movie, go and do so. In the following clip of Father Barron is his commentary on the film, drawing out the truth within (there is some spoilers so watch the film first.)
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Friday Quote
"....Love, as mortals understand the word isn't enough. Every natural love will rise again and live forever in this country: but none will rise again until it has been buried."
C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Ol' Willie Brown
JMJ
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It is not often that I post, and even rarer for me to post on something of inspiration. But I was asked by a priest, whom I respect very much, to share this story with all of you and so I do. Perhaps a little background story to begin...
The word on the street is that I am a softy when it comes to the poor, materially or spiritually, and so I have to find little ways to carry out these good desires that the Lord has blessed me with. Over the years these little ways have taken on different forms and titles, but they were all inspired by the same charism given by the Lord. As of late, these little ways have taken on a new form in the way of distributing sandwiches and prayers in the streets of downtown Chicago. So on a given Saturday morning I will drive down to the village train station with my good friend Jamie, and we'll catch the 9:10a to Union Station.
We travel light, typically it is just the two of us, and we bring along two backpacks full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (breakfast of champions, as well as those of us who are not quite champions!). The train line takes about an hour, so we tend to fill the time with childish games and terrible jokes about the unknown lives of all the travelers who are venturing into the city with us. This is of course followed by the hustle and bustle of our departure where I glory in my ability to see over everyone else (that's awful). Eventually, however, we make our way into the streets of Chi-town and life becomes ever more real. That is not to say it becomes serious, but poignantly sincere.
Jamie and I reenacted this very routine, just this day, and our little way was filled with great sincerity. I say this as I remember the tears in Jamie's eyes and the warmth in my heart. Because today we looked into one of our homeless brother's face and there we both saw Christ more profoundly that we had either seen him before. He said his name was Willie Brown. I cannot tell you how tall he was because he was sitting in a wheel chair, which hid his true stature. But I can tell you that he was a man of greatness in his soul. We met him about mid-morning, as the sun was just beginning to break the icy grip of the previous night. He did not appear extraordinary, indeed from first glance Willie was no more than your typical street corner pan-handler. And it was through Willie's weather beaten, street ridden eyes that Christ chose to share with us His great love. Imagine if you will, the two of us, Jamie and I, standing on the Corner of Michigan Ave. and Washington St., there to our left rose the Chicago Cultural Center building and to our right is Millennium Park, two great beauties of Chicago. And yet sitting in front of us, and capturing our full attention is a man wrinkled and toughened, with all the of unpleasantness of the streets written into the creases of his face. We offered him our mere sandwiches, and he offered us the joy of the Lord. He wanted the sandwiches to go to the less fortunate and youthful homeless. He wanted our hearts not to be saddened, but to rejoice with him in all the wonders and gifts of the Lord. He wanted the few dollars we had to go to the new homeless men that he has seen on the street, and more yet he wanted the few dollars he had as well to go to those who were in even greater need than he. Willie looked us both in the eyes as we shook his hand - not because we wanted to leave, but because he knew that there were people who were waiting on our little gifts - and there on that street corner he asked for God's blessing upon us and our lives. Our short friendship, Willie said, 'might not come together again on this earth, but in heaven we will be rejoicing in the Lord forever, together!"
At the end of the block we turned the corner, Jamie with his tears and I with my warmth, and both of us with our sandwiches. I sincerely hope we meet up with Willie on our next little way, but even if -like he said, our short friendship does not meet up again - perhaps by my sharing with you this little story, you might just meet Willie in your own little way.
The word on the street is that I am a softy when it comes to the poor, materially or spiritually, and so I have to find little ways to carry out these good desires that the Lord has blessed me with. Over the years these little ways have taken on different forms and titles, but they were all inspired by the same charism given by the Lord. As of late, these little ways have taken on a new form in the way of distributing sandwiches and prayers in the streets of downtown Chicago. So on a given Saturday morning I will drive down to the village train station with my good friend Jamie, and we'll catch the 9:10a to Union Station.
