.::Firmum Est::. - - My Heart is Steadfast

Each year these statements are collected from those to be ordained around the country. You can find the whole list on the USCCB website.

I have placed some I like and/or guys I know here:

as a small child I played Mass everyday with all the neighborhood kids yet often times I was the only Catholic who was present.

love Chicken Fried Steak and gravy.

Played in a rock band in high school and college and like reading mystery stories.

That I have been a permanent deacon for almost 20 years.  I taught on the college level for 24 years and taught at the diocesan seminary for almost ten years.

was always interested in the priesthood, but took a circuitous route by becoming a Low Vision Specialist in Optometry first.

I have an identical twin who is an Anglican minister.

play the accordion or that I once wanted to be a professional chef.

practiced medicine for 2 years, and went to graduate school for 1 year before entering seminary.

was a fishing and canoe guide in Northern Minnesota.

have whitewater rafted down the Arkansas River.

was a lawyer.  I wanted to be a lawyer since I was eleven years old.  I never considerd the priesthood until my parish priest asked me to consider it after recognizing a potential priestly vocation.

Have second degree black belt in Taekwondo.

was a coal miner during the summers between college semesters.

was a successful investment banker before I entered the seminary.

worked in broadcasting for 32 years, 7 in radio and 25 in television.

Played college football and was a quarterback.

love to perform magic and juggling and have been doing magic and juggling since I was 7 years old.

don’t know how to swim.

was an actor in Hollywood for a year right out of High School.

Served in the 3rd Infantry Division, Alpha Company 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry. I also worked for Charles Scwhab & Co. as an investment advisor prior to entering the seminary.

Grew up on a tobacco farm in Southern Maryland. I joined the seminary after high school.  As a seminarian I have done mission experiences in Thailand and El Salvador

Was named a College Lacrosse All American my senior year.

Have traveled to 29 countires

Have completed 3 Half Ironman triathlons

really wanted to be in a Rock Band in High School and College.

Lived and worked abroad for eight years in the UK, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria prior to entering religious life

I was an  underground  diocesan seminarian for 7 years in Vietnam before I came to the U.S.

The Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also known as Pontificia Università San Tommaso d’Aquino or the Angelicum, is one of the major pontifical universities of Rome. It is my alma mater.

Check out a introduction video [here].

Just before Easter, CNA published a story on Diocesan Priests living in Community. I though this would be interested to share and point out. The charism of the  Companions of Christ, originally established in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, has been established by seminarians in Denver to formFrom the mission statement:

The Companions of Christ is a fraternity of diocesan priests and seminarians of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.  While serving as priests of the Archdiocese the Companions of Christ live in community, where they are able to pray together, share meals, and support each other. In their life and ministry as priests, the Companions of Christ offer three emphases:
Diocesan priestly consescration expressed through the observance of the evangelical counsels
Commitment to fraternal life
Dedication to the “new evangelization” including ministries of catechesis, spiritual renewal and the fostering of vocations.

From CNA:

