Breath of Heaven, Hold Me Together

Advent is quickly drawing to a close as Christmas approaches in just a short week. Our Gospel readings are focusing less on the second coming and more on this first coming, as we now must be patient, waiting in silent prayer for the fulfillment of God's plan. And what a truth that is for us in our lives. We sit and wait, listening to God tug on our hearts. But the fulfillment of those plans do not always happen immediately. We must constantly unite ourselves with our Blessed Mother, as she waited, scared but patient, lonely but full of hope, feeling unworthy but abandoning herself to His plan. In this last week before Christmas, let us truly be one with our Mother, waiting in hopeful prayer for His plan to be fulfilled--both for His birth at Christmas and in each of our lives.

There's a beautiful song illustrating this truth, "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant. I heard it for the first time a couple weeks ago, and it has quickly become one of my favorites.

I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary with a babe inside
And I wonder what I've done
Holy Father, You have come
And chosen me now, to carry Your Son

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now, be with me now

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness, for You are holy
Breath of Heaven

Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong, help me be, help me


"The angel Gabriel said, 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.' But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."
~Luke 1:28-30

The Dawn of Advent

Well, happy new year and happy Advent! (I know, a couple days late) What a beautiful time of year. The Church's new year, time to start fresh. It's funny how toward the end of the season of Ordinary Time, many readings in Mass were concerned with the "end of time," the second coming of Christ. And here as we begin Advent, we continue to hear about the coming of Jesus, as we did last Sunday, with being cautioned to "be ready" for Him, for we know not at what hour He will come. As this speaks of the second coming, we also spend Advent preparing to remember His first coming, when a young girl answered "yes" to the call of God, and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. The words "come, Lord Jesus!" echo in the hearts of all Christians in this season, as we await Christmas, as well as our Lord's second coming in glory.

And as we listen and reflect on these Gospels concerned with His coming, do we think about the "coming" of Christ we can witness each and every day? Do we stop and think of how God answers our prayer of "come, Lord Jesus" all over the world at every hour of the day at every single Mass, when Heaven kisses earth and the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord becomes incarnate before our very eyes? Does this perpetual coming of our Lord become redundant or routine? Let this time of Advent be a time for us to renew our love for the Mass and the Eucharist, where we can celebrate "Christmas" every day; a celebration of our Lord dwelling among us. Let us not forget that the glory of it all is the He IS here. Just as He promised. What a faithful God we have!

And, to echo the chillingly inspiring end to Fr. Baker's homily last Sunday,
GOD IS WITH US!!


"All the love in the world is right here among us."
~David Crowder

Newsworthy Nashville Dominicans

So as you might have figured out by now, I am enamored with the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, aka the Nashville Dominicans, and am blessed to know them. They've been in the news quite a bit this year, and most recently in an article by the Washington Post. I wanted to make sure you're all aware of a religious order at the "tip of the spear" in the New Evangelization. Holiness is HERE!

Washington Post Article
Sydney Morning Herald
Salt+Light TV Canada
Catholic News Service
Tennessee Register
The Boston Globe
Facebook Group/Fanclub

Pray for this order and for a renewal of consecrated life in America and the world. Pray for those discerning a call, that they might have the courage to stand up against the culture of death to give their lives entirely to Christ for the sake of the Kingdom.


"The Church is alive. And the Church is young."
~Pope Benedict XVI

Thankful to be Catholic

I'm spending Thanksgiving with my family in New Orleans, my hometown. I mean, I was baptized here, this is where it all began! As with most traveling, I used MassTimes.org to find daily Masses to go to while I'm here. Typing in my grandmother's zip code, it came up with nearly 20 daily Masses within just a couple of miles. Now granted, I am in a very Catholic place here in southeastern Louisiana, but still. The Catholic Church. Universal. One, Holy, and Apostolic! It blows my mind sometimes. My Lord is here. He is here, in New Orleans, just the same as He is in Nashville, or any other tabernacle all over the world. As it says above the tabernacle in the Chapel at the St. Cecilia Motherhouse, "Here God dwells among men." Such beauty; our Lord is forever with us until the end of time--just as He promised us.

Today, quite simply, I stop a minute and realize how thankful I am to be Catholic. To know that the keys of the kingdom were laid in dear St. Peter's hands, and have been passed from generation to generation through the Papacy. To know that these popes have commissioned bishops, in line with the Apostles themselves, to consecrate priests to serve the kingdom and provide the Sacraments to the people. And of course, in the line of Melchizedek, to continue to offer the eternal sacrifice in the Holy Mass, the memorial of the Last Supper, where we encounter the perpetually incarnate Christ in the Holy Eucharist: body, blood, soul, and divinity.

There is such an incredible comfort knowing that I don't have to church-hop or get the right pastor to know the Truth. I can go to any Catholic Church all over the world and encounter Truth face to face. And even then, it is no more work on my part to know Him than quieting my heart and listening to Truth speak to me, in Its mere presence. As St. Teresa of the Andes once said on prayer, "my heart can say nothing; I can only adore."

Among the gifts of the Church, we also have the Communion of Saints, celebrating all those in Heaven, especially those recognized for their work on earth. Today is the feast day of Saint Cecilia, one of the early martyrs. Her story deserves its own post, which might come later. Until then: Saint Cecilia, pray for us!

Praised be Jesus Christ and His Holy Church!


"I will go peaceably and firmly to the Catholic Church: for if Faith is so important to our salvation, I will seek where true Faith first began, seek it among those who received it from God Himself."
~St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

For all my life...

