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.

Requiescat in Pace

Father Conan E. Feigh, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died Friday, June 4, 2010. He was born June 12, 1930 in Carrolltown, Pennsylvania. He was a son of the late Margaret (Lonergan) Feigh and the late Charles A. Feigh.

Surviving are one brother and two sisters, Thomas Feigh of St. Marys, Cecilia (Feigh) Knapp of Dover, Delaware, and Suzanne (Feigh) Cronan of Carrolltown. He was predeceased by a sister, Marjorie (Feigh) Mikula. Father Conan attended Saint Benedict Parochial School, Carrolltown, and is a 1948 graduate of Saint Vincent Preparatory School. He received a bachelor of arts degree in 1953 from Saint Vincent College and a master of education degree in 1969 from Penn State University. He received a master of divinity degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in 1974.

Father Conan made his simple profession of vows on July 2, 1951, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1954, at Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica. He was ordained a priest on May 26, 1957 by the late Bishop Hugh Lamb, D.D., at the Archabbey Basilica.

He served the monastic community in the parish apostolates, at Saint Bruno, South Greensburg (1957-1960); Sacred Heart, St. Marys (1960-1964) and at Sacred Heart, Jeannette (1964-1965). While at St. Marys, he also served on the faculty of Elk County Christian High School. Father Conan worked in Guidance/Placement at Saint Vincent College (1965-1970), was registrar at the college from 1971-1977; and prior and headmaster at Benedictine Priory and School, Savannah, Georgia (1977-1987). He also served on the Archabbey Council of Seniors (1966-1977) and the Board of Directors of Saint Vincent College (1970-1975, 1988-1995, 2000-2010). He was a campus minister at Penn State University, University Park, from 1987 to 2002, when he was named director of the Monastery Infirmary.

Father Conan was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Savannah Council 5588. In 1990 he was awarded the Benedictine Medal of Excellence from Benedictine Military School, Savannah.

The body of Father Conan will be received at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, at the Elizabeth J. Roderick Center at Saint Vincent, followed by viewing from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The body will be transferred to the Basilica for the vigil service at 7:15 p.m. Sunday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 7, 2010 by Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., in the Archabbey Basilica, followed by interment in the Saint Vincent Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650.

Cardinal Newman to be Beatified

 PRESS RELEASE
16 MARCH 2010, 12 noon

BEATIFICATION OF CARDINAL NEWMAN
BY POPE BENEDICT XVI CONFIRMED

The Fathers and many friends of the English Oratories are delighted by the official announcement that our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI will beatify our founder, the Venerable John Henry Newman, in the Archdiocese of Birmingham during his visit to Britain in September. Newman made his home in the Archdiocese for all his adult life, first in Oxford, where he lived as an Anglican and was received into the Catholic Church, and later in Birmingham itself where he founded and worked in the Birmingham Oratory for over forty years.

The Holy Father's life-long devotion to Newman has made a profound contribution to understanding the depth and significance of our founder's legacy. His decision to beatify Newman in person confers a unique blessing upon the English Oratories and all who have drawn inspiration from Newman's life and work.

We joyfully look forward to welcoming the Holy Father, as well as the many pilgrims and visitors who will come to the Beatification ceremony and visit Newman's shrine at the Birmingham Oratory.

We also look forward to the challenging work of preparing for the Beatification in conjunction with Church and civil authorities. We pray that the Beatification will fittingly reflect both Newman's significance for the Universal Church and the honour paid to our Archdiocese and our country by the Holy Father's presence among us.

Very Rev. Richard Duffield
Provost of the Birmingham Oratory
and Actor of the Cause of John Henry Newman

New Video on the Priesthood

Sister Anna Riordan of the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother sent us this great new video on the priesthood.  You can purchase a copy by clicking here: www.eukmamie.org

Father Flavian, OSB

Father Flavian G. Yelinko, O.S.B., the oldest living monk in the history of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died Thursday, February 18, 2010. He was 103. He was born in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, on September 2, 1906, a son of the late John and Mary (Gunther) Yelinko. He was predeceased by two sisters, Mary Willen and Elizabeth Yelinko , and four brothers, Frank, Joseph, John and Stephen Yelinko.