We travel light, typically it is just the two of us, and we bring along two backpacks full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (breakfast of champions, as well as those of us who are not quite champions!). The train line takes about an hour, so we tend to fill the time with childish games and terrible jokes about the unknown lives of all the travelers who are venturing into the city with us. This is of course followed by the hustle and bustle of our departure where I glory in my ability to see over everyone else (that's awful). Eventually, however, we make our way into the streets of Chi-town and life becomes ever more real. That is not to say it becomes serious, but poignantly sincere.
Jamie and I reenacted this very routine, just this day, and our little way was filled with great sincerity. I say this as I remember the tears in Jamie's eyes and the warmth in my heart. Because today we looked into one of our homeless brother's face and there we both saw Christ more profoundly that we had either seen him before. He said his name was Willie Brown. I cannot tell you how tall he was because he was sitting in a wheel chair, which hid his true stature. But I can tell you that he was a man of greatness in his soul. We met him about mid-morning, as the sun was just beginning to break the icy grip of the previous night. He did not appear extraordinary, indeed from first glance Willie was no more than your typical street corner pan-handler. And it was through Willie's weather beaten, street ridden eyes that Christ chose to share with us His great love. Imagine if you will, the two of us, Jamie and I, standing on the Corner of Michigan Ave. and Washington St., there to our left rose the Chicago Cultural Center building and to our right is Millennium Park, two great beauties of Chicago. And yet sitting in front of us, and capturing our full attention is a man wrinkled and toughened, with all the of unpleasantness of the streets written into the creases of his face. We offered him our mere sandwiches, and he offered us the joy of the Lord. He wanted the sandwiches to go to the less fortunate and youthful homeless. He wanted our hearts not to be saddened, but to rejoice with him in all the wonders and gifts of the Lord. He wanted the few dollars we had to go to the new homeless men that he has seen on the street, and more yet he wanted the few dollars he had as well to go to those who were in even greater need than he. Willie looked us both in the eyes as we shook his hand - not because we wanted to leave, but because he knew that there were people who were waiting on our little gifts - and there on that street corner he asked for God's blessing upon us and our lives. Our short friendship, Willie said, 'might not come together again on this earth, but in heaven we will be rejoicing in the Lord forever, together!"
At the end of the block we turned the corner, Jamie with his tears and I with my warmth, and both of us with our sandwiches. I sincerely hope we meet up with Willie on our next little way, but even if -like he said, our short friendship does not meet up again - perhaps by my sharing with you this little story, you might just meet Willie in your own little way.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year
JMJ+
Pope Benedict XVI writes a beautiful reflection about the concept of "time" and about how the end of the year offers us hope, peace, and an opportunity for change and conversion:
The year is ending. This means, as always, that we spend a few minutes in reflection. We draw up balance-sheets and make an effort to anticipate what the future may bring. For a moment we become conscious of the strange thing called "time," which otherwise we simply use without thinking about it. We feel both the melancholy and the consolation of our own transiency. Much that caused us distress, much that weighed us down and seemed to make progress impossible, has now passed and become quite unimportant. As we look back, difficult days are transfigured in memory, and the now almost forgotten distress leaves us more peaceful and confident, more composed in the face of present threats, for these too will pass. The consolation of transiency: Nothing lasts, no matter how important it claims to be.
But this consoling thought, which gives patience its character of promise, also has its discouraging and saddening aspect. Nothing lasts, and therefore along with the old year not only difficulties but much that is beautiful has passed away, and the more we move beyond the midpoint of our lives, the more poignantly we feel this change of what was once future and then present into something past. We cannot say to any moment: "Stay a while! You are so lovely!" Anything that is within time comes and then passes away.
Our feelings toward the new year show the same ambivalence as our feelings toward the old year. A new beginning is something precious; it brings hope and possibilities as yet undisclosed. "Every beginning has a magic about it that protects us and helps us live" (Herman Hesse) ... What can we say at this moment of transition? First of all, we can do the very human thing the moment urges upon us: we can use the time of reflection in order to stand aside and widen our vision, thus gaining inner freedom and a patient readiness to move on again.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Paradox...
