DEC 8: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Photo: The Immaculate Conception by Pieter Pauwel Rubens c. 1628

Holy orders

THis is an article from the
MarshallIndependent.com

Zachary Peterson and Matthew Wiering had felt the call to the priesthood for a long time, but both fought it.

Peterson was "born and raised" at Holy Redeemer and attended Holy Redeemer School in Marshall.

"I really felt God calling me to do this over a number of years," he admitted. "And the more I said no, the louder He seemed to call."

Wiering grew up on a farm outside of Tyler and graduated from RTR High School.

"I always say that I did not choose the priesthood but that God chose me," Wiering said. "For many years I have felt this call from God, to serve Him in a special way by being a priest. While I felt God's invitation to be a priest for a long time, I certainly did not always want to accept it."

While the two men resisted, God kept calling, they said.

"All throughout college at Southwest, I went to daily Mass," Peterson said. "After college, I couldn't go and realized how much I relied on it."

Even as Peterson was saying no, God was preparing him.

"For a long time, I felt I wouldn't be able to get up in front of people and give a homily and over the course of time and courses in college, I learned the necessary skills to get up in front of people and give public presentations," Peterson said.

"In high school if anyone ever asked me if I had thought about becoming a priest, I would answer with a firm and passionate 'no.' But I just wasn't very open then," Wiering said. "It took me much prayer and discernment before I began to experience a change of heart and to desire the priesthood. I began to realize, only through God's grace, what a beautiful gift it is - to live for God alone and to give my life in service of His people. Once I realized that God was really calling me, how could I say 'no?'"

The two men have taken a step on their way to becoming priests as they were recently ordained as deacons in the Catholic Church.

"It's the last important step before entering the priesthood, the biggest step," said Peterson, who was ordained Nov. 7 in his home church of Holy Redeemer in Marshall.

"It's necessary to be ordained a deacon in the Catholic Church before one can be ordained a priest," said Wiering, who was ordained Oct. 8 in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy.

"It's actually at a man's diaconate ordination that he promises to be obedient to the bishop of his diocese (in my case to the Bishop of New Ulm) and to remain celibate for the rest of his life," Wiering said. "So we're talking about very serious promises, similar in gravity to the promises that spouses make on their wedding day."

While the two are in different places physically, they both know what is ahead for them.

"For the rest of this academic year, I'm in Sleepy Eye, doing an internship at St. Mary's Parish," said Peterson, who graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2002 with a degree in elementary education. He teaches at the K-12 school and assists at the church with homilies and visiting the home-bound and sick. "They are extremely happy to have me," he said.

"In August, I'll go back to seminary at St. Meinrad, Ind.," said Peterson, who has a year left to study after his internship. His ordination to become a priest is scheduled for June 4, 2011.

Wiering is half a world away, in the heart of Roman Catholicism.

"I live at the Pontifical North American College, which is operated by the Catholic bishops of the United States," Wiering said. "The College is located in Rome within the territory of Vatican City. About 225 men, from all parts of the United States, are currently living here, all of whom are studying to become Catholic priests. I am studying dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

"I wound up here because then-Bishop (John) Nienstedt, the previous bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, asked me to come here in order to study to become a priest," Wiering said. "Mostly, I pray and study, both of which are essential for the period of formation that a man must go through in order to be ordained a Catholic priest. I also work as a chaplain for the University of St. Thomas's study abroad program. When I am not doing these things I am probably enjoying one of Italy's greatest treasures, pasta."

"Provided that I pass my classes this year and the seminary evaluation this spring, I will be ordained a priest in July 2010 in New Ulm," Wiering added. "After that I will return to Rome for one last year of academic studies in theology, after which I will return to the Diocese of New Ulm for full-time ministry."

Peterson said it's been a while since a local boy went into the priesthood.

"The last we can remember is Monsignor Bob Wyffels, celebrating his 50th year. He's currently the pastor in Morgan," he said.

While the two men may have originally resisted a call to be priest, they can't envision another vocation.

".. since I finally began to embrace this vocation and to appreciate it as a real gift, I have been very happy, in fact I cannot imagine being happier. I guess that's what happens when we listen to and accept God's call," Wiering said.

Advent Wreath � Catholic Eye Candy

Here is a great article about advent Wreaths of at Catholic Eye Candy. Check it out!

Advent Wreath � Catholic Eye Candy

DEC 3: Memorial of St. Francis Xavier

Saint Francis Xavier was born on April 7, 1506 in Spanish Navarre. He attended the University of Paris. While in Paris Xavier met St. Ignatius Loyola. They, along with 5 other men took the famous vow of Montmartre on Aug. 15, 1534 and became the founding members of the Society of Jesus.