He attended Sacred Heart Parochial School in Palmerton. He first came to Saint Vincent at the age of 14, in 1920, to attend Saint Vincent Preparatory School, graduating in 1924. He attended Saint Vincent College, earning a bachelor of arts degree in 1929, and Saint Vincent Seminary, earning a master of arts degree in 1933. He also did graduate studies in library science at the Catholic University of America.

He entered the Benedictine Monastic Community of Saint Vincent Archabbey in 1926. He made simple profession of vows on July 2, 1927, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1930. He was ordained a priest in Saint Vincent Archabbey Church by the the late Bishop Hugh Boyle of Pittsburgh, on June 18, 1933. 

Father Flavian was the only monk at Saint Vincent to have attended the funeral of every archabbot in the monastery’s history (ten total) except for founder Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B., who died in 1887. He loved to tell stories, including many about the early years of Saint Vincent. A favorite was that when he arrived on campus in 1920, “the whole place had one telephone, manned by Brother Jake in the monastery. When he was mowing the lawn, there was no one to answer the phone.” In 1936, he was featured in the March 22 edition of The Baltimore Sun for catching a burglar who broke into his church to steal from the poor box. Father Flavian had been armed with only a flashlight. He served at twelve parishes, as well as in various roles at Saint Vincent College and Seminary, and helped with renovations and building construction projects at many of those sites.

At Saint Vincent Preparatory School and College, Father Flavian was the first college librarian (1927-1937). He was responsible for combining the book collections into one location, cataloguing all of the books, and establishing library hours with librarians and aides.

His pastoral experience is considerable. He was assistant pastor pro tem at Fourteen Holy Martyrs Parish, Baltimore, Maryland (1935); and Saint Mary Parish, Pittsburgh (1936). He was associate pastor at Saint Mary Parish, Erie (1937); Saint Boniface Parish, Pittsburgh (1938). The following year he served at Saint James Church in Waynesburg, Ohio, then at Saint Bernard Parish in Hastings (1940-42). He received his first pastorate at Saint Lawrence Parish from 1943 to 1945, then served as pastor of Saint Benedict Parish in Carrolltown from 1945 to 1949. As pastor there he oversaw the electrification of the tower clock in the church and the bell ringers in the school, the excavation of the school basement for the cafeteria, and the renovations of the church, as well as an addition of a church social hall. He also started a Cemetery Association there.

In 1950, he was named associate pastor of Saint Bruno Parish, South Greensburg. While pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Youngstown from 1951 to 1959, Father Flavian oversaw construction of the school there. He was then sent to serve as pastor of Queen of the World Parish, St. Marys, from 1961 to 1965, when the rectory was remodeled and new classrooms were added to the school. As pastor of Saint Gregory Parish, Virginia Beach, from 1965 to 1967, he was responsible for an addition to the school. Then he moved to Saint John Parish in Summerhill, Pennsylvania, and its mission in New Germany from 1967 to 1978, where he supervised the remodeling of the church.

Father Flavian retired on August 1, 1978, and returned to Saint Vincent. Following his retirement the former librarian was asked to establish the archives for the Seminary and set up a directory of all students who attended the Seminary. He served as Seminary Archivist from 1981 to 1985.

His other responsibilities included serving as chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Council in Barnesboro and as area chaplain of the diocesan Boy Scouts in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese. He was also co-organizer of the Catholic Periodical Index, sponsored by the Catholic Library Association.

On January 17, 2002, Father Flavian became the oldest member in the history of the Saint Vincent Benedictine community, dating back to 1846, at 95 years of age plus six months. The entire Benedictine community attended a special dinner in his honor, held on February 11, 2002. Again on his 100th birthday, September 2, 2006, Father Flavian presented a menu for his monastic community’s dinner celebration of his birthday; at the abbot’s table he raised his glass to acknowledge the toasts in appreciation of his long life.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Monday in the Archabbey Basilica, followed by the interment in the Saint Vincent Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund, Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650-2690.