"There is but one answer, and I am sorry if you don't like it. If Innocent is happy, it is because he is innocent. If he can defy the conventions, it is just because he can keep the commandments. It is just because he does not want to kill but to excite to life that a pistol is still as exciting to him as it is to a schoolboy. It is just because he does not want to steal, because he does not covet his neighbour's goods, that he has captured the trick (oh, how we all long for it!), the trick of coveting his own goods. It is just because he does not want to commit adultery that he achieves the romance of sex; it is just because he loves one wife that he has a hundred honeymoons. If he had really murdered a man, if he had really deserted a woman, he would not be able to feel that a pistol or a love-letter was like a song-- at least, not a comic song."
-Manalive by G.K. Chesterton
-Manalive by G.K. Chesterton
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday Quote
JMJ
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There will be a new post soon, but for now I leave you with a quote:+
"Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at."
--Anonymous (I.C.)
Monday, November 24, 2008
What I Wanted To Be
JMJ
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The gentle and compassionate type. They are especially attuned their inner values and what other people need. They are not friends of many words and tend to take the worries of the world on their shoulders. They tend to follow the path of least resistance and have to look out not to be taken advantage of.
Well, the mind baffles.
So in a hope to clarify my personality for Mr.'s Meyers and Briggs, I thought I might add a short list of what I wanted to be, lets get started!
1. Cowboy Up - When I was little, growing up on the farm lead to a yearning to ride into glory on the top of a full grown bull. That hope was soon dashed by my 3.2 seconds of fame the top of a half-grown steer at the county fair. Alas, I was forced to pursue other career tracts.
2. Archeologist - After the short despair following my dreams of bull riding I watched my first Indiana Jones movie and hope returned. He was a man's man, who got play in the mud, fight off bad guys, and get the girl. I'm actually still holding out for this dream.
3. Football Star - It was after my sixth grade year that I realized my calling to football. I had but to gain about a foot of height and a hundred pounds in order to play - and too God's credit He did in fact give me the foot. However, this dream too was dashed by an utter lack of athletic ability, so I moved on.
4. Professor - By my high school days I realized that it was not athletics that would lead me to glory, so I switched stratagies. I began committing myself to being a physics professor, you see I really aspired to wear tweed jackets and rejoice in the beauty of disheveled hair. (Picture is from the movie I.Q.)
For me this turn toward being an artist is a bit of an existential crisis, nonetheless, I hope for you this list clears up my blog personality a bit - but for now i'm going to go paint. Peace.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Religion and Beer
JMJ
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We are about to begin the ninth week of classes out of our ten week quarter, thus it is once again time to begin more intensive preparations for finals. However, in an attempt to remember the joy and leisure of true study I wish to share a few insights that I have gained through study in my life (some taken from Ironic Catholic, enjoy):
INSIGHT #1
Why Religion Is Better than Beer:
* Too much religion does not induce vomiting.
* Jesus is free; beer starts at $2.50 a six-pack.
* Religion has a lot fewer calories.
* Holy water doesn't affect your sense of balance.
* How many fistfights do you see in a church?
* Religion won't give you a hangover.
* Your spouse won't complain that your breath stinks of religion.
* You can have as much religion as you like, and still drive home later.
* Your religion won't shatter if you drop it on the ground.
* You can shake up your religion, and it won't explode.
* You don't have to get your stomach pumped for overdosing on religion.
* The day after going to church, you can remember everything that happened.
* You don't have to worry about getting religion stains on your clothes.
* Saying "Oh, God!" is much more fun in church than kneeling over the toilet.
* The police won't arrest you for accepting Jesus under age.
* It's okay to drive and be open to Jesus.
* Jesus was crucified for our sins -- beer is just pasteurized.
* Jesus comes in a handy one-pack.
* Jesus is who you need in emergencies -- beer often causes emergencies.
* Try driving a nail through a can of beer and see what happens.
* Beer just doesn't have the same after-sales service that you get from religion.
* Too much religion won't kill you, Perhaps just the opposite!
INSIGHT #2
Wine is helpful when taken from a medieval German perspective
*Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep, and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo, drink wine and be saved.
INSIGHT #3
G.K. Chesterton wisdom
*We should thank God for beer and Burgundy by not drinking to much of them.
INSIGHT #4
Root Beer
*Enough said!
INSIGHT #1
Why Religion Is Better than Beer:* Too much religion does not induce vomiting.
