St. Vincent historic vestments to be featured in Pitssburgh Vatican Splendors exhibit

A number of Saint Vincent Archabbey's historic vestments and artwork will be featured in the Vatican Splendors (Pittsburgh Splendors) exhibit being held at the Senator John Heinz History Center opening October 2, 2010.  For more information click here.

Welcome back St. Vincent Students

Lord our God, in your wisdom and love you surround us with the mysteries of the universe. In times long past you sent us your prophets to teach your laws and to bear witness to your undying love. You sent us your Son to teach us by word and example that true wisdom comes from you alone.

Send your Spirit upon these students and their teachers and fill them with your wisdom and blessings. Grant that during this academic year they may devote themselves to their studies and share what they have learned from others.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Cardinal George Announces Vatican Approval of New Roman Missal English-Language Translation, Implementation Set for First Sunday of Advent 2011

 

WASHINGTON—Cardinal Francis George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has announced that the full text of the  English-language translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, has been issued for the dioceses of the United States of America. 
           
The text was approved by the Vatican, and the approval was accompanied by a June 23 letter from Cardinal Llovera Antonio Cañizares, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The Congregation also provided guidelines for publication.
           
In addition, on July 24, the Vatican gave approval for several adaptations, including additional prayers for the Penitential Act at Mass and the Renewal of Baptismal Promises on Easter Sunday. Also approved are texts of prayers for feasts specific to the United States such as Thanksgiving, Independence Day and the observances of feasts for saints such as Damien of Molokai, Katharine Drexel, and Elizabeth Ann Seton. The Vatican also approved the Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life, which can be celebrated on January 22.   
           
Cardinal George announced receipt of the documents in an August 20 letter to the U.S. Bishops and issued a decree of proclamation that states that “The use of the third edition of the Roman Missal enters into use in the dioceses of the United States of America as of the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011.  From that date forward, no other edition of the Roman Missal may be used in the dioceses of the United States of America.” 
           
The date of implementation was chosen to allow publishers time to prepare texts and parishes and dioceses to educate parishioners.
           
“We can now move forward and continue with our important catechetical efforts as we prepare the text for publication,” Cardinal George said.
           
In the coming weeks, staff of the bishops’ Secretariat of Divine Worship will prepare the text for publication and collaborate with the staff of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), which will assist Bishops’ Conferences in bringing the text to publication. In particular, ICEL has been preparing the chant settings of the texts of the Missal for use in the celebration of the Mass. Once all necessary elements have been incorporated into the text and the preliminary layout is complete, the final text will go to the publishers to produce the ritual text, catechetical resources and participation aids for use in the Liturgy.
           
Receipt of the text marks the start of proximate preparation for Roman Missal implementation. Before first use of the new text in Advent 2011, pastors are urged to use resources available to prepare parishioners. Some already have been in use; others are being released now. They include the Parish Guide for the Implementation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, and Become One Body, One Spirit in Christ, a multi-media DVD resource produced by ICEL in collaboration with English-language Conferences of Bishops. Both will be available from the USCCB. Information on resources can be found at www.usccb.org/romanmissal
           
Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, New Jersey, Chair of the Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship, voiced gratitude for the approval.
           
“I am happy that after years of preparation, we now have a text that, when introduced late next year, will enable the ongoing renewal of the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy in our parishes,” he said.  Msgr. Anthony Sherman, Director of the Secretariat for Divine Worship of the USCCB noted, “A great effort to produce the new Roman Missal for the United States, along with the other necessary resources, has begun.  Even as that work is underway a full–scale catechesis about the Liturgy and the new Roman Missal should be taking place in parishes, so that when the time comes, everyone will be ready.”

Benedict XVI Encourages Choosing a Special Saint

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 25, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is recommending that everyone have devotion to a particular saint -- he suggested, for example, a namesake -- so that the saint can offer closeness through intercession but also be a model to imitate.

The Pope said this today when he reflected during the general audience on the saints. He gave the audience address from Castel Gandolfo, where he is staying at the papal summer residence through next month.

The Holy Father said that it is important "to have 'travel companions' on the journey of our Christian life: I am thinking of a spiritual director, a confessor, persons with whom we can share the experience of faith, but I am also thinking of the Virgin Mary and of the saints."

"Each one," he said, "should have a saint that is familiar to him, to whom he feels close with prayer and intercession, but also to imitate him or her. Hence, I would like to invite you to know the saints better, beginning with the one whose name you bear, by reading his life, his writings. You can be certain that they will become good guides to love the Lord ever more and valid aids for your human and Christian growth."