Requiscat in Pace

Father Flavian Yelinko, O.S.B., the oldest living monk in the history of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died Thursday, February 18, 2010, at the age of 103.  May he Rest in the Peace of Christ and may he be rewarded for his many years of faithful service in the Lord's vineyard.

Pope recalls Seminary days

Click here for link

Student of Boniface Wimmer, celebrated as great religious priest

Father Helmpraecht, born on 14 January, 1820, was the son of a well-to-do family in Bavaria. He made his studies partly with the Benedictines at Metten, where the celebrated Abbot Boniface Wimmer was one of his preceptors, and partly at the University of Munich. Before com-pleting his theological course, he applied to be received as a novice of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer for the American Missions. Being accepted, he arrived in America, June, 1843, and made his novitiate and finished his studies at the old St. James monastery in Baltimore.

He was professed on 6 December, 1844. There, too, he was ordained on 21 December, 1845. He performed his first ministerial services in Baltimore until 1848, when he was sent to Buffalo as Superior, at the age of twenty-eight. His spirit of regularity, prudence, solid learning and piety justified his appointment. In 1854, he became Rector of the monastery in New York, which office he held until 1860.

For only a short time, from 1860 to 1863, he again became a subject, and as such lived contented and happy. But in 1865 he had to accompany the Provincial, Father DeDycker to Rome, whence he returned as the latter's successor. The heavy burden and great responsibilities of the Provincialate, which he had to bear for four successive terms, made him only more humble and charitable. During those twelve years of office he had innumerable trials and sufferings, some connected with his office, others of a private nature. Some of them demanded more than ordinary courage and confidence in Divine Providence. But he bore everything with heroic fortitude. We refer only to the Annapolis disaster of 1866.

When relieved of the Provincialate in 1877, he was appointed Rector of St. Michaels, Baltimore, and in 1880 of the monastery of the Most Holy Redeemer, New York, where he had been Rector twenty-five years before. The faithful of the parish, who had known him long ago, were delighted to see him back in his old position, but the good Father was worn out by cares and troubles. He sighed for the moment when he could again be a simple subject, a favour which he daily implored of Almighty God.

God granted his desire. At the expiration of his three-year term, another Father was appointed Rector, and Father Helmpraecht was free to endure in silent patience the torments of his protracted sickness. Like a true and genuine disciple of his Crucified Redeemer, he suffered almost without relief and comfort. Such had long been his desire. He wished to die within the Octave of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and to die with no one present.

The Octave came, the 15th of December, 1884. It was past ten o clock that night, when good Brother Lambert, his beloved infirmarian, said to him: "Well, Father, you are not going to die within the Octave, after all." Father Helmpraecht, in his native language, was heard to whisper: "Mother! Mother! Mother!" The "Mother" heard her faithful son. After some little time, he said to the Brother: "If you will leave me, I think I can sleep a little now." Brother Lambert, to gratify him, withdrew from the room. Looking in a little later, he found Father Helmpraecht lying dead, as calm and composed as when he had last seen him. His words were fulfilled.

All who were closely acquainted with Father Helmpraecht knew him to be a truly saintly priest and Redemptorist. It is, therefore, to be hoped that, at some future day, a lengthy biography of this holy man will be published. James McMaster, the celebrated journalist, who knew the Father well, declared that he did not hesitate to invoke his intercession.

Year of the Priest Icon

For more information on the Year for Priests: Click here

3 St. Vincent Monks installed as Acolytes

(From Left to Right): Fr. Lester Knoll, OFM Cap. (St. Vincent Seminary Spiritual Director), Br. Francis Ehnat, OSB (installed), Bishop George Murry (Bishop of Youngstown, Ohio), Br. Gabriel Myriam Kurzawski, OSB (installed), Br. Nathanael Polinski, OSB (installed), Fr. Justin Matro, OSB (Rector, St. Vincent Seminary)

Fr. Paulinus Selle, O.S.B., monk of St. Vincent Archabbey (February 4, 1914 - February 8, 2009)

Photo montage covering Fr. Paulinus' life. Narrated by Fr. Edward Mazich, O.S.B. Photos supplied by Janie (Selle) Lander. Produced by Br. Pio Adamonis, O.S.B.

