Feast of the Archangels

Great is the glory of the LORD!"

 

In this feast of the archangels, Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and Saint Raphael, we join our voices in the sight of all the angels to give wholehearted thanks to the LORD. In these great messengers from the holy temple of heaven we have received the protection of Saint Michael, whose very name asks the only question worth asking, "Who is like the LORD?" From Saint Gabriel we have received the good news of our salvation in the annunciation to the Virgin Mary and in the virginal conception of her son, Jesus the Savior of all. This archangel continues to pray for all who are engaged in the ministry of communication; he is their patron and guide as they seek to communicate the good news we all need to hear. In the ministry of Saint Raphael we have been healed, and we continue to be lead on a journey of faith by this archangel. Indeed, the names of these three heavenly messengers continue to reveal the faithful response of the LORD to our every prayer. Their ministry deepens our confidence in the LORD; through his archangels the LORD builds up strength within us. Indeed, all the powerful of the earth tremble in fear when these divine messengers appear among us. Their presence and their ministry enable the powerful and powerless in this world to hear words from the mouth of the Living God. We join with them and sing endlessly of the ways of the LORD. Indeed, we cry out, "Great is the glory of the LORD." The Book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of the faithful heavenly warriors who take our part in the battle with the dragon and his angels. Without this glorious army, the battle would quickly be lost. The Lord's promise to Nathanael is his promise to us. We will see with eyes of faith how the angels of God travel to heaven with our urgent petitions and come down to earth with the Lord's powerful response to our every need. At every Mass we gather with Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, Saint Raphael, and all the heavenly hosts to proclaim the endless song of the Banquet of the Lamb, "Holy, holy, holy LORD God of hosts!"

How does the Devil deceive the whole world? How does this fallen angel convince us of the lie? Satan has power in our lives because we allow it. We foolishly linger over temptation, and soon the lie seems like the truth. If the temptation is seen for what it is, we would not hesitate to call upon Saint Michael. However, we choose to consider the half-truth being proposed, and this is our downfall. Sure we have been faithful or even very virtuous, but this struggle and our exhaustion is no excuse to sin. No, we do not deserve to let up our vigilance and our struggle. There is no entitlement in the life of a saint. In the midst of such a daily struggle, we hear the good news of the victory that has been won for us. In the midst of our weakness, we catch a glimpse of our holy patrons, Saint Michael and his angels. They have battled against the dragon and his angels. Indeed, these dark forces have lost any claim to a place before the throne of God, the Almighty. We can take courage in the voice from heaven that cries out, "Now have salvation and power come, the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed." Indeed, our accuser is cast out and we have conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. We who love life are not afraid of death, loneliness, humility, service. We stand in Christ the obedient Son of God and contradict the evil one by our cry, "I will serve, now and forever!" We stand boldly against the evil one who refused to serve anyone but himself. We serve gladly and rejoice with all the heavenly hosts. With Saint Paul and all the holy ones in our heavenly home, we know full well that our battle is with invisible forces of dark might. We also know that the battle has been won, and already we share in the Banquet Feast of the Lamb.

This feast of the Archangels gives us a glimpse of the heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. It is the cross of Christ that provides us with a ladder to the heavens. We gather here around his cross to find our strength, and to be nourished with the body and blood of the Lamb of God. We gather here to hear the Lord Jesus say of us, "Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him." Our deepest longing is here fulfilled. We long with broken and crushed hearts to be men and women of simplicity and truth, to be without duplicity. Here under the fig tree, the cross of Christ, we rest secure in the Son of God, the true King of the Universe. We are amazed that the Lord Jesus sees us as we are. Indeed, he sees through our masks and our self-deception. The Lord Jesus sees the beauty and goodness with which we have been created and in which we have been redeemed. It is his vision of who we really are that gives us new hope to join with the Archangels and all the hosts of heaven in the battle with Satan and his angels. United with such heavenly helpers we have every reason to hope and to rejoice that the Lord Jesus has found us and saved us.

