Dressed in cassock and surplice, I stood in the work sacristy of Christ the King Cathedral in Atlanta, Georgia on June 26. The air conditioning was either broken or was so tepid that the room was approaching eighty-five degrees. The humidity was high, the Cathedral was full, and the sacristy was packed with seminarians and Masters of Ceremonies. Six men, one after another, knelt in front of the bishop, who placed his hands on them. Then they knelt as some 100 priests from around the...
Light and darkness are major themes in the Scriptures. This semester, I have been taking a course on the Johannine Literature at my University. It is my last biblical course before I receive my degree. Johannine writings include the Gospel of John, the letters of John, and the Book of Revelation. Particularly in the Gospel, but certainly developed elsewhere, the idea of the light entering into the darkness is prevalent. It begins with the famous Prologue to John’s Gospel: “In him...
I admit that I have always had an affinity for Clint Eastwood. My Dad was a huge fan of his movies, so I grew up with Dirty Harry making my day, all things good, bad, and ugly, including zany orangutans, pink Cadillacs, and no shortage of raspy guttural one-liners. I remember seeing “Unforgiven” in the movie theatre. As a kid, I hated the movie—it was the non-Western—some sort of move to show realism, and I didn’t like it one bit. As I got older, I came to appreciate it, and...
About two weeks ago, I had the extraordinary opportunity of seeing the Shroud of Turin. During the summer I spent in Jerusalem, I learned a great deal about the Shroud. At the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem, there is an exposition on the various scientific investigations of the Shroud. Without fail, a tour through that well-designed display deepens the experience pilgrims have of their encounter with God. In learning to give tours of the exhibition, I developed a keen interest and...
About a year ago, I was in the Amalfi region with some friends. The Amalfi Coast is famous all over the world for the fantastic views from its sheer cliffs that rise out of the turquoise Mediterranean. For some reason, we decided we wanted to drive down to the water. So we began descending through largely unmarked labyrinthine streets, twisting and turning as they dropped hundreds of feet. In a small town at the beach, we found a little pizza joint where we sat and enjoyed the spectacle. ...
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Passion of St. Matthew is truly a masterpiece of the oratorio repertoire. I listened to pieces of it all through Holy Week. The Passion is often performed with two separate choruses and orchestras, which finally come together in a triumphant but haunting final meditation. The partial orchestras, sometimes without strings, sometimes without bass, often in minor progressions which are difficult to understand and evocative of a desperate situation, resolve into...
I recently found out that after almost two years, I am changing apostolates at the North American College. Our apostolic work in Rome is carried out in a variety of fields. Some men are chaplains to university programs. Others give tours of St. Peter’s Basilica. Yet others give tours of the excavations under the basilica. There are those who visit hospital or prisons. Some work with military bases. There are others who do street evangelization. My apostolate has been giving tours of St....
On Ash Wednesday, earlier than usual, more solemn than usual, with anticipation, excitement, and perhaps some dread, the seminarians of the North American College in Rome awoke to prepare for their annual Lenten pilgrimage. Groggy but determined, the men prepared themselves, perhaps choosing a pair of shoes a bit more accustomed to the cobble of the ancient streets, selecting a jacket that could protect from the inevitable rain, palming their familiar rosary. They assembled just before 6...
It is not often that I read a book and find myself engrossed in a process that I suspect will alter my world view. I enjoy reading, but most books are not enduringly memorable. Right now, I am reading one that I think will change the way I think. In fact, since Christmas, I have read two books that have fundamentally challenged the way that I look at the world, my own personal holiness, and the very possibilities for holiness in our world. My guess is that most of you have not heard of...