In response to a call from Vatican II for priests to share a common life, four seminarians for the Archdiocese of Denver have decided to begin a priestly community that will eventually be opened up to any priest or seminarian in the archdiocese.
Currently, the Companions of Christ is an association of seminarians established in the Archdiocese of Denver.  Once the four founding men are ordained, they will live together as priests in a rectory close to their pastoral assignments in the Archdiocese of Denver.
The priests will strive to live with three emphases: “Observance of the evangelical counsels in the context of the diocesan priesthood, commitment to a common life of prayer and fraternity, and dedication to the New Evangelization, including catechesis, spiritual renewal, and the fostering of vocations,” according to their website.
The Companions of Christ have already received the blessing of the Archbishop of Denver, Charles Chaput who established the fraternity “canonically” on December 12, 2007, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“Our priests today face immense challenges: larger parishes, fewer priests to assist them, and a more secular culture that is at times hostile to both the Gospel and the priesthood,” said the archbishop.  “Grouped in rectories in various parts of the Archdiocese, they strive together for the ideal of the priesthood, giving mutual support and holding each other to a strict accountability.”
Noting the difficulties priests face, Father Michael Glenn, Rector of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary added, “All priests want to live a committed and zealous life, but the demands of ministry, human weakness and the difficulty of their work can often discourage them, revealing a life far different than what he expected while in the seminary.”
The Companions of Christ will directly address the problems priests are currently facing and will offer encouragement.  “Fraternal life offers unity in prayer and identity, as well as strength and support for Christ’s mission.  God has truly blessed us with a model of life that will help Companion Priests and many others to be holy, joyful, and healthy shepherds in their service and leadership of God’s people.  Nothing promotes vocations, invites to prayer, or enlivens a parish more than dynamic, fulfilled priests who love the life they live.  Strengthened as brothers in Christ, priests are ready to step forward in leadership for the New Evangelization.”
Companions of Christ is comprised of four Denver seminarians: John Nepil, Matt Book, Brian Larkin, and Mike Rapp who will be ordained in the next two or three years.
Plans for the group began after one seminarian learned about a similar community in St. Paul, Minnesota.  The seminarians there “insisted that it wasn’t a new idea, just something that had been lost, that the Church was seeking to recover.”
After years of prayer, three other seminarians were drawn to the idea of the fraternity.  “The four men spent the next year together quietly praying and sharing meals, all the while fully immersed in the life of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary.”
Since the announcement of the community, the Companions of Christ have been received with support and encouragement.

At the Easter Vigil, the mother of all liturgies, the Paschal Candle is processed into a dark church. The chant that accompanies this action, Lumen Christi (Christ, our Light - in the english translation) proclaims Christ, the Light of the World, breaking through the darkness and showing us the way out of Egypt, the way out of sin and the way to the Father.

Following this procession, the priest or deacon, sings the Exultet - an invitation for all creation to rejoice or exult because Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. I was honored to be able to pray and sing this for the College at our celebration of the Easter Vigil.

These are the words only proclaimed once a year but central to our faith in the Risen Lord Jesus from the dead:

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!

My dearest friends,
standing with me in this holy light,
join me in asking God for mercy,

that he may give his unworthy minister
grace to sing his Easter praises.

Deacon: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Deacon: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Deacon: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is truly right
that with full hearts and minds and voices
we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father,
and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

For Christ has ransomed us with his blood,
and paid for us the price of Adam’s sin to our eternal Father!

This is our passover feast,
when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.

This is the night
when first you saved our fathers:
you freed the people of Israel from their slavery
and led them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night
when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin!

This is the night
when Christians everywhere,
washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement,
are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night
when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave.

What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.

O happy fault,
O necessary sin of Adam,
which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

Most blessed of all nights,
chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!

Of this night scripture says:
“The night will be as clear as day:
it will become my light, my joy.”

The power of this holy night dispels all evil,
washes guilt away, restores lost innocence,
brings mourners joy;
it casts out hatred, brings us peace,
and humbles earthly pride.

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth
and man is reconciled with God!

Therefore, heavenly Father,
in the joy of this night,
receive our evening sacrifice of praise,
your Church’s solemn offering.

Accept this Easter candle,
a flame divided but undimmed,
a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.

(For it is fed by the melting wax,
which the mother bee brought forth
to make this precious candle.)

Let it mingle with the lights of heaven
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets
find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star,
who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,
your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.

N.B. I may make a rough recording and post it here in the next few weeks. Remember Lent is forty days, but the Easter season is celebrated for fifty.