The Pontiff noted his own closeness to St. Joseph and St. Benedict, as his namesakes, but also reflected on a saint who has "become a good 'travel companion' in my life and my ministry": St. Augustine.

Pursuit

Benedict XVI said that St. Augustine's teaching is particularly relevant today, since "relativism is, paradoxically, the 'truth' that must guide thought, decisions and behavior."

Augustine was a great seeker of truth, the Pope noted -- not '"pseudo-truths' incapable of giving lasting peace of heart, but that Truth that gives meaning to existence and that is the 'dwelling' in which the heart finds serenity and joy."

"St. Augustine understood that it was not he who had found Truth, but that Truth itself, which is God, pursued and found him," the Pontiff reflected.

Referring to a passage from Augustine's "Confessions," in which the saint is with his mother and both "for a moment touch the heart of God in the silence of creatures," the Holy Father said: "[C]reatures must be silent so that there will be a silence in which God can speak. This is also true in our time: Sometimes there is a sort of fear of silence, of recollection, of reflecting on one's acts, on the profound meaning of one's life. [...] [T]here is fear of seeking the Truth, or perhaps there is fear that the Truth will find us, will grip us and change our life, as happened to St. Augustine."

"Dear brothers and sisters," the Pope concluded, "I would like to say to all, also to those in a difficult moment in their faith journey, those who do not participate much in the life of the Church, or those who live 'as if God did not exist' that they not be afraid of the Truth, that they never interrupt their journey toward it, that they never cease to seek the profound truth about themselves and about things with the internal eyes of the heart."

"God will not fail to give Light so that one can see," he said, "and Warmth to feel the heart that loves us and that wants to be loved."

Memorial of St. Augustine

 From: www.saintvincentarchabbey.org

"In his holy name we trust."

Without trust there is no intimacy and very little relationship. Psalm 33 celebrates the trust of the Chosen People. The people God has chosen for his own inheritance is truly a blessed nation. It is from heaven that the LORD looks down upon all mankind, but his gaze of tender mercy is upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness. They have been delivered from death and preserved in the time of famine. Israel has been rescued again and again; she has countless reasons to trust the LORD at all times. Indeed her soul waits for the LORD, who is her help and her shield. In the Holy Name of the LORD Israel places her trust and in him all hearts rejoice. Saint Paul calls his brothers and sisters in Corinth to boast in the Lord Jesus. Though they seem foolish and insignificant to the powers that be, for them the Lord Jesus has become wisdom from On High. In today's parable the Lord Jesus reveals the joy of those who trust in him and are willing to risk everything for the benefit of the Kingdom. Here we renew our trust in the Lord Jesus who becomes our Daily Bread.

Saint Paul invites his beloved brothers and sisters to consider their call. He points out a socio-economic reality that could apply to many churches even today. Few of us are wise by the standards of our world. Not many of us have a great claim on economic or political power. Probably the number of noble births is even lower today, unless one considers entertainment nobility. God chose the foolish of this world to shame the wise, and He chose the weak of the world to shame the strong. Those considered lowly and despised of this world, those who count for nothing, were chosen to reduce to nothing those who are something. The LORD has done all this to reveal that no human being can boast before God. One bold critic of Mother Teresa of Calcutta claimed that she spent her life manipulating public opinion by using the poorest of the poor to make herself look good. A critic of the critic responded with this challenge, "Just try to live the way she did for one year and see how long you could take it." The truth silenced the lie. Indeed, it is Christ Jesus who is for us true wisdom of God. He is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption so that we might make our boast in the Lord. This is our calling to reveal the wisdom of God in a life of self-sacrifice and compassion. Indeed, this is our true dignity.

This parable has been so misunderstood. Some claim that the Lord Jesus is trying to assert his love for the rich when he states, "For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Such an interpretation ignores the context of the Master's statement. This parable is about the joy of the Master that will enrich the lives of those who trust in him and live according to his teaching. The man who had five talents and the man with two talents trusted in the Master and used what was given to them to build up the Kingdom. The man who had only one talent was afraid and believed that the Master was demanding and harvested where he did not sow. It was his lack of trust that motivated him to bury his talent. Such fear only leads to real poverty. It is trust that leads to true wealth in the Kingdom of God. Indeed, talents are best seen as the gifts of faith that enable us to take risks and invest in life Eternal. It is our faith that makes us truly rich, even though we may be poor, weak and insignificant in the eyes of the world.

