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