After his studies Xavier and his companions left Paris and went to Venice where he spent time attending to the sick in hospitals. Xavier was ordained a priest in 1537.

When the Society was recognized by the Pope in 1538 Xavier was sent to Goa, Indoa where he Evangelized and aided the sick. Over the next ten years Xavier traveled the area converting tens of thousands to Christianity. He visited the Paravas at the tip of India, Comorin, Tuticorin , Malacca, the Moluccas near New Guinea Morotai near the Philippines, and Japan.

In 1551 Inda was set up as a province by St. Ignatius and Xavier became its provincial.

In 1552 Xavier took ill and died on the Island of Sancian near the coast of China December 2, 1552. He was canonized in 1622 and proclaimed patron of all foreign missions by Pope Pius X.

Great Saint Francis, well beloved and full of charity, in union with you I reverently adore the Divine Majesty. I give thanks to God for the singular gifts of grace bestowed on you in life and of glory after death, and I beg of you, with all the affection of my heart, by your powerful intercession, obtain for me the grace to live a holy life and die a holy death. I beg you to obtain for me {mention your petition}. But if what I ask is not for the glory of God and for my well-being, obtain for me, I beseech you, what will more certainly attain these ends. Amen.

_______
Sources:
Saints & Angels Catholic.org
Catholic Encyclopedia
SQPN Saints

NOV 30: Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle

Saint Andrew is the first apostle. He was the brother of Saint Peter. Born in Bethsaida, he and Simon Peter were fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. Initially, Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist, but then became a follower of Jesus. Andrew is credited with introducing his brother Simon Peter to Jesus where they both became one of the twelve.

According to his entry in Wikipedia Andrew preached in Asia Minor and in Scythia, along the Black Sea as far as the Volga and Kiev. Hence he became a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia. According to tradition, he founded the See of Byzantium (Constantinople)in AD 38, installing Stachys as bishop.


Saint Andrrew was martyred in Patras in Achaea on Nov 30 60 AD at the order of Roman Governor, Aegeates. It is said that he was crucified on an X shaped cross called a saltire. He was bound to the cross, not nailed to it to prolong his suffering. His feast day is Nov 30 in both the Latin and Greek churches.

St. Andrew's relics were initially kept in Patras, but were eventually moved to Constantinople. When the French took Constantinople in the 13th century his relics were moved to the cathedral of Amalfi in Italy, where most of them remain today.

O Glorious Saint Andrew, you were the first to recognize and follow the Lamb of God. With your friend Saint John you remained with Jesus for that first day, for your entire life, and now throughout eternity.

As you led your brother Saint Peter to Christ and many others after him, draw us also to him. Teach us to lead others to Christ solely out of love for him and dedication in his service. Help us to learn the lesson of the Cross and to carry our daily crosses without complaint so that they may carry us to Jesus.

________
Sources:
The Catholic Encyclopedia
Wikipedia - Saint Andrew
SQPN Saints

The People Not in the Pews

The People Not in the Pews

by Jeffrey Tucker

Those involved with Catholic liturgy focus heavily on what the people in the pews want, how they are responding to the music and homily, how they regard the various ceremonies, and whether and to what extent are they involved. The manta at nearly every conference and teaching session on liturgy is that we must maintain a single minded focus on encouraging "full, active, conscious participation" – of the people who happen to be there at the time.

The focus is disproportionate to the extent that it draws attention away from the whole purpose of liturgy—to glorify God and celebrate sacred mysteries—and toward the well-being of the community, and, further, it invites a kind of hubris that we are manufacturing liturgy rather than receiving it as a gift that we have the responsibility to treasure and hand on to the next generation.

Very interesting article. Read the Rest at NLM

Advent First Vespers

Fr. Gonzales at Overheard in the Sacristy posted this picture of the Holy Father at Advent First Vespers. It is a beautiful photo of the Holy Father with his new ferula (Pastoral Staff).



Description:

On the front side of the new ferula is depicted in the centre the Lamb of God, and on the four points of the cross, the symbols of the four Evangelists. The arms of the cross are decorated in a net-like pattern which evokes the fisherman whose successor Pope Benedict is. On the backside there is in the centre the Chi-Rho, the monogram of Christ, and on the four points of the cross, four Fathers of Occident and Orient, Augustine and Ambrose, Athanasius and John Chrysostom, the same who also carry Bernini's cathedra. On the top of the shaft is the coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI. Source: http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/



Also the mitre that the Holy Father is wearing is form Pope Pius IX. This mitre is referred to as the Immaculate conception mitre.On the front is an image of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on the back is a image of Jesus the Good Shepherd. For those wondering, on December 8th, 1854 Blessed Pope Pius IX wrote the Apostolic Constitution INEFFABILIS DEUS which defined for us the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.

The Solemnity of Christ the King