* Jesus is free; beer starts at $2.50 a six-pack.
* Religion has a lot fewer calories.
* Holy water doesn't affect your sense of balance.
* How many fistfights do you see in a church?
* Religion won't give you a hangover.
* Your spouse won't complain that your breath stinks of religion.
* You can have as much religion as you like, and still drive home later.
* Your religion won't shatter if you drop it on the ground.
* You can shake up your religion, and it won't explode.
* You don't have to get your stomach pumped for overdosing on religion.
* The day after going to church, you can remember everything that happened.
* You don't have to worry about getting religion stains on your clothes.
* Saying "Oh, God!" is much more fun in church than kneeling over the toilet.
* The police won't arrest you for accepting Jesus under age.
* It's okay to drive and be open to Jesus.
* Jesus was crucified for our sins -- beer is just pasteurized.
* Jesus comes in a handy one-pack.
* Jesus is who you need in emergencies -- beer often causes emergencies.
* Try driving a nail through a can of beer and see what happens.
* Beer just doesn't have the same after-sales service that you get from religion.
* Too much religion won't kill you, Perhaps just the opposite!
INSIGHT #2
Wine is helpful when taken from a medieval German perspective
*Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep, and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo, drink wine and be saved.
INSIGHT #3
G.K. Chesterton wisdom
*We should thank God for beer and Burgundy by not drinking to much of them.
INSIGHT #4
Root Beer
*Enough said!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The Week Off
JMJ
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Now it is not quite as the name implies, we are still very much attending classes and community time, however, we have no more exams or papers. As a result our free time can be spent on other important things such as posting on this blog.+
When I began writing on this post I had intended to tell you about the results of my first exam in Latin. However, my whole topic depended on me understanding the answers I put down on my test - which I don't anymore -so instead I will tell you the funny Latin phrase that went went through my mind when I got back my test.
"Veni, vidi, volo in domum redire."
I came, I saw, I want to go home.
Tomorrow I get to go back to St. Benedict's nursing home and spend some time with my friends there; i'll see what "new" movie Jack has to show me, and hopefully get to spend some more time with Chester and Susan(see 'If not love' post). Afterward, I go back to Mundelein and will be cantering for my first time ever in the Main Chapel, so pray for me. After that it is time for some good ol' soccer followed by prayer - yeah prayer!Peace be with all of you and know that you are in my prayers.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Happy Feast Day St. Jerome
JMJ
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Happy feast day to my confirmation saint - Jerome - scholar, translator, and theologian. Jerome was the foremost biblical scholar of the ancient Church. His translation of the Bible, along with his commentaries and homilies on the biblical books, have made him a major intellectual force in the Western Church. Jerome was intemperate in controversy, and any correspondence with him tended to degenerate into a flame war. (His friendship with Augustine, conducted by letter, nearly ended before it began. Fortunately Augustine sized him up correctly, soothed his feelings, and was extremely tactful thereafter.) His hot temper, pride of learning, and extravagant promotion of asceticism involved him in many bitter controversies over questions of theology and of Bible interpretation. However, he was candid at times in admitting his failings, and was never ambitious for either worldly or churchly honors. He was a militant champion of orthodoxy, a tireless worker, and a scholar of rare gifts. To learn more about this great saint visit his biography on Catholic Encyclopedia.
As to the reason why I felt called to Saint Jerome as my confirmation saint, well there could be a multitude of reasons - his devotion, his study, his orthodoxy - but in the end it was only one thing, which I'll get too. You see at the time of confirmation I had no clue as to the meaning of this saint's life or works, he was simply a name I found on-line. (Which at the time, the simple act of logging on to the Internet was a feat of strength, much less actually searching for anything.) As it turns out he was calling me to himself so that he could yell at me for not being holy enough, and point me back toward the Church. (I tell ya, he's a feisty old guy.) So in the end God allowed me to chose this fiery saint as my guide and commander as I was confirmed in my mission. In the end, however, my final and only reason for choosing Saint Jerome - which I presented to my priest and religious educators, whom I can only assume lost all hope for the next generation - stated that he was a doctor who lived in the desert, which I thought was funny enough to be cool. I mean really, why would a doctor live in the desert, nobody gets a cold in the desert.