Great Video on Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR

From: franciscanfriars.com

In this year of the priest, here is an inspirational story of a priest (and a friend of our Abbey) dedicated to serving the poor.  Congratulations Father Benedict on 50 years of Priesthood!!!

APOSTOLIC PENITENTIARY DECREE (Special Indulgence for the Year for Priests)

As has been announced, the Holy Father Benedict XVI has decided to establish a special Year for Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of St John Mary Vianney, the holy Curé d'Ars, a shining model of a Pastor totally dedicated to the service of the people of God.

During the Year for Priests which will begin on 19 June 2009 and will end on 19 June 2010, the gift of special Indulgences is granted as described in the Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, published on 12 May.
 

Shortly the day will come on which will be commemorated the 150th anniversary of the pious departure to Heaven of St John Mary Vianney, the Curé d'Ars. This Saint was a wonderful model here on earth of a true Pastor at the service of Christ's flock.
 

Since his example is used to encourage the faithful, and especially priests, to imitate his virtues, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI has established that for this occasion a special Year for Priests will be celebrated, from 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010, in which all priests may be increasingly strengthened in fidelity to Christ with devout meditation, spiritual exercises and other appropriate actions.
 

This holy period will begin with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a day of priestly sanctification on which the Supreme Pontiff will celebrate Vespers in the presence of the holy relics of St John Mary Vianney, brought to Rome by the Bishop of Belley-Ars, France.
 

The Most Holy Father will likewise preside at the conclusion of the Year for Priests in St Peter's Square, in the presence of priests from across the world who will renew their fidelity to Christ and the bond of brotherhood.
 

May priests commit themselves, with prayer and good works, to obtaining from Christ the Eternal High Priest, the grace to shine with Faith, Hope, Charity and the other virtues, and show by their way of life, but also with their external conduct, that they are dedicated without reserve to the spiritual good of the people something that the Church has always had at heart.
 

The gift of Sacred Indulgences which the Apostolic Penitentiary, with this Decree issued in conformity with the wishes of the August Pontiff, graciously grants during the Year for Priests will be of great help in achieving the desired purpose in the best possible way.
 

A. Truly repentant priests who, on any day, devoutly recite at least morning Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament, exposed for public adoration or replaced in the tabernacle, and who, after the example of St John Mary Vianney, offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the celebration of the sacraments, especially Confession, are mercifully granted in God the Plenary Indulgence which they may also apply to their deceased brethren in suffrage, if, in conformity with the current norms, they receive sacramental confession and the Eucharistic banquet and pray for the Supreme Pontiff's intentions.
 

Furthermore the Partial Indulgence is granted to priests who may apply it to their deceased confreres every time that they devoutly recite the prayers duly approved to lead a holy life and to carry out in a holy manner the offices entrusted to them.
 

B. The Plenary Indulgence is granted to all the faithful who are truly repentant who, in church or in chapel, devoutly attend the divine Sacrifice of Mass and offer prayers to Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, for the priests of the Church, and any other good work which they have done on that day, so that he may sanctify them and form them in accordance with His Heart, as long as they have made expiation for their sins through sacramental confession and prayed in accordance with the Supreme Pontiff's intentions: on the days in which the Year for Priests begins and ends, on the day of the 150th anniversary of the pious passing of St John Mary Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month or on any other day established by the local Ordinaries for the benefit of the faithful.
 

It will be most appropriate, in cathedral and parish churches, for the same priests who are in charge of pastoral care to publicly direct these exercises of devotion, to celebrate Holy Mass and to hear the confession of the faithful.
 

The Plenary Indulgence will likewise be granted to the elderly, the sick and all those who for any legitimate reason are confined to their homes who, with a mind detached from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling as soon as possible the three usual conditions, at home or wherever their impediment detains them, provided that on the above-mentioned days they recite prayers for the sanctification of priests and confidently offer the illnesses and hardships of their lives to God through Mary Queen of Apostles.
 