Requiescat in pace

Brother Patrick R. Lacey, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died Saturday, August 14, 2010. He was the son of the late Ligouri and Mary Lacey of Carrolltown. He was born December 20, 1930 in Carrolltown. He was one of nine children, including Jean Lantzy, Carrolltown; Sally Skirsky, Carrolltown; Thomas J. Lacey, Hedgesville, West Virginia; and the late James, Donald and Bridget Lacey, Mary Louise Gray, and Caroline Vescovi.

He entered the novitiate at the Saint Vincent Archabbey on July 2, 1948 after attending Saint Benedict Grade School and Carrolltown High School. He professed his monastic vows on July 2, 1949.

Brother Pat, as the students affectionately called him, served Saint Vincent Archabbey and College as its fire chief from 1963 until his retirement in 2001. He has been active in a number of state, regional and local firemens’ associations. He served as a Pennsylvania state instructor in firefighting from 1963 until 1998, when he was named emeritus state instructor. He was past president and chaplain of the Westmoreland County Chiefs Association. He was a member of the Keystone Chiefs Association, the International Fire Chiefs Association, member and chaplain of the Westmoreland Firemens Association, member and director of the Westmoreland County Fire School, member of the Fire Prevention Committee of Southwestern Pennsylvania, member of the Firemens Association of Pennsylvania and member and chaplain of the Mohawk Association of Westmoreland County. Following his retirement as fire chief he was named chaplain and fire chief emeritus of the Saint Vincent Fire Department. He also served as head of the sheet metal and plumbing shop at Saint Vincent from 1948 to 2001.

Brother Pat was bowling coach at Saint Vincent College from 1970 to 1981. In 1973 and 1978 he was named NAIA National District Coach of the Year, and in 1978 he led the Saint Vincent Bowling Team to the NAIA National Championship. The team was the ACUI Regional Four Bowling Champion in 1973. He was honored by the Bearcat Athletic Club with a special award presented on August 7,1998, in recognition of many years of outstanding service to the Saint Vincent and area communities.

Brother Pat was a lifelong friend of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He became the unofficial groundskeeper, accepting responsibility for upkeep of the football fields for the Steelers’ summer training camps, which have been held at Saint Vincent for 45 years. An avid football fan, he remained a lifelong friend of the Steelers and the Rooney family.

Brother Pat received the American Legion Citizenship Award in 1981 and was the grand marshal of the Fourth of July Parade in Latrobe in 1996. In 1973 he was awarded the Second Annual Fire Service Award at the annual Westmoreland County Firemen’s Convention. He also served as president of the Greater Latrobe Church Softball League.

The body will be received at 3 p.m. Tuesday, August 17, 2010, in the Elizabeth J. Roderick Center of Saint Vincent Archabbey. Viewing will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday. A vigil service will be held at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday in the Archabbey Basilica. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 19 in the Basilica. Interment will follow in the Saint Vincent Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Brother Patrick Lacey Student Firefighter Scholarship Fund, Saint Vincent College, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650.

A hour with Coach Madden and the Commissioner

Click here to see the conference held at St. Vincent yesterday, look for Br. Gabriel and Br. Maximilian (Part 2) who asked questions during the conference

Part 1
Part 2

Enjoy this picture taken at Training Camp a few years back

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Dn 7:9,10,13,14; Ps 97:1,2,5,6,9; 2Pt 1:16-19; Mt 17:1-9

"All peoples see his glory!"

Only eyes full of faith can see the fullness of The Glory. It is the gift of faith that enables us to go beyond all our senses to behold the truth that the LORD is king. In this faith-vision we see what cannot be seen until the beatific vision of the future kingdom. Transfigured by such a sight we summon all the earth to rejoice and the many islands to be glad. The clouds hide his face and the darkness around him hide his glory. Here in this world we know his closeness when we encounter his justice and judgment, these are the foundation of his throne. Even the mighty mountains melt like was before the gaze of his glory, the LORD of all the earth. Indeed, we join with all the heavens to proclaim his justice and with all the peoples of the earth his glory. There can be no greater joy in all the earth than to behold The Most High, The Exalted far above all gods. To worship him in spirit and in truth is the very fulfillment of our innermost being. Indeed our human nature was created in his image and likeness and until we are filled with his glory we long, we seek, we hunger and thirst for vision of his glory. Daniel, the Prophet, watched and saw with eyes of faith the Ancient One and the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven. Saint Peter, likewise, was an eyewitness to the majestic glory of the Beloved Son of the Father. Now that the Son of Man has been raised from the dead, we are obedient to the command of the Lord Christ, and we proclaim the glorious Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Daniel was not afraid to behold and to watch. Daniel was not afraid to gaze upon the glory even though from Moses it has been instant death to behold the face of the LORD. Daniel was given the faith to behold the face. Notice that his vision of the Ancient One is full of description of the clothing, bright as snow, and the hair, white as wool, and the throne, flames of fire, and thousands of myriads were attending the LORD. Notice the face of the Ancient One is not described. Perhaps it was too beautiful to describe. Perhaps he could not see it. However as the visions continued through the night of faith, Daniel saw One like a Son of man coming on the very clouds that surrounded the throne. The One like a Son of man was recognized because he had a face, a human face. This mystery he beheld and was not afraid to gaze upon the glory. This prefigurement of the Incarnate One is our hope of glory here and now and forever in heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ reveals the human face of God. He is the refulgence of the Father’s glory for all men to behold. Once his beauty is glimpsed, all men and women recognize his dominion, his glory, and his kingship. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship is from the Ancient One and it shall not be destroyed. This vision of the Prophet is fulfilled on the mountain of Transfiguration where the chosen three are given a glimpse of the glory for which they were created and summoned to follow the Lamb of God wherever he travels in heaven and on earth.

