Archbishop Wuerl named cardinal

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

By Timothy McNulty, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., well known as the former bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, has been selected by Pope Benedict XVI to join the College of Cardinals.

Cardinal-designate Wuerl, 69, will serve as an advisor to the Pope and will be eligible to vote in a Papal election until his 80th birthday. A consistory to formally elevate the new Cardinals will be held Nov. 20 at the Vatican. A Mass with the Pope will be held the following day.

"This truly is an honor for the Archdiocese of Washington, the Church in the nation's capital, and for all of the clergy, religious and parishioners of this local Church who every day live out their faith in commitment and deep love for Christ," Cardinal-designate Wuerl said. "I am humbled by our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI's trust in me as shepherd of this flock and pledge to him my renewed fidelity, affection and loyalty."

Cardinal-designate Wuerl became the leader of the Archdiocese of Washington on June 22, 2006, after 18 years as the Bishop of Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh native was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 17, 1966, and ordained a bishop by Pope John Paul II on Jan. 6, 1986 in Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome.

In Pittsburgh today, his successor, Bishop David Zubik, said "Cardinal-designate Wuerl remains dear to our hearts. Today as our Holy Father honors him, he honors also our priests, religious and laity."

Bishop Zubik said he spoke to Archbishop Wuerl and congratulated him shortly after 6 a.m. today. He will travel to Rome for the Nov. 20-21 ceremonies.

The bishop noted it was the third time a Pittsburgh-native priest was named a Cardinal, following Adam Maida and Daniel DiNardo. Other former Pittsburgh bishops elevated to the College of Cardinals included John Dearden, John Wright and Anthony Bevilacqua.

"Cardinal-designate Wuerl's incredible gifts are well known, far beyond the region of southwestern Pennsylvania," Bishop Zubik said. "Everywhere he has served, the Church has benefitted enormously by his presence," the bishop said.

The Rome festivities will begin with a simple prayer ceremony where the cardinals receive their red hats, the bishop said, and will be followed the next day with a Mass where the Pope places rings on the fingers of the new cardinals.

Though named a cardinal, he will continue serving as Archbishop of Washington. His new duties will require more trips to Rome and perhaps performing special projects for the Pope.

Though his name has long been mentioned as a cardinal candidate, his onetime mentor was still shocked, Bishop Zubik said.

"As much as people would speculate, this is a shock to know that it actually did happen. When you think about the importance of the position of being a cardinal in the church --- to be one of the closest advisors of the Pope, and then also because of what is recognized by the public as being the most important part of a cardinal's life, which is to elect a new Pope when a Pope dies -- that's really something, when you consider it's only a little more than 120 who are called to that important role in the Church."

6 New Saints

Monks at Franciscan University - Stuebenville

Members of the St. Vincent "V-Team" will be present at the 2010 Franciscan University - Stuebenville Vocation Fair.

STEUBENVILLE, OH--Franciscan University of Steubenville's Annual Religious Vocation Awareness Day will be held on Friday, October 8, 2010. Nearly 100 religious orders and dioceses will be represented from all over the United States and Europe, making the event one of the largest of its kind.

"This event is a time of great blessing for the campus and an occasion for our students to see first hand the opportunities of religious life in the Church," said Father Rick Martignetti, director of Franciscan University's Pre-Theologate Program.

The day includes the Vocations Fair from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Finnegan Fieldhouse at the center of campus and a Mass for vocations at 12:05 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel, concelebrated by Baltimore Archbishop Edwin O'Brien and Steubenville Bishop R. Daniel Conlon. Archbishop O'Brien will also deliver an address on the priesthood at 7:30 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel on October 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Orders attending the vocations fair in Finnegan Fieldhouse will include the Third Order Regular (TOR) Franciscans who operate Franciscan University, Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, the Benedictines, Carmelites, and Dominicans. The Archdioceses of Philadelphia, Chicago, and the Military Services will also be among the participants.

Saint Bruno

Bruno was born in Cologne around 1030. He was still a youth when he was sent to Rheims, in France, to study at one of the most reputed universities in Europe. After completion of his studies, he started teaching at that university. In 1056, Archbishop Gervais chose him to be the Rector of the "schools" of Rheims; he held the office of Rector of studies for 20 years. Towards the end of 1076, Bruno chose exile because of the conflict between Manasses of Gournay, the archbishop of Rheims, and several important institutes of the city, including the Benedictine monastery of Saint Remi. On December 27, 1080, Gregory VII had to resolve to ask the clergy of Rheims to drive the corrupt archbishop away and to elect a new one. Bruno was chosen for this post of high responsibility and power, one of the highest ecclesiastical positions in the kingdom of France. But he had other plans. He had decided to follow Christ to the desert. It is only around the Feast of St John-Baptist, approximately on June 24, that he and six companions reached the far end of the desert of Chartreuse, under the guidance of Hugh, the young bishop of Grenoble. For six years, Bruno was able to enjoy the life he had chosen with his brothers. In the first months of 1090, Urban II, a former student of his, summoned him to Rome to help him in the service of the Church, but just a few months later, Bruno obtained the Pope's permission to return to eremitic life, provided that he would establish his hermitage in southern Italy, then under the rule of the Norman princes. Bruno chose a vast desert in the diocese of Squillace : Santa Maria della Torre. This is where he died, on October 6. 1101. From there he wrote two letters full of tender love which have been inspiring Carthusians for nine centuries. Bruno was beatified by Pope Leo X in 1514.