Lastly, the Partial Indulgence is granted to all the faithful every time they devoutly recite five Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorias, or another expressly approved prayer, in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to obtain that priests be preserved in purity and holiness of life.
 

This Decree is valid for the entire duration of the Year for Priests. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.
 

Given in Rome, at the Offices of the Apostolic Penitentiary on 25 April, the Feast of St Mark the Evangelist, in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 2009.

Cardinal James Francis Stafford
Major Penitentiary

+ Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv.
Titular Bishop of Meta, Regent

L. + S.
Prot. N. 136/09/I

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux’s Prayer for Priests

O Holy Father, may the torrents of love flowing from the sacred wounds of Thy Divine Son bring forth priests like unto the beloved disciple John who stood at the foot of the Cross; priests: who as a pledge of Thine own most tender love will lovingly give Thy Divine Son to the souls of men.

May Thy priests be faithful guardians of Thy Church, as John was of Mary, whom he received into his house. Taught by this loving Mother who suffered so much on Calvary, may they display a mother’s care and thoughtfulness towards Thy children. May they teach souls to enter into close union with Thee through Mary who, as the Gate of Heaven, is specially the guardian of the treasures of Thy Divine Heart.

Give us priests who are on fire, and who are true children of Mary, priests who will give Jesus to souls with the same tenderness and care with which Mary carried the Little Child of Bethlehem.

Mother of sorrows and of love, out of compassion for Thy beloved Son, open in our hearts deep wells of love, so that we may console Him and give Him a generation of priests formed in thy school and having all the tender thoughtfulness of thine own spotless love.

       

EWTN link to our Fr. Jacques Daley, OSB and his series on St. Therese

Look for the Monks at Franciscan University, Steubenville (Friday, September 18)

STEUBENVILLE, OH—Franciscan University of Steubenville will host its 10th annual Religious Vocations Awareness Day on Friday, September 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Finnegan Fieldhouse.

The event, one of the largest vocation fairs in the country, is free of charge, and the public is encouraged to attend.

 

More than 70 religious communities and dioceses from across the United States will be present. At last year’s Vocations Awareness Day, more than 1,000 attendees strolled through aisles filled with videos, posters, religious music, and vocation directors willing to answer questions about their individual communities and their charisms.Franciscan’s Pre-Theologate Program and Chapel Ministries will sponsor both the fair and the Mass at 4:45 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel for those discerning consecrated life.

This year’s fair is being held during the Year for Priests proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI. Pre-Theologate Program director Father Ken Cienik, SA, says the Year for Priests will continue to be a theme for religious formation throughout the year, and expects many exhibitors to share the Year for Priests theme at the fair as well.“It will offer all students a greater perspective on religious life and ordained ministry,” Father Cienik says, adding that he encourages everyone to attend the fair, even those not directly looking into religious life. “It is good for all Catholics to meet religious… [And] many orders may also have lay affiliates.”

For more information, call 740-283-6495 or

e-mail vocationday@franciscan.edu.

Fr. Benedict Groeschel (50 Years a Priest of Christ)

Click on the above picture for a great article on Father Benedict's 50 years of priesthood.  Father Benedict is a great friend of St. Vincent Archabbey who has given our community retreat and has blessed our seminarians with days of recollection. Father Benedict has also sent us a number of young monks and vocation candidates.  May God grant him many more fruitful and happy years as a priest!!!

Prayer Request

 Born: June 8, 1919
Professed: August 2, 1939
Ordained: June 18, 1944
Died: August 30, 2009 

Please remember in your prayers Fr. Charles Mallen, C.Ss.R., a Redemptorist priest and mentor of our Br. Gabriel Myriam, OSB.  Fr. Mallen exemplified what it means to be a religious priest of Christ. He was completely dedicated to the people of God, his devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help was truly a relationship of a son and a mother and most importantly, his life was completely dedicated to the work of preaching Redemption to all, especially in the confessional.  How appropriate that our Lord has called him home during this year of the priest.  Here is a small article written about him 5 years ago:

He jets around the retreat house grounds in his own "Popemobile," a golf cart gift from a retreatant. Just don't ask Fr. Charles Mallen, C.Ss.R., Director and founder of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, FL to take it slowly!