"Come and See Weekend"

Saint Vincent Archabbey will host a "Come and See" discernment weekend for single Catholic men ages 18-40 on October 29-31, 2010.  A "Come and See" weekend is a no-strings-attached chance to spend time learning about the life of Benedictine Monks of St. Vincent Archabbey.  Come pray with us, talk with our junior monks, meet our older brethren, and most of all listen for the voice of Christ who continually calls men to a life of work and prayer in service to the Catholic Church.  The next "Come and See" weekend is October 29 - October 31, 2010.  For more information about the weekend, life as a Benedictine monk, or to schedule another time to visit the Abbey please contact Fr. Bonaventure Curtis, OSB at 724-532-6655 / bonaventure.curtis@email.stvincent.edu

Padre Pio

Our present life is given only to gain the eternal one and if we don't think about it, we build our affections on what belongs to this world, where our life is transitory. When we have to leave it we are afraid and become agitated. Believe me, to live happily in this pilgrimage, we have to aim at the hope of arriving at our Homeland, where we will stay eternally. Meanwhile we have to believe firmly that God calls us to Himself and follows us along the path towards Him. He will never permit anything to happen to us that is not for our greater good. He knows who we are and He will hold out His paternal hand to us during difficulties, so that nothing prevents us from running to Him swiftly. But to enjoy this grace we must have complete trust in Him.

- St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Requiescat in pace Fr. Leo, OSB

Father Leo P. Rothrauff, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died Sunday, September 19, 2010. He was born September 6, 1928 in Turtle Creek, a son of the late Harry W. Rothrauff and Mary Reagan Rothrauff. Surviving are his brother, Father Noel H. Rothrauff, O.S.B., also a monk of the Archabbey, and his sister, Jane Rothrauff Downing, North Versailles. 

 He was a 1947 graduate of Saint Vincent Preparatory School. He received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Saint Vincent College in 1952. He earned a master of business administration degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana in 1958.

He entered the novitiate of Saint Vincent Archabbey in 1949, professed first vows on July 2, 1950; solemn vows on July 11, 1953 and was ordained to the priesthood by the late Bishop Hugh Lamb on May 27, 1956.

He served as a prefect in the College from 1954 to 1957, was instructor of accounting at Saint Vincent College (1956-1957); and assistant professor of finances, statistics and management at Saint Vincent (1961-1964). He was also a prefect of students in Bonaventure Hall.

In October of 1964 Father Leo was named the first Prior of São Bento Priory, the Archabbey’s foundation in Vinhedo, Brazil, serving in that capacity until until 1975 and again from 1988 to 1991. He served as subprior, procurator and master of novices at various times throughout his 36 years in the Brazil mission. In 1972, while Prior, the community in Vinhedo built a new monastery, and in 1975, a new retreat house, Siloe Retreat Center, where he preached retreats for youth, religious and married couples. He received the title of “Citizen of Vinhedo” on February 26, 1998, from the Municipal Council of Vinhedo in recognition of his contributions to the broader community.

Father Leo was one of the founders of the Brazilian Conference of Benedictine men and women in 1967 and later President for six years. He helped to organize Latin American meetings of Benedictines from Mexico, Central and South America. During this time he gave retreats in most of the monasteries in Brazil.

He returned to Saint Vincent Archabbey in 2000, and was appointed senior priest at Saint Gertrude Parish, Vandergrift, serving there until his retirement to the Archabbey in 2008. Father Leo continued to assist in the pastoral work of the Archabbey through weekend pastoral ministry in dioceses served by the Benedictines of Saint Vincent.

The body will be received at 3 p.m. Tuesday, September 21, 2010, in the Elizabeth J. Roderick Center of Saint Vincent Archabbey. Viewing will be held from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The body will be transferred to the Basilica at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday for a vigil service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday, September 23, by Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., in the Archabbey Basilica. Interment will follow in the Saint Vincent Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rev. Leo P. Rothrauff, O.S.B., Scholarsip at Saint Vincent College, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650.

Pope celebrating Mass at Westminster Cathedral