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