 

A priest for 60 years, Fr. Mallen swims 30 laps a day, researches and writes all his homilies from scratch, is a major player in the Crossroads  Discernment retreat program, and hosts and preaches many events at his retreat center. He says with a laugh, "You can call me ancient, but don't call me old." Baltimore Province archivist Fr. Carl Hoegerl, C.Ss.R., seconds the thought. "He has the mind of a young person. He's so enthusiastic, wants to do as much as he can." 

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R whom Fr. Mallen had a great devotion to
 

Fr. Mallen's schedule would tire a person half his age. He supervises the 26 room retreat center which can accommodate 52 overnight guests or 150 for day-long events.

Ordained in 1944, Fr. Mallen first served in a Latino parish in Ybar City, FL and as chaplain of the Newman Club in Tampa. Over the years, he worked in a parish in Georgia and was a pastor in Florida. He spent 29 years doing what he loves most, preaching missions that required constant travel.

In the early 1980's, Fr. Mallen was asked to take on a gargantuan project-creating Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center. In his seventies at the time, he did not shy away from the request. He raised the money needed and saw the project to its successful completion.

His colleague for more than 30 years, Sr. Carmella DeCosty, Administrator of the center, calls him the "Man with the Vision." "He commends everything to prayer. He is a man of courage and deep, deep faith, a holy man close to the Lord." Adds Vocation Office Director Fr. Phil Dabney, C.Ss.R., "Fr. Mallen gives me such hope for what a priest can become…what lies ahead for those who are truly faithful to the Lord."

Saint Jean Vianny

From: Saint Vincent Archabbey

"Cast me not off from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me."

No one could even come close to a leper much less touch one. The Law of God separated lepers from the camp of Israel. The curse of leprosy was seen in the first reading as a just punishment for Miriam. Yet, the Lord God heard the cry of his servant Moses as he cried out, "Please, not this! Pray, heal her!" The Lord Jesus spent the night in prayer and returned to his disciples walking upon the water. Saint Peter stepped out in faith onto the waters of the stormy sea, yet his faith was not complete and he began to sink to destruction. The Lord Jesus heard his prayer and reached out his hand to touch him and rescue him. Still the Lord challenged his friend and apostle Peter, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" We too are slow to believe in the power of God’s saving touch. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries Saint John Vianney was a man touched with God's vision and the ability to reveal signs and wonders in the midst of a cold and unfaithful France. The Cure d'Ars had a great desire to become a priest and the Lord Jesus deepened and fulfilled that desire by making his ministry full and blessed throughout his country and the whole world. When he was canonized, Saint John of Ars was named patron for all who serve as priests. Pope Benedict XVI has placed the year of the priest under the intercession of this holy priest.

The people liberated from slavery were slow to trust God and his intimate friend, Moses. Even the closest friends of Moses, his brother Aaron and sister Miriam, were among those who questioned the authority of Moses. As usual they based their objection to the authority of their brother on the pretext of his marriage with an outsider, the Cushite woman. If he willingly unites himself to a foreigner, perhaps he is not that close to the Lord. Perhaps his judgment is clouded by his relationship with this outsider. Perhaps Moses is presuming too much upon God's favor by taking up with someone we do not know or approve. This mistake may hurt us in the future. Perhaps the Lord will remove his Spirit from among us because of Moses' decision. Surely the Lord is inspiring our thought and evaluation of this situation concluded Aaron and Moses. This kind of rebellion against Moses is nipped in the bud, and the Lord reveals the danger of opposition to his chosen servant, who bears God's trust and speaks to him, face to face, plainly and not in riddles. Moses beholds the presence of the Lord, and to oppose him is as deadly as leprosy. Indeed, it places you outside the community.