Today was the Seven Church Walk! Check out pictures from two years ago [here]

Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595) used to lead excursions to the four Major and three Minor basilicas of Rome, often with music and a picnic along the way as a cheerful means of instructing his penitents. In 1559, his famous “Pilgrimage to the Seven Churches” brought censure from Pope Paul IV (1555-1559) and a temporary suspension of all St. Philip’s works. In the same year, however, Pope Pius IV (1559-1565) restored him to favor. Today, friends of San Felipo gather to make the Seven-Church Walk in honor of the “Apostle of Rome” (customarily on Wednesday of Holy Week, “Spy Wednesday”.)

I’ve added pictures from my trip to Florence. I’ve also added some specific group pictures from Diaconate Weekend.

I hope to add captions to both in the next day or two.

Today is a very special day for the North American College. For today, February 7th, is the Feast Day of Francis Joseph Parater, Servant of God and Seminarian (1897-1920).

Frank Parater
From Roman Echoes, 1939
By Josiah G. Chatham

“So you’re from Richmond, eh?” asked a bespectacled young man in cassock and red cincture. “Sure, and Parater’s my name” came the reply from the other, young and bespectacled too, but with a heavy summer tan on his cheek that his new acquaintance could not match. The door of the College had just closed upon the Via dell-Umilta and the carrozza driver had coaxed his steed down the alley and back to the station where he had picked up young Parater, fresh from America. Suddenly there were flying feet on the stairs as Frank Byrne rushed to the scene to be the first to meet his new and only diocesan. Without ceremony, Frank was ushered up the stairs to the famous green door to be officially welcomed to Rome by Monsignor O’Hern, the Rector. The Rector received the lad very kindly, welcomed him to the Eternal City, only to conclude the interview with the announcement that Frank had arrived just in time to attend the afternoon lectures at the Propaganda. So that no sooner had the young Virginian been introduced to his new home than he found himself in the street again, one of the many, trooping in some kind of an indefinite group formation through the back alleys on one of the many short cuts that make Roman student life memorable. It might be mentioned that the year was 1919, the month November. The war had only been over a short time and the American College experienced the effects as had many institutions more venerable. The few years preceding had seen each graduating class return to the “Beautiful Shore” without sending recruits to fill the ranks. Hence, the enrollment on Via dell’Umilta had fallen off to a few more than a score. But 1919 was to be a banner year; fresh blood came thick and fast. Already the new men in the house were about as numerous as the war veterans and one could almost see and feel that there was going to be a question - the question of just how to teach so many new men the “old consuetudes.” This was the problem of that day of a closed Mezzanine, an empty Stables, an epidemic-filled infirmary on the Vice Rector’s corridor. But it was to be a pleasant question and everybody felt that on Frank Parater’s first afternoon in Rome as they picked their way under dripping laundry and between fish carts.
Three months later another procession emerged from the portals of Via dell’Umilta 30. Young Parater had died; and his companions, who had been so gay only a few days ago, walked silently behind the horse-drawn hearse and out the long way to lay the young body close to the tomb of Saint Lawrence.
Today a bronze plaque in the Benedictine High School at Richmond, Virginia reads:Frank Joseph Parater, born October 10, 1897. Died February 7, 1920. …Died in Rome while pursuing his studies for the Holy Priesthood, leaving behind him a tradition of Courage, Purity and Integrity of life.
Frank Parater was born in Richmond, October 10, 1897, of pious Catholic parents. He received his early education under the Xaverian Brothers and later under the Benedictine Fathers at Benedictine High School in Richmond. Frank was not an athletic lad, but in spite of this he became interested, at an early age, in Scouting. He was quick to see the possibilities of a movement which in recent years has received such generous support from the American Hierarchy, and with his goal in mind he set to work. The young Scout studied and worked and lived in the woods and did his good turn daily and he was so successful that later his companions were to marvel at his strength and he was to become a leader in the Scout Movement in Richmond and director of the Scout camp though still only a boy. And then Frank decided to be a priest. There were those who tried to turn him from his purpose; many of his associates couldn’t understand how a youngster, so full of life and cheerfulness and so in love with the woods could ever settle down to the life of a “minister.” But Frank saw his way clear and his only answer was: “It’s what I ought to do, and I am going to do it.” So Frank went to Belmont Abbey. He did not forget his Scouts however, and every summer found him with the boys around the campfire. His last summer in America found him director of the camp in Chesterfield County, Virginia, and there as ever he threw his heart into the work that was so dear to him. Later he was to confess that he had to bite his lip that last night around the campfire; for he had received word that he was to go to Rome