I found a great article recently written by a man who spent some of this summer filming the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia here in Nashville for a video they are making. He got to attend some of their summer ceremonies, including the Final Profession of Vows. Below is an excerpt from his article:

Sunday was the Mass for the Rite of Perpetual Religious Profession. This was when 11 Sisters were going to take final vows – it was their wedding day! I was impressed as I panned the camera across the row of Sisters making their final vows. Some looked nervous, some looked calm, and others looked in ecstasy; eyes rolled up to the crucifix that hung above the altar of St. Henry's Church.

As a cameraman you're always looking for an interesting picture composition – be it lighting, framing, emotion, etc. I was not disappointed during the Mass! I think it was the third Sister to make her profession. I had a tight shot on her hand as she placed it on the bible and began her profession of vows.

"To the honour of Almighty God and under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of our Holy Father Saint Dominic, I make to God in your hands, Reverend Sister…"

And then I heard her voice crack.

I didn't even look up, but immediately re-framed to the Sisters face, checking to make sure it was in focus, and locking off my camera in a tight close-up.

Sister composed herself.

"…I make to God in your hands, Reverend Sister Ann Marie, Prioress General, the simple vows…."

She was struggling to continue.

"… of poverty, chastity, and obedience for all my life…"

Tears were welling up in her eyes.

"…according to the Rule of Saint Augustine…"

Tears were rolling down her cheeks at this point.

"….and the Constitutions of the Dominican Sisters of this Congregation of Saint Cecilia."

Poor Sister offered an embarrassed smile to Mother Ann Marie and apologized for being overcome by emotion.

If everything else failed during my trip, I would have been satisfied just to have filmed that moment. It was incredibly touching. It was beautiful beyond words. It was genuine emotion that couldn't help but pierce your soul. It wasn't a Sister shedding tears of regret, but it was a Sister shedding tears of love.

Absolutely stunning. I just finished reading Fr. Thomas Dubay's book "...and You are Christ's" about the Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life in the Church. These women are truly a witness to the love we all hope to experience in Heaven--some just get called to live this love sooner than others.

The springtime of the Church is upon us, and women like the Nashville Dominicans are living symbols of that. Praised be Jesus Christ!


"Eternal God, receive the sacrifice of my life for Your Church. Accept my heart and impress upon it the face of Your Son."
~St. Catherine of Siena

Thanks for the Sufferings

So school is absolutely crazy. I've been in midterms for the past three weeks. Definitely the most intense semester academically I've faced yet. And honestly--the most intense spiritually as well. But I can't complain about that.

The next three weekends are going to blow my mind with retreats, pilgrimages, staying in convents and visiting monasteries and shrines...plus my best friend from high school is coming into town. Things are looking up.

In Father Baker's homily yesterday, he spoke a lot about giving thanks to God. He said that after a good day where nothing was difficult or nothing went wrong that St. Josemaria Escriva would ask God what he did wrong that day, why he wasn't given any crosses, why he wasn't asked to imitate Christ. Let us thank God each day we are given to suffer, for it is in that way we are best united with our Beloved.


"Place Christ at the heart of all human activities by means of work that is sanctified, and sanctifies both the doer and those for whom it is done."
~St. Josemaria Escriva

Another Sign of Brilliance

David Crowder, a revolutionary in the Christian music world, has added to his ingenuity. Thanks to a modification made by his drummer, David plays some of his songs using a Guitar Hero controller. Each of the five buttons plays a different chord, and the stum key works the same. An added bonus: the "Select" button plays the ring from the original Nintendo Entertainment System game "Super Mario Bros."

Don't believe me? Check out this video:




"Those who sing pray twice, those who rock pray thrice!"
~Lifeteen phrase

Falling in Love...

I find myself falling more and more in love each day. Words cannot describe it. Prayers cannot lift it high enough. Only being--gazing, in awe of my Beloved, can I comprehend the power and might yet the gentleness and humility. The Uncreated One. The Everlasting. The Beautiful One.

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing You praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul, Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

He gives me a clean heart, a purified soul, washed in the blood of the Lamb and made to be white as snow through the unending mercies of our Beloved. He loves me too. I'm falling in love.


"Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you. You called, you shouted, and you shattered my deafness."
~St. Augustine

Restless Hearts

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Augustine, a Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Raised a Christian, Augustine lost his faith and led a wild life. After living with a woman for many years, having a son, and dabbling in heresy, he was converted by the prayers of his mother, St. Monica (whose feast we celebrated yesterday) and help from St. Ambrose. He sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and founded a monastery.

I ask for the intercession of St. Augustine upon all those young people who might have lost their faith. As St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans:

You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand.

For truly, we know not what peace is until our souls rest in the hands of God. No pursuits of the world can fill our inherent desires for something greater. St. Augustine learned this, and then turned his heart to what is greater. Let us all follow his lead!


"Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless
until they rest in you."
~St. Augustine of Hippo

Nashville: Rome of the South!

The "Bible Belt" has been rocked today by the One, Holy, Apostolic Church!

The Knights of Columbus are celebrating their 125th Supreme Convention at Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee! There thousands of Catholics converging on Nashville over these next three days. Among them are His Eminence Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, who is second in power to the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. The Cardinal, along with one hundred Bishops and Cardinals and at least that many priests, celebrated an opening Mass for the convention this morning, taking place at the famous Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville.

Unfortunately, I'm not in Nashville right now to be able to experience it as the "Rome of the South" right now, but thanks to technology with coverage on EWTN, I've gotten to witness everything, including seeing several of our seminarians serving Cardinal Bertone, and Mother Ann Marie and Sister Marie Dominic from the Nashville Dominicans! I think my parents think I'm crazy for watching this on TV and getting so excited...

