Habeo Papam!!!

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything, but I figured with the events of these past few days, I would give some reflections that I have had about our new Holy Father, Pope Francis. I will forever remember the events of that day when Pope Francis was elected and became Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

Disclaimer: All of my information about him has come so far from wikipedia. I'm sorry if it's untrue, but I am pretty sure it's reliable.

First, a pet peeve of mine. Our Pope's name is Francis...not Francis I. He is the only Francis. Until there is a second, there is no first. Sorry, I had to get that out. Now, on to the real reflections...

You may have noticed that the title of this post is, "Habeo Papam!!!" instead of, "Habemus Papam!!!" This is not a mistake. Which leads me to my first reflection. When I was born, a wonderful, saintly man was pope. He has been one of my biggest heroes in life, and will always be an inspiration to me. However, I believe I was too young at that time for my heart to really see him as my Holy Father. I just didn't understand. I will also always remember in High School, sitting in Latin class, watching Pope Benedict XVI walk out onto the loggia to greet and bless the city and the world. However, at that time, I was also too young, and I was told that he was "really conservative." At that time it sacred me, because I associated it with the liturgy, and I didn't want to "go back" to the "Old Rite." Finally, when Pope Francis walked out onto the balcony, with his simple cassock and small little wave, I realized, in the bottom of my heart, "I have a pope." The more I read about him, the more I realize that this is a pope that I truly love. Every day I discover more and more an affection and a love for him that I have for very few other people.

When Fr. Bergoglio was a young priest, he suffered from severe pneumonia and cysts, and doctors removed part (I'm not sure how much) of one of his lungs. This is fascinating. Our pope does not have two full lungs. However, as a predecessor of his, John Paul II, said, we need to breathe with both lungs...East and West. As a young priest, he was mentored by a Greek Catholic Priest and as the Archbishop of Buenas Aires, he was named the Ordinary for Eastern Catholics in the area, something very rare in the Church. I have developed over my years in seminary a certain affection for the Byzantine Liturgy, and the fact that our Holy Father is well-versed in this beautiful part of our tradition is a very exciting thing. This could also help to advance the dialogues with the Eastern Orthodox, and perhaps finally bring them back into full communion with Rome.

Another striking thing about this pope is the congregations he was a member of as a cardinal. I know that he wasn't in charge of them, and I know that he wasn't intimately involved in everything about these congregations, but there has to be a reason that he was a member of them. He has a certain expertise and particular gift for these areas. The congregations were:

       Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

       Congregation for the Clergy 

       Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

       Pontifical Council for the Family

I think many of the problems facing the Church of today have to do with these four areas. Our greatest divisions are either liturgical or stemming form the priest sex abuse scandals. Our world is struggling with broken families. He brings a tremendous ability to deal with these problems, and to address the issues that face our Church and the world.

One final reflection. The humility and simplicity of Pope Francis is very striking. It is wonderful to see a pope who is so simple and a servant of all people in both word and action. He is a tremendous example for me and for all those who are or are studying to be priests.

This is a wonderful time to be a Catholic, and a wonderful time to be a seminarian. I hope that our Lord  guides our Holy Father and helps him to bring about a New Evangelization in our world.

Finals Week

Finals week is always, it seems, the most stressful time of the year for pretty much anyone...unless they don't have school. If I don't do wel on my finals, my grades will drop, I'll fail out of school, I'll never find a job...or love...or happiness...and so we go down the slippery slope. Let's be honest with ourselves, though. What will actually happen if I don't do well on my finals?

• The world will still turn
• I will continue to breathe
• I will still be capable of loving
• God and my mother will still love me.
• I will most likely not starve to death
• I will still have my good friendships and important relationships

The list could continue for pages. The point is, is it really a life or death issue if we don't "do well" on our tests. Our Lord tells us in the Gospel of Matthew: "Do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek First the Kingdom of God and his righteousness -- and all these things will be given you besides."

As we near Christmas, preparing our hearts to seek the Lord, let us recall what is most important to us? At the end of our life, are we going to regret not getting an A on that final I took fifty years ago? Probably not. Will we regret not spending as much time with those whom we love as possible? Probably. Let's remember what our lives are really about. Love. Love of God and love of our neighbor.

DON'T WORRY!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!

Today is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the New Liturgical Year in the Catholic Church. In honor of the New Year, I have decided to start this blog. I will be posting reflections on here about many things. I hope you all enjoy this blog. I will try to post on here at least once every two weeks, hopefully more frequently.

Today's reflection is on the season of Advent. Advent is my favorite liturgical season, mostly because of the music. The music of the Advent season has so much anticipation and looking forward. My favorite hymn is an Advent Hymn. It dates back from the 6th or 7th Century AD. I sang this hymn last night when I prayed Evening Prayer I of the First Sunday of Advent.

Most people in today's world skip Advent and go right from Thanksgiving (or even Halloween) to Christmas. This is a mistake. Advent is a time of penance given to us by the Church in order to prepare for the coming of the Savior. It is alomst like a miniature Lent. Perhaps we can all give something up for Advent, like we do for Lent, and use this time truly as a spiritual preparation for Christ's coming. Not just the commemoration of his coming into the world two-thousand years ago, but also his second coming, when he will come in glory to judge the living and the dead.

 

 

As we prepare for Christmas, lighting the candles on the Advent Wreath, let us remember to live by the Virtues of Faith, Hope, Joy, and Love whic these candles represent. When we go to Mass, let's remember that it is not Christmas yet. This is a season of great anticipation. Let's keep the anticipation in it and not jump ahead to Christams.