Frank liked Rome and the College at once. In glowing terms he described his first day on Via dell’Umilta, his meeting with the Rector, the afternoon class and the reception he received that afternoon when the boys returned from Propaganda. He wrote that seventy odd fellows were all laughing “and trying to shake hands with me at the same time and shouting our battle cry: ‘Prosit;’ for it was a grand and glorious feeling. But when the whole crowd began to sing a song… and wish me ‘ad multos annos’ I felt… just like I did the day camp closed… They are some men here, regular scouts.” And then he goes on to say that he is “decorating his room” and wants some photographs.
Frank’s cheerful demeanor and smiling countenance made him immediately the friend of everyone at the College. For an out-of-doors man, the books are not the most agreeable occupation in the world, and Frank had his troubles and his dislikes, but from his outward demeanor none would ever have suspected it. He was a good conversationalist, and usually the center of a group in the cortile where he spoke with enthusiasm of his life and work with the boys at home.
The former camp director took things Roman in regular stride: classes, walks, and study. Those were memorable days in the Via dell’Umilta when the new men outnumbered the old; when there were only three men (from the Emerald Isle all three) in Third Theology; when the First Prefect was a Second Theologian, and second Theology no doubt felt something like a religious obligation to see that the dignity of the veterans and veneration for ancient tradition were observed by the new bloods who hadn’t had to take the knocks. New men probably had to watch their step pretty closely, unless they were the kind who knew how not to watch it. But Frank had no trouble. “In the new men’s mix on Christmas night,” writes a member of his camerata, “he received the Bean in his cake and was consequently King of the feast in the Rector’s sala. We all thought at the time that it was a great joke for Parater to be the King and that he would make a buffoon out of himself. To the surprise of all he was superb. He showed that night, to me at least, that he had the qualities of great leadership… We remained to admire.” But there was never anything showy about Frank. He was never any more ostentatious in his devotions that the other students. He did pray devoutly whenever the boys visited a shrine, but not to the point of being singular about it. He just followed the regular life and resolved “to hit that old Latin and Italian a terrific punch so I can return to old Virginia in five years - no, in just four-and-a-half years.” That was his purpose in life, to return to his diocese and work for the conversion of those who are not of the faith. For the time, like most generous young seminarians, he hesitated as to whether he should give himself to God as a member of one of the Church’s religious orders, but finally decided that the needs of the Church in the South had the first claim on him. Later he was to write: “I have offered my all for the conversions to God of non-Catholics in Virginia. This is what I live for and, in the case of death, what I die for.” Frank confided to his fellow diocesan just how he hoped to tackle his job when he returned to the States: - “His chief ambition was to help boys, to work among them, to write stories for them which would inculcate into their souls high, noble, Christian ideals… He spoke, too, of the many friends outside the fold and of how he would like to help the Good Shepherd bring them back to the unity of the one flock.” But all the while that Frank was working, and finding difficulty in his studies, and trying to prepare himself for the life of an apostle, there was a thought that lurked in the back of his head. It seems that he just could not resign himself to the thought of putting aside the things of a child. “Occasionally he would speak with reverent enthusiasm of the memories of early Christian Rome, and inevitably he would remark how glorious it would be to die and be buried in its sacred soil, hallowed by the blood of the martyrs.” With Francis Thompson, Frank wanted to be looked for not among the patriarchs, but in the nurseries of heaven. This was the thought that was in his mind when he sat down on December 5th, 1919, and wrote his last will… just three days before he assisted, with the whole College, at the Mass of the Holy Father and received Holy Communion from his hand on the feast of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception.
