Solemnity of St. Joseph!!!
Happy Solemnity of St. Joseph!!
The last time I posted was the day before Ash Wednesday, so I figured it was about time for a Lenten Update!
On Facebook, I mentioned that I was participating in the "Station Churches" that the College offers during the Lenten Season...Realizing that some don't have Facebook, I've linked a brief history about the station churches above. My overall goal is to participate in at least 1/3 to half of the station churches this year. After walking to the first couple station churches, my feet were very angry with me--but I bought a bike, and that has helped me to be able to get to more station churches (and it really shrinks the size of Rome!!).
This past weekend was a travel permitted weekend. I went up to Bologna to meet up with Eric, who flew in to Italy a couple days earlier than the group going to Florence from his parish so we could hang out. It was awesome to be able to hang out with him in Bologna, have him celebrate Mass (especially on Saturday, when we were blessed to be able to have Mass in the spot where St. Dominic died), and of course, experience the Bolognese cuisine!! Yummmmmmmy. I was able to spend a few hours in Florence on Sunday afternoon/evening with Eric and the group, especially the people I had known before hand. I am always at a loss of words to express my gratitude for how supportive the faithful are of their seminarians. Their prayers and support really do make a difference in our formation!
Tomorrow, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, I will have my First Theology Evaluation. My Spiritual Director and Formation Advisor sit in on the meeting (but aren't allowed to speak) I will have with one of the Vice Rector's and a faculty "interlocutor", who will have the chance to ask me questions about my self-evaluation. My FA told me that there is nothing he is concerned about that will be brought up in the meeting that he and I haven't already discussed, nevertheless these evals are always a little nerve-wracking. Your prayers are most appreciated! St. Joseph, pray for me!
So in addition to classes, and the daily grind of seminary formation that's what has been going on! Kevin qua Kevin, though, I still have a reflection that I'm going to share. (You know you wanted one!!)
Each Tuesday evening at NAC we have something called "Faith Sharing"/"Hall Prayer". We forego doing Evening Prayer as a whole community, and do it in smaller groups based on what hallway we live on. We then have a small group discussion on some topic. On my hallway, we break into 2 smaller groups and meet in one of the priest apartments on our hallway. Our hall Deacon asks us a day or so ahead of time to think of a particular grace we'd like to share (e.g. A grace related to Christmas break, a grace related to the school year so far, and tonight's: a grace related to praying the Liturgy of the Hours, or LOTH for short).
I had prayed LOTH on a CORE Retreat when I was a Youth Minister, as well as on the two Boston discernment retreats I went on, but it wasn't until I entered seminary in August 2011 and then LOTH was thoroughly explained to me that I started to develop an appreciation for these prayers. For the sake of me not being too verbose, I will let EWTN explain LOTH ...
When the Church celebrates a Solemnity as well as on certain feast days, the default Psalms for Lauds (Morning Prayer) are taken from Sunday Morning prayer Week 1. When one prays the LOTH regularly, one begins to know certain Psalms and antiphons by heart. After several times of doing Morning Prayer from Sunday Week 1, the first Psalm I committed to memory was the following...
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this psalm. For most of my 2 years at St John's, I would pray this Psalm each day upon waking up, before I even got out of bed. It helps me to say to God so much...HE is who I long for, my soul is THIRSTING for Him. His love is better than life, and I will praise Him all my life long. (I don't need to continue saying these things--you can read the Psalm and get an idea of it!!)
That's all for tonight, folks!
Guardian of Virgins and holy father St Joseph, into whose faithful keeping were entrusted Christ Jesus, innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, I pray and beseech thee by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, that being preserved from all uncleanness, I may with spotless mind, pure heart and chaste body, ever serve Jesus and Mary most chastely all the days of life. Amen.
Praised be Jesus Christ....
The last time I posted was the day before Ash Wednesday, so I figured it was about time for a Lenten Update!
On Facebook, I mentioned that I was participating in the "Station Churches" that the College offers during the Lenten Season...Realizing that some don't have Facebook, I've linked a brief history about the station churches above. My overall goal is to participate in at least 1/3 to half of the station churches this year. After walking to the first couple station churches, my feet were very angry with me--but I bought a bike, and that has helped me to be able to get to more station churches (and it really shrinks the size of Rome!!).
This past weekend was a travel permitted weekend. I went up to Bologna to meet up with Eric, who flew in to Italy a couple days earlier than the group going to Florence from his parish so we could hang out. It was awesome to be able to hang out with him in Bologna, have him celebrate Mass (especially on Saturday, when we were blessed to be able to have Mass in the spot where St. Dominic died), and of course, experience the Bolognese cuisine!! Yummmmmmmy. I was able to spend a few hours in Florence on Sunday afternoon/evening with Eric and the group, especially the people I had known before hand. I am always at a loss of words to express my gratitude for how supportive the faithful are of their seminarians. Their prayers and support really do make a difference in our formation!
Tomorrow, the Solemnity of St. Joseph, I will have my First Theology Evaluation. My Spiritual Director and Formation Advisor sit in on the meeting (but aren't allowed to speak) I will have with one of the Vice Rector's and a faculty "interlocutor", who will have the chance to ask me questions about my self-evaluation. My FA told me that there is nothing he is concerned about that will be brought up in the meeting that he and I haven't already discussed, nevertheless these evals are always a little nerve-wracking. Your prayers are most appreciated! St. Joseph, pray for me!
So in addition to classes, and the daily grind of seminary formation that's what has been going on! Kevin qua Kevin, though, I still have a reflection that I'm going to share. (You know you wanted one!!)
Each Tuesday evening at NAC we have something called "Faith Sharing"/"Hall Prayer". We forego doing Evening Prayer as a whole community, and do it in smaller groups based on what hallway we live on. We then have a small group discussion on some topic. On my hallway, we break into 2 smaller groups and meet in one of the priest apartments on our hallway. Our hall Deacon asks us a day or so ahead of time to think of a particular grace we'd like to share (e.g. A grace related to Christmas break, a grace related to the school year so far, and tonight's: a grace related to praying the Liturgy of the Hours, or LOTH for short).
I had prayed LOTH on a CORE Retreat when I was a Youth Minister, as well as on the two Boston discernment retreats I went on, but it wasn't until I entered seminary in August 2011 and then LOTH was thoroughly explained to me that I started to develop an appreciation for these prayers. For the sake of me not being too verbose, I will let EWTN explain LOTH ...
When the Church celebrates a Solemnity as well as on certain feast days, the default Psalms for Lauds (Morning Prayer) are taken from Sunday Morning prayer Week 1. When one prays the LOTH regularly, one begins to know certain Psalms and antiphons by heart. After several times of doing Morning Prayer from Sunday Week 1, the first Psalm I committed to memory was the following...
Psalm 63:2-9
A soul thirsting for God
Whoever has left the darkness of sin yearns for God.
O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this psalm. For most of my 2 years at St John's, I would pray this Psalm each day upon waking up, before I even got out of bed. It helps me to say to God so much...HE is who I long for, my soul is THIRSTING for Him. His love is better than life, and I will praise Him all my life long. (I don't need to continue saying these things--you can read the Psalm and get an idea of it!!)
That's all for tonight, folks!
Guardian of Virgins and holy father St Joseph, into whose faithful keeping were entrusted Christ Jesus, innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, I pray and beseech thee by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, that being preserved from all uncleanness, I may with spotless mind, pure heart and chaste body, ever serve Jesus and Mary most chastely all the days of life. Amen.
Praised be Jesus Christ....
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