Alas, this is what you had to work with Jerome, nonetheless, happy feast day. Oh, and if you get the chance, just let me know why you went to practice medicine in the desert, that's just strange!
As to the reason why I felt called to Saint Jerome as my confirmation saint, well there could be a multitude of reasons - his devotion, his study, his orthodoxy - but in the end it was only one thing, which I'll get too. You see at the time of confirmation I had no clue as to the meaning of this saint's life or works, he was simply a name I found on-line. (Which at the time, the simple act of logging on to the Internet was a feat of strength, much less actually searching for anything.) As it turns out he was calling me to himself so that he could yell at me for not being holy enough, and point me back toward the Church. (I tell ya, he's a feisty old guy.) So in the end God allowed me to chose this fiery saint as my guide and commander as I was confirmed in my mission. In the end, however, my final and only reason for choosing Saint Jerome - which I presented to my priest and religious educators, whom I can only assume lost all hope for the next generation - stated that he was a doctor who lived in the desert, which I thought was funny enough to be cool. I mean really, why would a doctor live in the desert, nobody gets a cold in the desert.
Alas, this is what you had to work with Jerome, nonetheless, happy feast day. Oh, and if you get the chance, just let me know why you went to practice medicine in the desert, that's just strange!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
If not Love?
"I did not find it that exciting," he said, as he walked the other direction. These words seemed to linger in my heart and in my mind as I went on with the rest of my day. Not out of anger or of self-doubt, but out of sheer astonishment.
Referencing an event earlier in the day, one that I hope gives you a glimpse of what it gave me, a good friend of mine made this comment. It was in relation to our visit earlier that day to St. Benedict's Nursing Home in Niles, Illinois. Within the grounds of St. Benedict's live eighty-three men and women, priests and nuns, all of whom God loves immeasurably and completely. They come from different backgrounds, careers, and stories. Some come hurt, and others out of age, each with his or her own identity. As you visit each of these children of God, you see in them the eyes of Christ peering back at you from years of hardship and suffering, and in this we see the paradox of the cross.
While visiting with the different residents I came across Susan, who, though she could not tell me her own name, was able to ask to be taken to her husband. For me this was something beautiful and to be cherished, and in fact I had been told earlier in the day that there was such a couple living at the end of the south wing. We eventually reached the doorway leading into Susan's room and there on their bed was her husband fast asleep. When we entered he slowly rolled over and a smile came across Chester's - that was his name - face as he looked upon his wife. After a bit of small conversation and introductions (Chester as it turns out can communicate much more clearly than Susan), I found out that the two have been married for sixty-five years, and that Chester found his wife more beautiful at ninety-two than he did the day they married. As I was about to depart the two seemed to motioned at one another, and Chester quietly asked me to bring Susan over to his bedside. There the two lovers embraced one another's hands and with the words, "still warm after all these years," Chester laid back down to sleep.
I look forward to spending more time with this couple, and to hearing more of their story. But, as to why I bring it up in the light of my friend's remark, "I did not find it that exciting," well it has to do my astonishment. You see, I want to know, what there is to be excited about, if not Love? True Love! Gift of Self for the Glory of God!
Referencing an event earlier in the day, one that I hope gives you a glimpse of what it gave me, a good friend of mine made this comment. It was in relation to our visit earlier that day to St. Benedict's Nursing Home in Niles, Illinois. Within the grounds of St. Benedict's live eighty-three men and women, priests and nuns, all of whom God loves immeasurably and completely. They come from different backgrounds, careers, and stories. Some come hurt, and others out of age, each with his or her own identity. As you visit each of these children of God, you see in them the eyes of Christ peering back at you from years of hardship and suffering, and in this we see the paradox of the cross.
While visiting with the different residents I came across Susan, who, though she could not tell me her own name, was able to ask to be taken to her husband. For me this was something beautiful and to be cherished, and in fact I had been told earlier in the day that there was such a couple living at the end of the south wing. We eventually reached the doorway leading into Susan's room and there on their bed was her husband fast asleep. When we entered he slowly rolled over and a smile came across Chester's - that was his name - face as he looked upon his wife. After a bit of small conversation and introductions (Chester as it turns out can communicate much more clearly than Susan), I found out that the two have been married for sixty-five years, and that Chester found his wife more beautiful at ninety-two than he did the day they married. As I was about to depart the two seemed to motioned at one another, and Chester quietly asked me to bring Susan over to his bedside. There the two lovers embraced one another's hands and with the words, "still warm after all these years," Chester laid back down to sleep.