I think this points out the beautiful universality of the Catholic Church, as our humble little city of Nashville could be the place where Knights and their families, Cardinals, Bishops, and priests from all over the world, to share what makes us one--our Church, instituted by Christ, kept strong by His Presence in the Eucharist.

During the homily at the Opening Mass, which Cardinal Bertone gave in Italian (hence everyone with translators). Notice the two Dominicans of St. Cecilia, Sister Marie Dominic and Mother Ann Marie!!

Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!


"It is not only priests and religious who have a vocation, but it every Christian is called by Christ to carry out a particular mission in the Church."
~Cardinal Bertone

Face to Face with Divinity

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, where Christ's Divinity was revealed to His apostles on Mount Tabor. They hear the words of God the Father declare, This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased. Divinity collided with humanity that day--or at least, humanity truly realized the Divinity that was dwelling among them.

A Little Facelift

So you might notice a few changes around the place. There's a fancy new heading, featuring the Cross of San Damiano and the logo of the Order of Preachers, meaning "to praise, to bless, to preach." Wow, I love Dominicans! So there's that, along with some other goodies, including my musical influences on the sidebar. Also take note of a new link, my friend Michael Avery's blog, I Want You to Arise with Me. Check it.

So I'm reading Pope Benedict's new book, Jesus of Nazareth, and am just blown away. How blessed we are to have such a brilliant man leading our flock. I'd totally recommend you read it. If you just can't wait and want to be immersed in his incredible knowledge, check out his writings on the Vatican website.

A young Father Joseph Ratzinger as a theology professor
at the University of Regensburg in Germany.

"In carrying out his ministry, the new Pope knows that his task is to make Christ's light shine out before the men and women of today: not his own light, but Christ's."
~Pope Benedict XVI

The Cure of Ars

Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint John Vianney, a parish priest from France. He is known for spending hours in the confessional each day for his parishoners, and took the tiny town of Ars from a parish with poor attendance to a place where 20,000 pilgrims visit each year. He was known for having the gifts of discernment of spirits, prophecy, hidden knowledge, and working miracles. St. John Vianney, ora pro nobis!


"I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the Cross than serving the world and its pleasures."
~St. John Vianney

Where to Begin?

I've finally returned home after over two months of traveling. God has been moving so intensely in my heart throughout each step of the summer, and I'm overwhelmed as to what to write next.

Stay tuned for a post on my most recent travels in the beautiful country of Honduras.


"Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you."
~St. Peter, John 21:17

Summorum Pontificum

The Vatican will soon be releasing the Holy Father's long-awaited "Motu Propio" document, now known to be entitled Summorum Pontificum, concerning the Holy Mass. It is set to be officially released at 12 noon in Rome on 7 July, which is 5 am CST.

Get excited!


"The greatness of the liturgy depends on its unspontaneity."
~Pope Benedict XVI

Stars and the Land Down Under

Post-Dated:
10 JUN 2007. Off the Coast of Australia.

What a whirlwind the past few days has been! One night earlier this week, I spent twilight and evening out on one of the weatherdecks watching the stars. The darkness was overwhelming. But, once my eyes got adjusted, I looked up and saw the beauty of literally thousands of stars. Each seemed to have its own aura around it, as if they were candles burning in the sky. And I saw a shooting star! Over the horizon, I watched the moon rise with its orange glow. It was very windy that night. I just sat back against the bulkhead, tilted my head up, gazing towards the Heavens, feeling the nighttime breeze against my face, just taking it all in. That evening reminded me of these lyrics from Christian musicians David Crowder Band:

“Stars” by David Crowder Band

You should see the stars tonight, how they shimmer and shine so bright
Against the black, they look so white, coming down from such a height
To reach me now, reach me now

You should see the moon in flight, cut across a misty night
Softly dancing in sunshine, reflections of its light
Reach me now, they reach me now

You should hear the angels sing, all gathered round our King
More beautiful than you could dream, I’ve been quietly listening
I can hear them now, I hear them now

How could such a King shine His light on me? And make everything beautiful?
Cause I’ve got nothing of my own to give to You
But this light that shines on me, shines on you
And makes everything beautiful again

We pulled into port in Brisbane, Australia in the middle of the week and spent four days in port. It was an incredible adventure! I spent the first two days surfing the beaches of the Gold Coast, about an hour from Brisbane. Several of us Midshipmen stayed at a hostel in the city and met other travelers and backpackers from all over the world. I have experienced over the port visit such incredible facets of the human experience: meeting and interacting with other travelers and sailors and Marines from our ship, experiencing a new country and a new culture, being adventurous and unafraid to try something new, etc. I absolutely love the Australian people, such a positive, warm and welcoming country. I cannot wait to return here for World Youth Day next year!

I’ll now spend the next ten days or so at sea off the coast participating in an amphibious training operation called Talisman Saber with other allied militaries. I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be returning to the States since we are in the middle of this training environment, but it shouldn’t be longer than two more weeks. Today I’ve felt a little homesick, but I received some holy encouragement and am feeling much better. I think of you all everyday and look forward to seeing you all again. Praised be Jesus Christ for keeping us all united in the Mystical Body of Christ!

“How very easy it is to become holy; all that is needed is a bit of good will. If Jesus sees this little bit of good will in the soul, He hurries to give Himself to the soul, and nothing can stop Him, neither shortcomings nor falls—absolutely nothing. Jesus is anxious to help that soul, and if it is faithful to this grace from God, it can very soon attain the highest holiness possible.”
~St. Maria Faustina

Guam, Mass, and Crossing the Equator

Post-Dated:
31 MAY 2007. One hour after crossing the equator.

What an exciting past couple of days I’ve had. The week started with a very brief port call in Guam on Monday. We spent about five hours at the pier, refueling and getting supplies. I spent that day as a Food Service Assistant, working in the galley, serving “chow” to over 500 sailors and Marines onboard. It was a long day that began at 0445, and I was on my feet all day. It was fun, though, as it game me a good mission and kept me very busy! Guam looked beautiful, a lot like Hawaii. I wish we could have stayed longer!

Tuesday, we did the first flight operations of the cruise. A ship traveling with us is basically a small aircraft carrier, so one of its helicopters was practicing touch-and-go landings on our flight deck. I got to suit up with some of the crewmen and stand about 20 feet away as a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter (what you might know as a “Chinook”) landed and took off. The wind produced by the rotors just about blew me over!

Wednesday morning we had some heavier seas than we’d seen. During “Quarters” when we all gather in the morning to report in for the day, our Division Senior Chief mentioned that they might be flying over a Catholic chaplain from another ship we are traveling with. Needless to say, I was thrilled! That afternoon, we had a “General Quarters” drill, which basically simulated a missile attack or other casualties on the ship. There are so many steps involved in trying to save the ship is there was ever a fire or flooding!

Flight ops were going on in the middle of the madness of the drill, and among all the calls over the 1MC of casualties, there was a call of ringing the ships bells, then “Commander, United States Navy, arriving.” This is a time-honored tradition in the Navy that when a high-ranking officer boards or departs a ship, the ships bell is rung a certain number of times, and his arrival or departure is announced. I knew it had to be the chaplain landing onboard! Sure enough, just as they were securing the drill, they announced that a Catholic Mass was going to be held in one of the crew lounges. I practically ran there! The chaplain was great, but sadly I cannot remember his name. Under his vestments, he wore a flight suit and combat boots! Mass was very simple and beautiful. After everything was over, the chaplain and his assistants packed up and headed out to the flight deck and the helicopter to move to the next ship. What an incredible call, to be a military chaplain! I don’t think I’ve felt more at home this entire trip than I did in the Mass. The chaplain had good advice in his homily, which I would summarize in this quote from St. Maria Faustina, “I must not let myself become absorbed in the whirl of work, but take a break to look up to Heaven.”

Wednesday night brought the beginning of another time-honored navy tradition, the “Crossing the Line” ceremony, as we would cross the Equator the next day. It started Wednesday evening, then continued early Thursday morning. Feel free to Google it to read more about the tradition. So, after surviving the ceremony and crossing the line, I’m not a proud and honorable “Shellback!” We ended up actually crossing the Equator that afternoon. Kind of a cool thing, my first time in the southern hemisphere!

Thursday, I spent the early evening outside on one of the upper decks, watching the sunset over the Pacific, writing, and thinking of all my family and friends back home. Such wonderful blessings has the Lord bestowed upon me to give me an opportunity and passion to serve in the military, as well as friends and family who support me. Just as the men and women aboard this ship train daily for any and every emergency situation that could present itself, I know I must prepare myself each day to be ready for God to call me to do anything. In the words of St. Maria Faustina, “Do with me as You please. I subject myself to Your will. As of today, Your holy will shall be my nourishment, and I will be faithful to Your commands with the help of Your grace.”

Much love to you all! Ave Maris Stella!

"What is it going to be like in heaven, if already here in exile God so fills my soul."
~St. Maria Faustina

My First Thoughts at Sea

Post-dated:
25 MAY 2007. Somewhere in the Pacific.

Asleep in my rack: the only place I have to call my own on the ship. It is my 7ft x 2ft x 1.5ft space where I sleep. Above and below me, other Midshipmen sleep. The next set of racks is only 2 ft away. Fifteen of us share this berthing space, where we sleep, composed only of racks, lockers, and a mirror. My only privacy is a small blue curtain. On the wall by my head, there is a small pin board, where I have holy cards pinned up of Jesus, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Dominic, and Saint Cecilia. In the small book space by my pillow lies my Breviary, my journal, my Bible, St. Maria Faustina’s Divine Mercy in My Soul, St. Josemaria Escriva’s The Way, and of course, my Rosary. I sleep on a thin mattress with a sheet, blanket, and pillow. I’ve got everything I need, and nothing I don’t.

In the middle of the night, it is quiet and cold. Most are asleep, but people are always awake through the night continuing to run the ship and stand watches. I wake up to the sound of the Boatswain’s Pipe whistling over the 1MC (the ship-wide intercom) and the call for reveille at 0600. He pipes several extended times; time to start the day. We all slowly and silently get out of our racks and get into uniform. While underway, we wear a simple uniform of coveralls (kind of like a jumpsuit), a belt, steel-toed boots, and a ballcap. We spend at least an hour a day cleaning our part of the ship. We live in community the whole day; naps or personal time during the day is rare—there is a lot of work to be done. The ship’s bell tolls over the 1MC at noon. The beginning and end of every meal period is announced by the Boatswain’s Pipe over the 1MC, too. The day ends quietly. The ship “goes dark” after sunset, where all white light is turned off and replaced by dim red light in the passageways. Taps occurs at 2200, and the silence begins. This is my day onboard an underway U.S. Navy warship.

All I could think about as I progressed through my first full day at sea was how much life onboard ship is like being at a convent or monastery (minus the religious aspect, of course). My rack is like my cell, containing simple things and only what you need; a place to lay your head. My uniform is like my habit, simple clothes to get our work done. I am awoken, put to sleep, and reminded of important times by the Boatswain’s Pipe or the ships bell, just like the bells that toll at the convent or monastery throughout the day. (Our noon ship’s bell ringing reminds me to pray the Regina Caeli, and now the Angelus!) We live entirely in community throughout the day, both eating and working. With taps comes our nighttime “Grand Silence” as sailors try to get their rest before rising for another day of work; yet many remain on watch to run the ship, just as those who remain on watch in the convent or monastery with our Lord. We even, to an extent, live the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. We embrace a kind of poverty onboard ship: under-elaborate sleeping arrangements, simple meals, plain uniforms, very minimal if any luxuries besides a good book and an iPod, very short “Navy showers” to conserve potable water, being confined to the ship, etc. The chastity aspect is a given. And of course, we live a life of obedience. We follow commands and do our jobs as our superior officers ask of us with no question.