Even after his transfiguration still the apostles, caught up in the fear of a stormy sea, do not recognize the Lord Jesus. They cry out, "It's a ghost!" Even Saint Peter, who was with him on the mountaintop, is slow to believe. The testimony of such a slow growing faith among those closest to the Lord Jesus is both a comfort and a challenge for us who gather in faith today for our little transfiguration. In this Liturgy we are touched and healed by the Lord Jesus who casts us not off from his presence, and takes not his Holy Spirit from us. The Lord Jesus heals us of all that is leprous in our lives, of all that separates us from the community of the beloved. Only when we believe in his power and desire to save us will we be able to walk on the dangerous waters that frighten the weak of faith. There will always be storms that frighten all who ride the waves in the bark of Peter. Yet, these storms are not allowed by God to frighten us. We are called to walk with the Lord Jesus in faith and trust that he will not threaten us. Indeed the storms of controversy that question the authority of Saint Peter and his office of binding and loosening are allowed by God to test and strengthen our faith. So that we, too, may cry out, "Truly, you are the Son of God!" Through Him, with Him and in Him do we live and move and have our being. Confidently, we walk with the Lord in the land of the living.

Priest Day 2009

Each year at the Archabbey, the monks welcome priests from the various local diocese for a day of prayer, refreshment, and fellowship.  This special day for our priests has been appropriately titled "Priest Day."  Today, July 28, 2009 we welcome over 100 priests to our monastery in order to  say "Thank You" for your ministry and for providing the sacraments to our Lord's people.

 

The dignity of the priest is estimated from the exalted nature of his offices. Priests are chosen by God to manage on earth all his concerns and interests. " Divine," says St. Cyril of Alexandria, "are the offices confided to priests." St. Ambrose has called the priestly office a Divine profession. A priest is a minister destined by God to be a public ambassador of the whole Church, to honor Him, and to obtain His graces for all the faithful. The entire Church cannot give to God as much honor, nor obtain so many graces, as a single priest by celebrating a single Mass; for the greatest honor that the whole Church without priests could give to God would consist in offering to Him in sacrifice the lives of all men. But of what value are the lives of all men compared with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is a sacrifice of infinite value? What are all men before God but a little dust? As a drop of a bucket, as a little dust. They are but a mere nothing in His sight: All nations are before Him as if they had no being at all. Thus, by the celebration of a single Mass, in which he offers Jesus Christ in sacrifice, a priest gives greater honor to the Lord, than if all men by dying for God offered to Him the sacrifice of their lives. By a single Mass, he gives greater honor to God than all the Angels and Saints, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, have given or shall give to Him; for their worship cannot be of infinite value, like that which the priest celebrating on the altar offers to God. Moreover, in the holy Mass, the priest offers to God an adequate thanksgiving for all the graces bestowed even on the Blessed in Paradise; but such a thanksgiving all the Saints together are incapable of offering to Him. Hence it is, that on this account also the priestly dignity is superior even to all celestial dignities. Besides, the priest, says St. John Chrysostom, is an ambassador of the whole world, to intercede with God and to obtain graces for all creatures.. The priest, according to St. Ephrem, "treats familiarly with God." To priests every door is open. Jesus has died to institute the priesthood. It was not necessary for the Redeemer to die in order to save the world; a drop of His Blood, a single tear, or prayer, was sufficient to procure salvation for all; for such a prayer, being of infinite value, should be sufficient to save not one but a thousand worlds. But to institute the priesthood, the death of Jesus Christ has been necessary. Had he not died, where should we find the victim that the priests of the New Law now offer? a victim altogether holy and immaculate, capable of giving to God an honor worthy of God. As has been already said, all the lives of men and Angels are not capable of giving to God an infinite honor like that which a priest offers to Him by a single Mass. (The Dignities and Duties of the Priest, by St. Alphonsus Liguori, C.Ss.R)

Prayer of St. Jean Maria Vianny

 

I love You, O my God,
and my only desire is to love You
until the last breath of my life.

I love You, O my infinitely lovable God,
and I would rather die loving You,
than live without loving You.

I love You, Lord
and the only grace I ask is to love You eternally...

My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You,
I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath.