Divine Providence

Feb 7, 2011 | Latest

DIVINE PROVIDENCE

   Our pastor, Father Hector Chiapa is running a 5-part series on Divine Providence in our parish bulletin.  It is very worth reading, so I will post it here over the next few weeks.  First here is something else.

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    Yesterday was the Super Bowl.  It is the day of supreme worship in the religion of the NFL which is becoming a very powerful force in the world of paganism.   I can imagine that a youngster about to make his First Holy Communion could more easily list seven NFL quarterbacks than he could the seven sacraments.  Or an adolescent about to  receive Confirmation would have no problem naming seven NFL coaches, while he would struggle with the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. 

    Football has come a long way.  I remember well a music class in grade school taught by Miss Shotwell.  She was telling us about the college band that played at halftime of a game.  The guy I was sitting next to looked over at me and said, “She watches football!”  It wasn’t just that it was Miss Shotwell watching football – it was that any girl was watching football.

   In a recent Seton School newspaper there was an interview of a new teacher, Mr. See.  The writer revealed, in total amazement, that Mr. See does not like football.  How can this be? 

   I wonder if Coloradoans got to vote on next year’s starting quarterback for the Broncos if the turnout at the polls would be greater than it was for electing the governor this past election.

   For the next couple of weeks, I would like to offer you a powerful image of the Providence of God and then, for the following three weeks, a personal reflection about it. Such a powerful image is to be found in a children’s story: ‘At the back of the North Wind’ by George MacDonald, a very talented Christian author who deeply inspired the great C.S. Lewis himself. In his book, MacDonald describes the friendship between a boy named Diamond and the North Wind. In one of their dialogues, the North Wind explains to Diamond how is it possible for her to cause a storm that will result in the sinking of a ship and the death of many people. It is in the context of such an explanation, that we find an amazing image for the Providence of God:

  “Is the storm over, North Wind?” he called out. 

  “No, Diamond. I am only waiting a moment to set you down. You would not like to see the ship sunk, and I am going to give you a place to stop in till I come back for you.”

  “Oh! Thank you,” said Diamond. “I shall be sorry to leave you, North Wind, but I would rather not see the ship go down. And I’m afraid the poor people will cry, and I should hear them. Oh, dear!”

  “There are a good many passengers on board; and to tell the truth, Diamond, I don’t care about your hearing the cry you speak of. I am afraid you would not get it out of your little head again for a long time.”

  “But how can you bear it then, North Wind? For I am sure you are kind. I shall never doubt that again.”

  “I will tell you how I am able to bear it, Diamond: I am always hearing, through every noise, through all the noise I am making myself even, the sound of a far-off song. I do not exactly know where it is, or what it means; and I don’t hear much of it, only the odour of its music, as it were, flitting across the great billows of the ocean outside this air in which I make such a storm; but what I do hear is quite enough to make me able to bear the cry from the drowning ship. So it would you if you could hear it.”

  “No, it wouldn’t,” returned Diamond, stoutly. “For they wouldn’t hear the music of the far-away song; and if they did, it wouldn’t do them any good. You see you and I are not going to be drowned, and so we might enjoy it.”

The story will be continued next post.

Jezu, ufam Tobie.

THE STATE OF OUR UNION

Jan 27, 2011 | Latest

THE STATE OF OUR UNION

   On January 25^th, President Obama gave his State of the Union address.  Just one question:  Is there any more stimulus money coming to an account near me?  Some new socks would greatly improve my wardrobe portfolio.

   It so happens that the President spoke of the state of our Union on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.  Somehow, I think that St. Paul might have more to say to us on our state than the President.  

   A blinding flash and a powerful voice turned St. Paul from one riding on a high horse of righteousness into a humbled man who was led forth in blind faith.

   Ananias was sent to open the eyes of the newest Apostle to enable him to see what it was that he was going to suffer.  A great introduction to the Faith:  Welcome to Catholicism.  Here’s what you will suffer Paul, now go forth.    

   Paul’s life was completely changed because his state of being was now one in union with Jesus.  He would come to live, not as Paul, but as Christ within him. 

   Paul’s great moment of conversion was followed by a daily conversion fueled by renunciation of the world and annunciation of the Word of God.   He knew that the race that he ran was to be filled with suffering, but he also knew that he ran for a crown that would never perish.

   What is the state of our union?   Are we running the race for crowns that last but a moment?  Are we all about winning a future that gives us no real future?   If we were shown all that we would suffer through greater union with Our Lord, would we continue to run the race?

   On the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, the state of the union of our household of Mom and me was raised up by the visit of our parish priest, Father Hector Chiapa.  In the spirit of St. Paul, Father sailed forth in his VW, braving the mud of our roads to bring us into greater union with Our Lord.  He anointed Mom while she still lay in bed sleeping.  He heard my confession and gave me Holy Communion.  He opened our eyes to see that the sufferings of this life are not enduring and that the love of Christ is forever. 

   There is only one state that matters:  the state of grace which is an enduring union with Jesus.  

   St. Paul, Apostle, Missionary, Martyr, pray for us.

Jezu, ufam Tobie.

SETON ALUMNI IN THE SCIENCES

Jan 17, 2011 | Latest

Seton Grads in the Sciences

  In one mail day, there was information about four Seton grads who were making their marks in the scientific world.

  In Christendom College’s quarterly magazine, there was a feature article on Philip O’Herron (’96) who is a post-doctoral research fellow in neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University.  I’m not sure exactly what that means, but it sure sounds impressive.  Phil graduated from Seton, then from Christendom, then went to George Mason to study science.  I remember talking to Mrs. O’Herron one day in the teachers’ room (always an environment for good conversation) about Phil.  She said that he was finishing up at George Mason and had applied to Johns Hopkins graduate program.  In his interview he was told that the philosophical sorts like him never make it.  We now know that at least one philosophical sort has made it – all the way to being a post-doctoral fellow.

   I heard about the other three alumni in Christmas letters from their parents. 

   Kathryn Munson (’04) has recently returned to the United States after spending seven months at a hospital on a British base in Afghanistan.  She had a civilian patient that was having difficulty after his surgery.  Kathryn spent four hours trying to convince his surgeons that he needed additional attention, suggesting to them that he might be bleeding internally.  The following day when she saw her patient again, he began tapping his chest and saying over and over two of the few English words he knew, “Thank you.  Thank you.”   Kathryn studied nursing at Catholic University.

   Another Catholic University nursing school grad, Laura Shaw (’03) is a transplant nurse at Georgetown University Hospital.  She is currently studying for her master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner. 

   Tom Wittman (’01) was Seton’s resident weatherman during his high school days.  He went to the University of Nebraska and as a Cornhusker studied meteorology.  He became a meteorologist for the Air Force and is now studying space weather in Dayton.

   From fellow to practitioner; from Afghanistan to outer space, it is always interesting to hear where Our Lord has led His Seton grads.

12 Days and Still Counting

Jan 6, 2011 | Latest

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS AND STILL COUNTING  

Today is the Universal Holy Day of Epiphany. 

   This reminds me of the many times that Mr. P, Mr. Scheetz and I and sometimes, or at least one time, Mr. Vander Woude would dress up as Melchior, Baltazar and Caspar and very regally go from room to room to tell about our three gifts and to bless the classrooms.  Then students helpers would follow with baskets of candy to distribute.  It was a very fun day for me, but as the school got bigger it got harder and harder to get to every room in one class period.  The majority of students seemed embarrassed for our sakes.  Perhaps that was mostly due to our singing.

   I am also reminded of the story of the Three Kings that our exchange student from Spain, Sylvia, told us.  Sylvia came on an exchange program and was supposed to attend a public school, but for some reason the school decided they couldn’t take her.  She had a host family that went to All Saints and called Seton to see if we could take her.  Of course we could.  Sylvia said that in Spain the Three Kings brought Christmas presents.  I am not sure if the Kings came on Christmas Eve or on the Epiphany, but this is how they brought the gifts.  The whole town would gather in the evening in the town square which was in a valley. At some point the Kings would be seen riding their white horses down from the hills toward the town.  At this same time someone from the family would sneak away to their home and put all the presents under the tree.  Meanwhile, everyone else was cheering the coming of the Kings as they rode into town.   She said it was such a great time to see those Kings coming and then to go home after they had left and find that they had brought all the gifts for the family. 

   Seems better than Santa Claus arriving on a fire engine many days before Christmas, which is what Wiggins had as a tradition.  His bags of candies and other treats were pretty good though.

   We are leaving our Christmas trees (one real and the other not) up until February 2^nd.  So far no needles are falling from the real one despite my forgetting to give it water for a week.  Lent and Easter are far in the future, so the Christmas trees will help to bridge the gap.  And the Presentation is our house’s official end to the Christmas season.  So Merry Christmas for another 26 days or so.

Jezu, ufam Tobie.

25th & 26th

Dec 27, 2010 | Latest

25^th and 26th

   The Solemnity of Christmas and the Feast of the Holy Family back to back give rise to some considerations.

    The Son is begotten in eternity and continuously by the Father by which He is Divine.  He is then begotten in time by the Holy Spirit by which He takes on a human nature and is made a true man.   The Father is His eternal Father; the Holy Spirit His temporal Father and Blessed Mother His only mother and properly called the Mother of God. 

   In the Trinity the Three Persons are equal but distinct.  In the Holy Family the three persons are not equal but share some equalities and some distinctions.  Mary and Jesus are sinless; St. Joseph is not.  Mary and Joseph are human persons; Jesus is not.  Jesus and Joseph are males; Mary is not.  Jesus and Mary have words of theirs recorded in Scripture; Joseph does not.    All three are of the Davidic Line.

   Mary leads us to the Son; Jesus leads us to the Father.  And perhaps it is that St. Joseph  leads us to the Holy Spirit.  Just as Mary and Jesus have words of theirs recorded in Scripture  while Joseph does not, so do the Father and Son have words of Theirs recorded in Scripture while the Holy Spirit does not.  Joseph and the Holy Spirit teach through action – the Holy Spirit through the inspiration given to the prophets and through His coming at Pentecost in which He inspires bold proclamations.  St. Joseph inspires us through his faithfulness as spouse and father and in his obedience.  It is the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost that the Church is born, and St. Joseph is the patron of the Universal Church.  There is a sense in which the Holy Spirit gives birth to the Church, and St. Joseph is given custody without having paternity.

   May our joyful celebration of the birth of Our Lord continue to His blessed Epiphany.

   Jezu, ufam Tobie.

A Star in the East

Dec 20, 2010 | Latest

A STAR IN THE EAST

   When I wake up during the night, my view is out a big picture window toward the east.  This time of year, at the right time of night, Venus shines brightly as it climbs the December sky.  It is spectacular in radiance on a clear night, and one can imagine the Wise Men following such a luminary on their way to the Christ Child.

   Waking up at different times, I had seen Venus at different heights but had never bothered to notice what those times were.  Then it dawned on me that I could see Venus rise if I got up at the right time, and since I had never seen a planet rise, I thought that would be a great thing to do.

    On December 7^th, the weather forecast was for a clear night and morning.  I thought, “Perfect!  I can watch the Morning Star rise on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.”  So the plan was to rise with the Morning Star, but I still didn’t know what time it would rise.  I hoped.

   I woke up at 3 a.m. (DST) and saw that Venus was not in the sky yet.  So I got up and lit the Advent wreathe that sister Kath had given us and began to say some prayers.  I finished with the Litany of Loretto and then went to the picture window to start the vigil for the rising of the Morning Star. 

   I was hoping this vigil would not be an hour or more, when I noticed a red glow on the horizon that hadn’t been there before.  Venus?  I watched and it began to rise.  The Morning Star! 

   There was nothing in itself sensational about the rising, but it was wonderful to see Our Lady’s Star rising on the Immaculate Conception – rising in its clear splendor and radiant beauty.

   I prayed some Hail Mary’s as she rose into her full glory.    I went back to bed very happy.

   Found an old letter I’d written home during the 4^th week of Advent.  News items included that the “We are Catholic” group of students, teachers and parents were leaving for Rome soon; that Brendan Flannery had the top of his finger cut off in a door, and I had to run the found top to the hospital to see if it could be reattached; the SSC held Advent Vespers in the gym.  Here’s what it said about the Vespers. 

   The prayer service began with all the lights off in the gym, and each student was given a lighted candle as he entered so the gym was aglow with the candle light:  beautiful.  But the priest couldn’t see to read so some lights had to be turned on:  less beautiful.  The SSC wanted to have something fun after the Vespers so they decided to have dodge ball.  The announcement for the night sounded a little odd:  Advent Vespers, light refreshments and dodge ball.  [I remember Mr. McCullough being very good at dodge ball.]

   Sorry I am late with this.  A little computer trouble – really, a little computer operator trouble, but hopefully all is right now.

    Merry Christmas.

Jezu, ufam Tobie.

CHOIR DAYS

Dec 6, 2010 | Latest

Choir Days

   I always enjoyed the Seton Choir and the time I got to sing with the very talented student vocalists.  From the days when Mrs. Gregory directed it and strategically placed her son Glen next to me to keep me on tune; to the days of Mr. Mercier’s direction when I had Mike Medina next to me to make sure I came in on the “Sicut Cervis” bass part at the right time; to the year Mrs. Cummings directed and fed us well; to the short time I was able to sing under the current director, Mrs. Ross, when the choir moved to the Corpus Christi building.

   I am thinking of the choir now and missing the beautiful Advent songs we sang through the years.  The four that immediately come to mind are “Lo How a Rose Ere Blooming”, “Drop Down Dew”, “People Look East” and my favorite “Comfort, Comfort”. 

   Mom and I do our Advent prayers after sunset (5:30 DST).  We pray five Hail and Blesseds and then sing a verse from an Advent song.  It is my favorite part of the day.

   Some time for our Seton alumni gathering, I think we should put out a special appeal to all choir members and directors to come and have a short rehearsal during the day and sing for the gathering that night. It would be worth the price of admission for sure.

   “Hark! The herald’s voice is crying, in the desert far and near.  Bidding all to true repentance, for the Kingdom now is here.  O that warning cry obey….”

Jezu, ufam Tobie.