Everyday I’m understanding more and more the path God is laying out for me. What could prepare me better for the convent than to live this life? I will joyously embrace these years of service I have ahead of me in the Navy as incredibly valuable preparation and experience to whatever God asks of me. And if I do end up in the arms of Christ as His bride, all this “training,” this spiritual formation through my naval service, will instill things into me that God wants me to have as a religious.

So for now, I’m following the advice of Saint Francis de Sales, “Bloom where you are planted!”

Embrace your life TODAY for the greater glory of God!!

Ave Maris Stella!

"Bloom where you are planted."
~St. Franics de Sales

Back From Sea

I've returned from over four weeks at sea and am very happy to be home. I made some journal entries during my time away and will post them soon, then continue with my usual postings. Hope your month has been a blessed one!


"See God's will in everything, and do His will with joy, out of love of Him."
~Blessed Caritas

Ave Maris Stella

As I prepare to depart for some time at sea, I wanted to leave you with a beautiful hymn to our Blessed Mother, "Ave Maris Stella" or "Hail, Star of the Sea." Please pray for me, and check for updates if I am able to post from sea!

Ave Maris Stella	Hail, Star of the Sea
Dei Mater alma,	Portal of the sky
Atque semper virgo,	Ever virgin Mother
Felix coeli porta.	Of the Lord Most High.

Sumens illud ave	O! by Gabriel's Ave,
Gabrielis ore,	Uttered long ago,
Funda nos in pace,	Eva's name reversing,
Mutans Evae nomen	Established peace below

Solve vincia reis	Break the captives' fetters,
Profer lumen caecis	Light on blindness pour,
Mala nostra pelle,	All our ills expelling,
Bona cuncta posce.	Every bliss implore

Monstra te esse Matrem	Show thyself a Mother,
Sumat per te preces	Offer Him our sighs,
Qui pro nobis natus	Who for us incarnate
Tulit esse tuus	Did not thee despise

Virgo singularis	Virgin of all virgins
Inter omnes mitis	To thy shelter take us,
Nos culpis solutos	Gentlest of the gentle
Mites fac et castos	Chaste and gentle make us

Vitam presta puram	Still, as on we journey,
Iter para tutum,	Help our weak endeavor,
Ut, videntes Jesum	Till with thee and Jesus
Semper collaetemur	We rejoice forever

Sit laus Deo Patri,	through the highest heaven,
Summo Cristo decus	To the almighty Three
Spiritui sancto:	Father, Son, and Spirit,
Tribus honor unus.	One same glory be.
Amen.	Amen.

Saint Brendan the Navigator, pray for us!


"If I fly with the wings of dawn, and alight beyond the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand hold me fast."
~Psalm 139:9-10

Heaven's Before Me

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me please
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
And with the water of Your side, Lord, wash me clean
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
And O dear Jesus, hear my plea

Cause Heaven's before me
Heaven's before me

Within Thy wounds will You hide me
And suffer me not separation from Thee
From the enemy, O Father, please defend me
And at the hour of my death, God, call me home
And bid me come unto Thee
So with Your saints I may praise Thee
With Your saints I may praise Thee

Cause Heaven's before me
Heaven's before me

Incline my heart to do You will
My heart is Thine


This is a stunning version of the "Anima Christi" prayer, written by the brilliant musician Colleen McCarron. If you'd like to hear it, my friend Jimmy has a streaming link on his blog, Mirth in the Merciful. If you go to Colleen's page, check out another one of her songs called "I Can't Wait." It is a beautiful prayer/song to her future husband.


"If I love you, I will show you; I will show you with the rest of my life!"
~Colleen McCarron, I Can't Wait

Love and Bear Fruit

Remain in my love.

These words of Christ as recorded in today's Gospel from St. John serve as the single most important words of advice to us that trancend generations. This seemingly simple command proves to be the most challenging aspect of living a Christian life -- to love one another, keeping in mind all the things St. Paul teaches us about what love is. Not only do these words guide us as how to treat one another, but also to remain with God. After all, God is love itself; to remain in love is to remain in Him. And so, with this simple phrase, Jesus summarizes the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love one another for love of God.

I have told this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.

Only in following Christ's command to remain in His love will we ever find the happiness we are all searching for. No joy or satisfaction of this world will make our hearts complete; only Him.

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.

And here, I am drawn to think of this phrase from a vocation viewpoint. What greater love is there than to lay down your life for your vocation? To give yourself totally to your spouse and your children in marriage? To give your entire life to God in service of His people in the priesthood or consecrated life? Ultimately, no matter what our vocation, we are called to live up to this kind of love, to lay our lives down so that others might have life; to live our lives in total service to Christ through our vocation so that others might also come to know Truth itself--Jesus Christ.

It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you, and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.

To think--Christ calls US! He calls us, poor and sinful, to be consumed in His Mercy and to live out our lives to tell the world of His Truth. And Jesus tells us not just to live the gospel, but also to bear fruit! What a challenge in the society we live in today. But doesn't it make life worth living?

This I command you: love one another.

Just live it!