A few weeks later Virginia’s new man took sick. “Returning from class one morning he complained of a persistent pain in his right shoulder. We persuaded him to go to bed and called the doctor. Remedies were applied, but the pain spread, and Frank grew steadily worse,” thus his friend, Father Byrne, describes the beginning of the end. In a few days the lad’s condition had grown worse and he was removed to the hospital, suffering severe pain from something like inflammatory rheumatism. The pain was so intense and finally it became so bad that his body was torn with the torture; the boy lost consciousness and his companions had to take turns holding him when his suffering was most acute.
For several days he remained in this condition at the English Hospital. A nun who was there at the time tells how he used to preach one sermon after the other when he was in a state of delirium. Finally, it was evident that the end was drawing near. Frank was to realize his one ambition of seeing God as a boy face to face. Father Mahoney, the Spiritual Director and now Bishop of Sioux Falls, was called from his room in the Vice Rector’s corridor where he attended the lads who had fallen prey to the “flu” to administer the last rites of Holy Mother the Church. Frank insisted that he get up and out of bed to receive Our Blessed Lord and it was only persistence that finally prevailed upon him to be content to kneel in bed. And so he did. Father asked him if he realized how serious his condition was, and he smilingly told him that he did, but that he was not afraid. And so, unafraid, he died.
“The news of his death brought sorrow and gloom to the hearts of his schoolmates at the American College. Even the students of the other colleges which attended Propaganda… were visibly affected; for they had grown to like this young American, who had always a smile and a cheerful word for everybody.” So Frank’s friend describes the effect of his death upon his College companions.
The body was laid in state in the Chapel and a guard was kept. Monsignor O’Hern sang the Mass of Requiem and a saddened silent group walked out in true Roman style behind the bier to see their friend laid where he had longed to be, next to Stephen and Lawrence, among the saints. But still the gloom remained in Via dell-Umilta, the spirit was gone out of the place. And then Frank Byrne found the “will.” It was taken to the Rector who called the boys to the chapel almost immediately to read to them the simple, remarkable words “that were not to be read except in the event of Frank’s death in Rome.”
I have nothing to leave or give but my life, and this I have consecrated to the Sacred Heart to be used as He wills. I have offered my all for conversions to God of non-Catholics in Virginia. This is what I live for and, in the case of death, what I die for.
Death is not unpleasant to me, but the most beautiful and welcome event of life. Death is the messenger of God come to tell us that our novitiate is ended and to welcome us to the real life.
Melancholic or morbid sentimentality is not the cause of my writing this, for I love my life here, the College, the men and Rome itself. But I have desired to die and be buried with the saints. I dare not ask God to take me lest I should be ungrateful or be trying to shirk the higher responsibilities of life; but I shall never have less to answer for - perhaps never be better ready to meet my Maker, my God, my All.
“Since I was a child I have desired to die for the love of God and for my fellow-man. Whether or not I shall receive that favor I know not but if I live, it is for the same purpose; every action of my life here is offered to God for the spread and success of the Catholic Church in Virginia. I have always desired to be only a little child, that I may enter the kingdom of God. In the general resurrection I wish to always be a boy and to be permitted to accompany Saints John Berchmans, Aloysius and Stanislaus as their servant and friend. Do we serve God and man less worthily by our prayers in heaven than by our actions on earth? Surely it is not selfish to desire to be with Him Who has loved us so well.
“I shall not leave my dear ones. I will always be near them and be able to help them more than I can here below. I shall be of more service to my diocese in heaven than I could ever be on earth.
“If it is God’s holy will, I will join Him on Good Friday, 1920, and never leave Him more - but not my will, Father, but Thine be done!
Rome, December 5th, 1919.”[Signed] Frank Parater