This vision of the Prophet Daniel and the vision on the Mount of Transfiguration are not cleverly concocted myths. Indeed, the eyewitness of Saint Peter makes clear that the Lord Jesus Christ has appeared in his glory, even for a moment. This glimpse of glory is all that is needed as the Lord and his reluctant and confused disciples approached the glory of Calvary. They did not understand the mystery of the cross, but the followed the Lord Jesus until fear overwhelmed them. The fear of suffering and death can only be faced with the light of faith shining within our hearts. The LORD provides us with just enough light to make the next step in our journey of following the Lord to glory. In the prayer of those who were eyewitnesses of his majesty, of Saint Peter, Saint John, and Saint James, we learn how to hear the voice of the Father. Indeed, this is all we need when fear closes in and darkness overwhelms. We need to hear the unique declaration come from the majestic glory, "This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased." This voice from the mountaintop of Transfiguration is the same voice we hear by faith in the depths of our hearts. We possess the prophetic message of the Friends of Jesus and the Prophet Daniel; this is altogether reliable. Because of such encounters in prayer, we learn to be attentive to the glimpse of glory shining in the dark place of our fears. There we watch and wait until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts.

Now that the Son of Man has been raised from the dead the mystery glimpsed on Tabor is available for all to see. Anyone who has received the gift of faith can behold the face of the Only Begotten Son of the Father. When we follow the Lord Jesus and his three friends up the Mount of Transfiguration, we get lost in prayer so that we can find our way to the cross. We find our way to the mystery of love that overwhelms the Lord Jesus in his suffering upon the altar of Calvary. This glory we could not see until he had climbed the mountain of the cross and rose in the glory of the resurrection. It is not possible for the limited human senses to behold and savor the truth of the cross with out the gift of faith. Indeed the darkness of suffering can overshadow our lives with such severe pain that we fall prostrate with much fear. In this moment of complete exhaustion and total surrender do we hear the voice of the Lord Jesus and feel his touch, "Rise, and do not be afraid." Then we will no longer see terror and fear pain, we will see no one else but the Lord Jesus and him alone. At the sight of his face we are radiant. In the glory of his Resurrection we can all glimpse the glory of his Transfiguration and hear the voice from the cloud saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." Then will we hush and be still and hear what our hearts long to hear, and behold what we were made to behold, the face of the LORD.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and legendary Coach John Madden visit St. Vincent

Father Archabbot speaks with the Commissioner and Coach Madden

Father Archabbot poses with the Rooney's, Commissioner Goodell and Coach Madden 

Br. Gabriel Myriam asks a question to the Commissioner and Coach Madden

Br. Maximilian greets Commissioner Goodell

St. John Vianney

This week we celebrate the memorial of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests  Here is a video of the closing Mass for the Year for Priests celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI.  May St. John Vianney continue to intercede on behalf of all priests and guide them ever closer to Jesus Christ the true high priest.

Monks in Asia

Our Father Vincent Zidek, OSB (Director of Campus Ministry) and Fr. Jean-Luc Zadroga, OSB (Assistant Director of Campus Ministry) recently completed a service learning trip to Taiwan and China with 9 St. Vincent College students.  Our Father David Ho, OSB and Br. Nicholas Koss, OSB who are currently stationed at our priory in Taiwan hosted the group. 

 

New website launched

We have launched our new vocation website: click here  (keep checking back as we are still developing the site)