"We are born to love, we live to love, and we will die to love still more."
~Saint Joseph Cafasso

Message for the Youth

Last night, the Holy Father met with over 40,000 youth in Brazil in during his Apostolic Visit. He has some incredible words for the youth not only of Brazil, but for youth all over the world. I'd like to include some of my favorite words from his speech:

"In 1991, during his visit to Mato Grosso, the Servant of God Pope John Paul II, of venerable memory, said that 'youth are the first protagonists of the third millennium … they are the ones who will be charged with the destiny of this new phase in human history' (16 October 1991). Today, I feel moved to make the same observation regarding all of you."

"We can never say 'enough', because the love of God is infinite, and the Lord asks us—or better—requires us to open our hearts wider so that there will be room for even more love, goodness, and understanding for our brothers and sisters, and for the problems which concern not only the human community, but also the effective preservation and protection of the natural environment of which we are all a part."

"If we came to see all the good that exists in the world—and moreover, experience the good that comes from God himself—we would never cease to approach him, praise him, and thank him. He continually fills us with joy and good things. His joy is our strength."

"These years of your life are the years which will prepare you for your future. Your 'tomorrow' depends much on how you are living the 'today' of your youth. Stretching out in front of you, my dear young friends, is a life that all of us hope will be long; yet it is only one life, it is unique: do not let it pass it vain; do not squander it. Live it with enthusiasm and with joy, but most of all, with a sense of responsibility."

"But as I gaze at you young people here present—you who radiate so much joy and enthusiasm—I see you as Christ sees you: with a gaze of love and trust, in the certainty that you have found the true way. You are the youth of the Church."


I was able to watch the entire telecast of the youth event on EWTN, and it was so incredible to observe the sheer joy of the Holy Father to be with the young people. He never stopped smiling. I am very excited for World Youth Day 2008!


"My dear young people, Christ is calling you to be saints."
~Pope Benedict XVI

Truth from an Unlikely Source

Found this video via Lifeteen about a postulant of the Sisters of Life in Bronx, NY. She talks about the reasons behind her choice to enter the convent and the video points out the recent surge of young women entering religious life. This video, however, comes from an unlikely source -- MTV. Praise God for some truth in the mass of crud they produce.


"We drive around in our beat-up old jalopys, I mean, it's upside down, it's crazy, nobody would say that they wanted that. But there's a tremendous freedom, in not pursuing things."
~Mother Agnes Mary, S.V., on the vow of poverty

Fr. Baker on TV!

Sorry I have been out of commission lately. We just finished up exams and I head back home tomorrow morning for a few relaxing weeks. I have a lot of posts I'd like to make, so stay tuned!

In the mean time, I found this video of our very own Father John Sims Baker being interviewed by one of the local TV news stations in Nashville concerning priestly celibacy. What a treat!


"It is a sacrifice, it means giving up some fundamental things of what it means to be a human being. On the other hand, you never make a sacrifice except for something you believe is a greater calling and a higher gift.”
~Fr. John Sims Baker, on the vow of celibacy

A Burning Desire

"When God visits you with measureless gifts, let your memory open immediately to receive what your intellect knows in His divine love, and let your will rise with burning desire to receive and gaze at the blazing heart of the giver, the gentle, good Jesus. Thus, you will find yourself burning and clothed with fire, and with the gift of the blood of God’s Son, and you will be free from all pain and unease. This is what took away the pain of the holy disciples when they had to leave Mary and one another, although they willingly bore the separation in order to spread the word of God.

Run, run, run!"

~St. Catherine of Siena

Pray for Virginia Tech

Please pray for the victims, families, and the community of Virginia Tech. I pray that our Blessed Mother will take their campus into her protection and calm their sorrowful hearts.

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


"We are powerless before this vast multitude that comes against us. We are at a loss what to do, hence our eyes are turned toward you."
~2 Chronicles 20:12

In Good Company

President Bush joined several leaders of the Church for the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast this past Friday in Washington, D.C. Here, he is pictured with Mother Assumpta of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. I just had to post this picture, and ask for you to continue to pray for this great country of ours as well as our President.


"I noticed that this year's breakfast was the Friday after Lent -- you can eat your bacon in good conscience!"
~President Bush at the Breakfast

Love Has Come to Show the Way

With one voice the angels sing
Songs that make Creation ring
Prophets hear and call us to
Live in spirit and in truth

Father, Yaweh, Elohim
Voice of thunder, spirit, wind
Breathe on me Your very life
Grace will make the darkness bright

Word of God enthroned
Dwell in us forevermore
Love has come to show the way
Hallelujah, peace be with us
Love has come to show the way

God of covenant Divine
Lead us to the end of time
Beyond sorrow, beyond fear
Beyond pride and earthly tears

Keeper of the sacrifice
And invest in Jesus Christ
Born to die and wake the dead
As we hunger, keep us fed

NOW SALVATION HAS COME!
In the new Jerusalem!
Dancers dance and singers roar,
Proclaiming JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

Christ is risen, He is risen indeed, ALLELUIA!
Happy Easter!


"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people, and Hallelujah is our song!"
~Pope John Paul the Great

Seized by His Love

It is absolutely incredible how much God is moving in my life and in many of my friends' too. We all seem to be captivated by Him, seized by His look of love upon us.


And on this Good Friday, I meditate on a beautiful image of this incredible group of people whom I love so much, huddled at the foot of the Cross, gazing up to our Loving and Merciful Lord, totally consumed at the thought of His immense love for us in the sacrifice we celebrate today. To recognize this love is sometimes a difficult task, in that it truly takes a temporary abandonment of this life and a total engulfment in the heavenly. And if you have taken a look around our world lately, there is not much sacredness around.