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R

From: http://papastronsaytexts.blogspot.com/

Blessed Francis Xavier was born at Füssen, Bavaria, Germany on January 11, 1819 and was baptized the same day in the parish church of St. Mang. According to his own testimony, he received the first impulses for virtue and piety from his truly Christian mother. The years of his studies, which he began in 1842 at Augsburg and Munich, he passed without the slightest blemish. His great love of God and ardent desire to promote His glory and the salvation of souls led him first into the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer into which he was received on 22 November, 1842, and then to apply for the American Mission. He left Europe via Le Havre, and arrived in New York, on 18 April, 1843 (some sources say 20 April). He completed his novitiate in Baltimore, was professed on 16 May, 1844, finished his studies, and was ordained on 22 December, of the same year in the Redemptorist Church of St. James in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.

Until May, 1845, he was attached to the community of St. James, where he already gave proofs of truly apostolic zeal. In the confessional he was indefatigable, winning the hearts of sinners by his extraordinary affability and kindness. In the pulpit, and particularly when giving catechetical instructions, his language was so persuasive, so full of heavenly unction, that his hearers never failed to derive spiritual profit. Such was the effect of his public discourses all through life.

In May, 1845, he was transferred to Pittsburgh where his Superior was Saint John Nepomucene Neumann, afterward Bishop of Philadelphia. Besides F. Seelos, Rev. Joseph Mueller was then stationed at Pittsburghh. These three men were such, that the Bishop, Right Rev. M. O Connor, used to call them “The three saints of St. Philomena’s.” Later Bl. Francis Xavier would say of Saint John Nepomucene that he had introduced him to the active side of religious life and had been his spiritual father.

In 1847, Father Seelos was placed in charge of the novices. In 1851, he was made Rector of that community. During the nine years that Father Seelos laboured in Pittsburgh, he acquired the reputation of a saint, a reputation which rendered his name immortal, and with that of Father Neumann's left a kind of sacred prestige in that place. He became well known as an expert confessor and spiritual director, so much so that people came to him even from neighbouring towns. But his greatest joy was to instruct little children in the Faith.

From Pittsburgh, Father Seelos was transferred in 1854 as Rector to St. Alphonsus, Baltimore, where from over-exertion in 1857, he fell sick. After a short stay at Cumberland and then Annapolis he was appointed spiritual Prefect of the professed Students. The years of his prefecture may be considered the most important of his whole life. By word and example, he preached to the young men the spirit of self-denial and prayer, the love of study and true apostolic zeal. Most of his pupils imbibed under such a director that spirit which ever afterward made them staunch Redemptorists. During the Civil War, Blessed Seelos relocated his seminarians to Annapolis in 1862. He visited President Abraham Lincoln in an effort to exempt seminarians from the draft. Because only priests could be exempt, Blessed Seelos arranged for Archbishop Francis Patrick Kenrick to ordain all 20 seminarians. In 1860, Father Seelos’ name was proposed for the episcopal see of Pittsburgh, but his humility succeeded in averting a blow which seemed to him the greatest misfortune that could befall him through a dispensation conferred by Blessed Pius IX.

From 1862 he was to devote himself to the work of giving Missions and retreats. In that sphere he again won the reputation of sanctity wherever he appeared preaching in English and German in the states of Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. The Faithful, as well as the clergy in general admired his heroism, and proclaimed him the saint among the missionaries. No wonder that God’s blessing accompanied him wherever he went.

In 1866, after being attached for a short time to the Detroit monastery, he was transferred to New Orleans. He arrived there in September, 1866, and it was not long before his name became a household word among the Faithful of the three churches under the Redemptorists’ charge. From far and near, people of every class and condition, rich and poor, old and young, learned and unlearnd, men and women, came to make their confession, particularly general confessions, to that saintly priest. He was looked upon as a heaven-sent physician for the cure of every spiritual ill. But Fr. Seelos earthly career was soon to be terminated.

On 17 September, 1867, he took the yellow fever which he had contracted through his pastoral visits to those suffering from the disease and, notwithstanding the most tender care lavished upon him, and the numerous prayers and offerings made for him, his life was not spared.

Cheerful and contented as ever, he looked forward to his eternal reward. He died, while the brethren around his bed were singing, at his request, one of his favourite hymns to Our Blessed Lady on 4 October, 1867. He was 48 years old.

Father Francis Xavier Seelos was beatified on 9 April, 2000, and his Feast was established on 5 October. His precious relics repose in his shrine at St Mary’s Church, New Orleans. †

Deus, qui ad nuntianda redemptionis mysteria,
et ad maerentes sublevandos,
beatum Franciscum Xaverium presbyterum,
eximia caritate decorasti,
eius intercessione concede,
ut diligenter ad tuam gloriam
hominumque salutem operemur.
Per Dominum.

O God, who made your priest, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos,
outstanding in love,
that he might proclaim the mysteries of redemption,
and comfort those in affliction,
grant, by his intercession,
that we may work zealously for your glory
and for the salvation of mankind,
Through our Lord.