So the Rector read Frank’s last will to his fellow students. “Then for the first time since his death the atmosphere cleared,” writes one of Frank’s camerata mates; “a load seemed lifted from our hearts. We actually rejoiced because we felt a saint had been in our midst but we didn’t know it…”

“Remember, the Sacred Heart never fails those who love Him.”

If you would like to report any favors granted by Frank’s intercession, please contact the Diocese of Richmond.

One of the blessings of being a deacon is the assistance at Mass - service at the Altar. Being in Rome, there are a number of liturgies around in the Christmas and Advent season were I have been able to serve as a Deacon at the Altar of a Mass offered. These have been small masses but what has made them special has been they have been celebrated by a Cardinal.

James Cardinal Stafford - Main Celebrant of Fiftieth Anniversary of Priesthood
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception - North American College
After welcoming Pope John Paul II to Denver for World Youth Day ‘93, Bishop Stafford was invited to come to Rome to be the Pontifical Council for the Laity. His service to the church has taken him now to the Apostolic Penitentiary. The Penitentiary has been dealing with the forgiveness of major sins since the 12th century. It was an honor to serve as a Deacon for him and the other priests celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. Think of all the Masses they have offered, babies they have baptized and sins they have forgiven! Wow!

John Cardinal Foley - Christmas Vigil
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception - North American College
A baby-Cardinal just elevated in November, Cardinal Foley is very dear to my heart and the heart of the College. My great-uncle worked with him during his time as the edition of the Catholic Standard Times in Philly. He gave me the ministry of Lector and ordained me to the Diaconate in October. He is now the Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. That is a long way of saying that he oversees the needs of the Shrines in the Holy Land
Albert Cardinal Vanhoye S.J., Albert - Final Vows of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers
Parish of San Stefano, Proto-martyr - Roma (Tor Fiscale)
Recently made a Cardinal, without being ordained a bishop, Cardinal Vanhoye has the dean of the Biblical Faculty of the Pontifical Biblical Institute from 1969-1990. He received the final vows of Brothers Ralf and Jacob MC just after Christmas. The celebration was at the local parish near the house of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers. As a Cardinal, he could accept their final vows but because he is not a bishop, he was unable to ordain them to the diaconate.

Angelo Cardinal Comastri - Ordination of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers.
St Peter Basilica, Altar of the Chair
Another recent Cardinal, Cardinal Comastri has been in charge of the day to day operations of St Peter’s Basilica for the past three years. He ordained Brothers Ralf and Jacob MC to the Diaconate. I was the Deacon of the Word and chanted the Gospel.

Theodore Cardinal McCarrick - Ordinary Time
Private Chapel - North American College

Most recently, Cardinal McCarrick visited us at the College. He sent me to study in Rome and it is always a blessing to have him here with us. He travels a great deal as he is still working hard in service for God and Church.

Tomorrow on December 17th, the Church’s Advent liturgy begins to focus in a particular way on the Nativity of the Lord.  The prayers, readings, and preface at Mass as well as the readings, antiphons for the Gospel canticles, intercessions, and prayers at the Liturgy of the Hours concentrate more resolutely than during the preceding days of Advent on the coming feast of the Nativity of the Lord.

The great “O Antiphons” have a particular role in these days as they have been used for centuries as the antiphons for the Magnificat.  Each antiphon, always sung in a very similar melody, begins with a title of Christ, usually taken from the Old Testament, and followed by the petition that he come to us (veni) and act on our behalf:

December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
December 19: O Radix Iesse (O Root of Jesse)
December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
December 21: O Oriens (O Daystar) [after this date, the days begin to get longer]
December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
December 23: O Emmanuel (O God-with-Us)

When taken together from the last title to the first, the first letters of each title form the wonderful Latin acrostic:
Emmanuel
Rex
Oriens

Clavis
Radix
Adonai
Sapientia

They form the Lord’s response to the Church’s ardent petition that he come (veni):

Ero cras (I will be there tomorrow)!

Best wishes for God’s choicest blessings during the remaining days of Advent.