Somehow, God has surrounded me with people who have made that journey into the sacred, and we are moving on the path of holiness together. It is overwhelming sometimes to feel the Holy Spirit move among us, and the thought alone of what our futures entail is both incredibly aullring and extremely frightening. Surrounding yourself with people who would gladly give up everything they have to follow our Lord is very dangerous (in a good way, of course), and yet very fruitful.

Those who are seized by His love encompass themselves in His mercy; they gaze upon Christ crucified and praise His ultimate act of love. In the same way, we gaze upon our Savior in the Holy Eucharist and constantly thank Him for this ultimate Sacrament of Love. We long to unite ourselves with Him in the most perfect way possible. We must keep in mind, however, that the only perfect way is His way; the only wholeness of our vocation is what God calls us to. All we can do is prepare ourselves for that moment He calls, so that like the fishermen who cast their nets into the deep and the gave up everything to follow Him, we might move switfly after our Lord. Let us cast our nets into the depths of His heart and fill them with everything He is, for then we will discern where we belong in the world.


"Those who let themselves be seized by this love cannot help but abandon everything to follow Him."
~Vita Consecrata

Focus on LOVE

Two great men that have defined what our generation thirsts for.


I proud to say I am a member of the JPII Generation, the generation of young Catholics thirsting for orthodoxy and truth in our Church and in our world. Our generation was raised on Pope John Paul II's deep commitment to unity, love, and preaching the Holy Apostolic truth. And as we all know, he had a special affection for the youth, and he understood that the future of the Church lies in our hands. Thanks to his efforts, which are now being crystallized and evermore enhanced by our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, this "JPII Generation" is being absolutely set ablaze to evangelize, seek holiness, and make a difference in this world.

When I look back on the way our parents were raised in the Church, it seems like there was such an influence then on rules in their youth. With our parents growing up in the 60s and 70s, a time of radical cultural changes in America, it seems like their Catechesis was centered in "here's a list of all the bad things you should not do."

What makes our generation so different? Look at some of the documents written by Pope John Paul II: Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth), Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason), all of which lead into Pope Benedict's Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) and his most recent writing, Sacramentum Caritatis (The Sacrament of Love). Especially seen in these last two, there an incredible focus on love. There is such a push to let the world know what a loving God our Father is, and that if we can understand that basis of our faith, everything else will fall into place.

When I think about our culture and all the things wrong in the world, it's not that we sin too much -- it's that we don't love enough. This new generation of young Catholics are being taught a faith based on LOVE, on the two greatest commandments: to love God and love one another for love of Him. So watch out -- we are here to change the world.


"Even though you are young, the time for action is now! It is time to let your light shine! Remember, Christ is calling you; the Church needs you; the Pope believes in you, and he expects great things of you!"
~Pope John Paul the Great

Be it Done Unto Me

Today we celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation, the Anniversary of the day of Incarnation, the day that Christ became man and dwelt among us, when the angel announced to our Blessed Mother that she is with child. Her response, her "yes," is known as the fiat. I'm an especially big fan of the fiat, as it is something I try to live by.

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Your word."
~Luke 1:38

Reflect on your life and think about times when God has called you to do something. What was your response? Did you willingly and obediently respond as Mary did? Or did you ignore or disregard it? Don't worry--it is not too late. Spend some time today praying that when God calls you to whatever vocation He has planned for you that you will respond like Mary.

And remeber--God is with us always, as we celebrated today. He lies in Tabernacles across the world, just waiting to be adored and venerated by His beloved--us.


"Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them."
~Revelation 21:3

Courage of the Eucharist

Sorry it has been a while. My blog would not let me sign in, yay technology.

I don't have too many words tonight, other than a simple quote from St. Faustina. It serves as a wonderful reminder of how precious the Holy Eucharist is as a gift of God to His people, and reiterates the Eucharist as our true daily bread, without which we could not live. It sustains us in all ways to continue the work God set out for us.


"Holy Communion assures me that I will win the victory. This Bread of the Strong gives me all the strength I need to carry on my mission and the courage to do whatever the Lord asks of me. The courage and strength that are in me are not of me, but of Him who lives in me -- it is the Eucharist."
~St. Faustina, Paragraph 91, Divine Mercy in My Soul

Gone for the Week...

I probably won't be able to access a computer for the next couple of days, so there might not be any new posts until the end of next week. It is with a contrite heart that I thank you for reading this little spiritual outlet of mine and pray that God shower you with grace!


"Great love can change small things into great ones, and it is only love which lends value to our actions."
~St. Faustina

Nashville Dominicans!

Here's a video of our beloved Dominicans of St. Cecilia here in Nashville. They are a booming order with over 200 sisters. I have the honor of knowing many of them and getting to pray with them, and they are doing wonderful things for the Body of Christ!


"If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire."
~St. Catherine of Siena, OP

I Found My Destiny

I just recently started reading St. Faustina's Diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, and already it is stirring my heart up with thoughts on the Lord I've never imagined.

"O God, the more I know You the less I can comprehend You, but this 'non comprehension' lets me realize how great you are! And it is this impossibility of comprehending which enflames my heart anew for You, O Lord. From the moment when You let me fix the eyes of my soul on You, O Jesus, I have been at peace and desired nothing else, I found my destiny at the moment when my soul lost itself in You, the only object of my love."

~St. Faustina, Paragraph 57, Divine Mercy in My Soul


This entry is so moving to me I don't even know where to begin. I definitely know that there is a truth to this in my faith walk, in that the more I know God, the less I focus on figuring out why I love Him so much, and instead just love Him. Contemplating His complexity always ends in rejoicing in His power, and how out of all He is capable of, He thought it somehow important to create little me. And there, my heart is captured. "The eyes of my soul" fixed themselves upon His heart, and there I want to stay for the rest of my days. And the most incredible line-- I found my destiny at the moment when my soul lost itself in You. Everything in my life made sense when I finally opened my heart to Jesus and truly saw Him for who He is.