I look forward to spending more time with this couple, and to hearing more of their story. But, as to why I bring it up in the light of my friend's remark, "I did not find it that exciting," well it has to do my astonishment. You see, I want to know, what there is to be excited about, if not Love? True Love! Gift of Self for the Glory of God!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Beginning Again
JMJ
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Last weekend a good friend of mine, Jasmine P., set me straight on what it meant to blog, and that it required more than two entries a month. Thus, in an attempt to avoid being ousted by the blogging community I have begun typing again, for which I apologize to you all. May God bless you!
If you are looking forward to a short update on my time at Mundelein Seminary, I'll do my best but you see that's hard for me. However, very soon I plan on taking a nap and so that offers me even more incentive to keep this quick. My last entry came directly before a trip to Conception, MO for a soccer/volleyball tournament, and so I'll begin there. We drove down through torrents of rain and wind, and brought back two trophy's in the brilliant sunlight. The next week was spent recovering from the matches, setting down a schedule of prayer, and spending time with the guys in my cam (abbreviated Italian for dorm). The latter two of these, prayer and brotherhood, have truly been the heart of my time here at Mundelein.
Prayer is a constant focus, as it has been my heart and strength. For a reference you can look at Chesterton's character, Innocent Smith in Manalive, and from that you will see what I mean. In this novella Innocent, stands trial for murder, polygamy, and general insanity, yet in the end it was him simply understanding what it truly means to live life, to awaken to the joy God. Now in the book, Innocent shoots at his professors and goes on one hundred honeymoons to realize what it means to be alive, but somehow I think the formation directors here at Mundelein would look down on this sort of behavior.
Brotherhood has meant numerous things and all of them intriguing(at least to me). We, as a cam, have designed a flag so as to claim territory on campus. Its fantastic! We have played ball, golf, soccer, and sailed. We have traveled to the city and roamed in the country. We have prayed and we have played, and honestly that not to bad of a combination.
Lastly, I would just like to say a word of thanks to all the Apostle's and Collaborator's who made last weekend's conference so wonderful. The warmth and joy that I felt and bore witness too was beautiful. I'll write again soon, but until then may His peace be with you.
If you are looking forward to a short update on my time at Mundelein Seminary, I'll do my best but you see that's hard for me. However, very soon I plan on taking a nap and so that offers me even more incentive to keep this quick. My last entry came directly before a trip to Conception, MO for a soccer/volleyball tournament, and so I'll begin there. We drove down through torrents of rain and wind, and brought back two trophy's in the brilliant sunlight. The next week was spent recovering from the matches, setting down a schedule of prayer, and spending time with the guys in my cam (abbreviated Italian for dorm). The latter two of these, prayer and brotherhood, have truly been the heart of my time here at Mundelein.
Prayer is a constant focus, as it has been my heart and strength. For a reference you can look at Chesterton's character, Innocent Smith in Manalive, and from that you will see what I mean. In this novella Innocent, stands trial for murder, polygamy, and general insanity, yet in the end it was him simply understanding what it truly means to live life, to awaken to the joy God. Now in the book, Innocent shoots at his professors and goes on one hundred honeymoons to realize what it means to be alive, but somehow I think the formation directors here at Mundelein would look down on this sort of behavior.
Brotherhood has meant numerous things and all of them intriguing(at least to me). We, as a cam, have designed a flag so as to claim territory on campus. Its fantastic! We have played ball, golf, soccer, and sailed. We have traveled to the city and roamed in the country. We have prayed and we have played, and honestly that not to bad of a combination.
Lastly, I would just like to say a word of thanks to all the Apostle's and Collaborator's who made last weekend's conference so wonderful. The warmth and joy that I felt and bore witness too was beautiful. I'll write again soon, but until then may His peace be with you.
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