And now, the only thing that is constant in my life is His love for me. I sin, I stumble, people hurt, people abandon, only God is eternal, only God is the wholeness of love. The only thing that satisfies me is my King, my Father, my Friend, my Lover, my Savior: my Lord Jesus Christ.


"My lover speaks; he says to me,
'Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one,
and come!"
~Song of Songs 2:10

Fishers of Men

Made by the same people that made "God in the Streets of New York," this is a trailer to a Grassroots film on the Priesthood.

And if I may just take a moment to thank God for all the incredible holy priests He has called to the service of His Church, especially those who have been very influential in my life and my formation. I pray that the Lord continue to call these pious men to His service so that our Church might continue to serve His Truth.


"Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: 'This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.' As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, 'Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
~Mark 1:14-17

Something Interesting...

...to come.

A Taste of Heaven

I know I mentioned Eucharistic Adoration in the post below, but I just wanted to reiterate how absolutely wonderful it is. Seeing my Lord and Savior face to face, spending time just looking at Him and living in His Holy Presence is beyond words.

As humans, the thing that tends to limit us in everything we do is time. Schedules, meetings, classes, meals--everything is set for us based on time. For me, Adoration is always an event where I can truly escape time. Experiencing the beauty of silence, the flickering light of candles on the Altar, the scent of rising incense, and being in the Presence of my Lover seems to be the right formula for me to let go of the world and embrace the life of the sacred--to experience the life of the Heavenly.

Don't get me wrong, the ultimate experience of Heaven on earth is the Holy Mass, where we commune ourselves, through receiving the Holy Eucharist, with all our brothers and sisters in faith both on earth and in Heaven, and of course, the Trinity itself. But, in Adoration, we have that time to just be still and know that He is God, to simply gaze upon the King of Kings and hear Him speak to us, His heart to our own.

If you ever question how much God loves you, go to Mass to re-experience His sacrifice, then spend time with Him in Adoration. Release your worries of the world and open your heart before Him. Jesus will lift your heart up to Heaven and it will dwell there with His Father and all the Saints. And you will find the peace you are searching for.


"O God, you are my God-- for you I long! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts. So I look to you in the sanctuary to see your power and glory. For your love is better than life."
~Psalm 63:2-4

God in the Streets of New York

Adoration is a beautiful way that we worship our Eucharistic Lord as Catholics. The Eucharist is the summit of our faith, and being able to spend time in the Divine Presence moves hearts and changes lives. Seeing our Lord face to face--what more could we ask for?

This video is a trailer for a film which documents a Eucharistic Procession through the streets of New York City, thanks to the incredible Franciscan Friars of the Renewal of the Bronx.

I think it speaks for itself.


"Do not be afraid to go out on the streets and into public places, like the first Apostles who preached Christ and the Good News of salvation in the squares of cities, towns and villages. This is no time to be ashamed of the Gospel."
~Pope John Paul the Great

You've Got Something on Your Forehead...

Ah, Ash Wednesday. The day where everyone asks you "hey, you've got something smuged on your face!" (or they might just stare without asking anything). Also a day when we can easily point out another Catholic in the crowd.



We bear the cross on our foreheads as Lent begins, reminding us that we are but dust. God created us from mere dirt, and we cannot do anything in life without Him. It's a humbling thought, even more humbling when you wear it on your forehead, the ashes, a beautiful symbol and sacramental reminding us of our smallness. The ashes remind me to be little--[oh St. Therese, you are wonderful!] but that's another story.

So yes, we were created of dirt in the ground. We are nothing. You might be asking, well so we're nothing, God doesn't care then, I can go sin or do whatever 'cause I'm dirt. Wrong. God wanted so intently for humankind to exist that He made us, the complex beings we are, out of mere dirt. Sounds like some sort of appearing magic trick, huh? Well, it's God. And this day does remind us that we are small; i.e. we are not God. Letting go of your desires and turning all your actions over to His plan is what it means to be small--trusting Him.

So, we need to be small. This applies to our Lenten traditions, too. Like today's Gospel said, don't go out performing great fasts or long-winded public prayer for the world to see. Rather, do these things hoping that no one else knows but you and God. Kinda tough to do, huh? Sometimes our delicate egos would much rather gather attention, "woe is me, I am so hungry, but I HAVE to fast today, you know the Catholic thing..." or something like that. Be small. Fast and don't let anyone know. Donate to a good cause, but keep your checkbook hidden. Pray your heart out in secret. As the Gospel says, "and your Father who sees in secret will repay you."

Think about what it means to have been so lovingly created by God through the very dust we wear today. Think about all those Lenten sacrifices we make, and pray that one day, your heart will so intensely emulate Christ to the world that it won't take Ash Wednesday for people to notice that you are Catholic.


"If you find that the world hates you, know it has hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own; the reason it hates you is that you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world."
~John 15:18-19

Answered Prayers

A great video I found from the Today Show talking about how many convents are bursting at the seams with new sisters. This video looks at the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, a very holy and wonderful order! Have I mentioned that I love Dominicans??


"Together let us thank God for all those individuals who, in their inmost hearts, dedicate themselves to God by a special consecration."
~Vita Consecrata

A New Lenten Mission

The Mardi Gras season has come and is almost gone and Lent is very quickly approaching. I'm thinking that as a sort of spiritual mission for myself, I'm going to try and post more on this little blog of mine--not that anyone really reads it, but moreso as a means for me to use my time on the internet for more than just Facebook.

So stay tuned, hopefully you'll find it to be somewhat entertaining!


"Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one musn't misuse it."
~Pope John Paul the Great