The Birds Will Still Sing

Merry Christmas from Rome

2011-12-25T00:48:00.001+01:00

Buon Natale

Nativity Scene in St Peter Chanel Chapel, Rome

To all my family and friends. What better time than Christmas to re-boot my blog! Wishing you all a Christmas filled with peace and joy. Peace is what the vulnerable Christ-child brings into the world, as the Holy Father just said in his Christmas homily:

God has appeared – as a child. It is in this guise that he pits himself against all violence and brings a message that is peace. At this hour, when the world is continually threatened by violence in so many places and in so many different ways, when over and over again there are oppressors’ rods and bloodstained cloaks, we cry out to the Lord: O mighty God, you have appeared as a child and you have revealed yourself to us as the One who loves us, the One through whom love will triumph. And you have shown us that we must be peacemakers with you. We love your childish estate, your powerlessness,but we suffer from the continuing presence of violence in the world, and so we also ask you: manifest your power, O God. In this time of ours, in this world of ours, cause the oppressors’ rods, the cloaks rolled in blood and the footgear of battle to be burned, so that your peace may triumph in this world of ours.

Staff of Domus Australia in reception

I'll be saying Christmas Mass in the chapel of St Peter Chanel at Domus Australia. I'll then go to St Peter's Square for the Urbi et Orbi blessing by Pope Benedict XVI, before returning to Domus Australia for Christmas lunch with some of the Australian seminarians and students.

May all who celebrate Christmas this year recall these words from Bing Crosby's version of the Carol O Holy Night:

The King of kings; he’s born, the world rejoices

In all our trials, born to be our friend.

He is the one friend who will never fail us. May he be born again in our hearts on Christmas morning and remain there forever.

Buone Feste!

All you have to do is visit a Protestant church and you can live...

2011-07-07T16:42:00.000+02:00

Allowing for the thankfully-changed position of Catholics in the contemporary free world, we can certainly still ask ourselves whether we would be so clear-sighted in similar circumstances...

Blessed Roger Dickenson, Blessed Ralph Milner And Blessed Lawrence Humphrey These three martyrs lived in England during the time of Church persecution by Queen Elizabeth I. "Mr." Roger Dickenson was an undercover diocesan priest. Ralph Milner was a husband and father. He worked as a farm laborer and was brought into the Church through the good example of his neighbors. The day he made his First Communion he was put into prison for being a Catholic. The jailer liked Mr. Milner so his prison confinement was not strict at first. For several years, he went on "parole" to find supplies of food and whatever the other prisoners needed. While on parole, he was of great help to "Mr." Dickenson and Father Stanney, a Jesuit. The day came when Father Dickenson, too, was caught. He and Mr. Milner were brought to trial together. Father Dickenson was tried for the crime of being a Catholic priest. Mr. Milner was tried for helping Father Dickenson perform his ministry. The judge looked at the crowd in the courtroom. He thought of Mrs. Milner and the couple's eight children. He wanted to free Milner at all costs. "All you have to do," he said, "is visit a Protestant church, just for a few minutes, to say you have been there. I'll let you go free to be with your family." Mr. Milner quietly and firmly refused. He and Father Dickenson went bravely to their deaths. It was July 7, 1591.

The third martyr, Lawrence Humphrey, had been brought into the Church by Father Stanney, S.J. He would not give up the faith he had so recently acquired. Lawrence was just twenty-one years old when he was martyred.

Am I deeply rooted in my faith and relationship with God?

Hi

2011-07-07T16:37:00.001+02:00

A few people have asked me if I'm alive... The answer is yes. I have been busy with exams, study and Domus Australia work, but the real reason for the blog-silence is the lack of internet availability. This is being rectified and I hope to be able to communicate more easily in the next day or so. But you can see some of the progress at Domus Australia at our website: www.domusaustralia.org

I have moved in but am still trying to pack my rooms at Casa Santa Maria so I can transfer everything to Via Cernaia, 14.

Easter 2011

2011-04-24T22:41:00.000+02:00

The Lord has Risen from the dead. Alleluia.

Happy Easter.

The Risen Christ on he Facade of St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Seven Churches of Rome Walk

2011-04-20T22:38:00.002+02:00

Today, Wednesday 20th April 2011 I did the Seven Churches Walk in Rome. I'll get some photos up soon, but there is some accurate information here. It was a beautiful Roman Spring day and we managed to escape from the tourists for a bit.

Sr. Josephine Plazzer's Reception

2011-03-27T23:26:00.003+02:00

Buona Festa, Sr. Jo

The Mass of Religious Profession for Sr. Josephine Plazzer took one and a half hours after which guests were invited over to the Chapter House of the Dominicans for refreshments. It was a joyous occasion and the Aussies that were there felt a great pride knowing that one of our own has responded to the vocation of consecrated life, even if she did have to come to Rome to realise it.

Sr. Jo Plazzer and Fr. Anthony Denton

Preparing la torta

Newly professed Sr. Josephine Plazzer

Sr. Jo Getting ready for the speeches

La Torta Deliziosa!

Sr. Jo with her parents John and Maree and family

Apostoli e Apostole della Vita Interiore (with founder Fr Salvatore Scorza left of Sr. Jo)

Sr. Jo with Fr Denton, Seminarians Dan McCaughan (Sydney), Luia (Samoa) and Michael Gallacher (Melbourne)

Sr. Jo, congratulations on this joyous day for you and the Apostles and thanks for your example and love for Christ and his Church. You will bring many young people to a deeper love of God. Auguroni!

Sr. Josephine Plazzer's Religious Profession

2011-03-27T22:29:00.036+02:00

On the feast of the Annunciation (25th April 2011) a young Australian friend, Jo. Plazzer made her religious profession with the Community of the Apostles of the Interior Life.

Tomb of St Catherine of Siena, Roma

This significant moment in her life took place in the beautiful Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome. In this church are buried among other important people, St Catherine of Siena (minus her head, which is in Siena!) and Blessed Frangelico (Hazelnut liquor comes to mind!). (Sorry about the photo quality. It was very dark inside.)

The Bishop giving the homily (before his mobile phone went off [seriously])

Jo being presented

Jo placing a candle on the altar

Surrounded by her family, friends and religious brothers and sisters of the Apostles of the Interior Life (Apostoli e Apostole della vita interiore), Jo knelt to promise the evangelical counsels of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, becoming a bride of Christ and Apostle of the Interior Life. Sr. Jo's "Yes" to God was made on the feast in which we celebrate Mary's fiat (yes) to God, when the Archangel Gabriel appeared and asked her to cooperate in God's plan for the salvation of mankind.

Jo during the Litany of Saints

Jo reciting the religious profession of vows

Newly-professed Sister Jo signing her Religious Profession document

Bishop Elliott on the Glory of the Liturgy

2011-03-22T21:27:00.003+01:00

Christmas Eve in St Peter's Basilica 2010

Last week Pope Benedict's second volume of his work on the "figure and message" of Jesus was released. Jesus of Nazareth Part II treats of the period that we celebrate liturgically as Holy Week. One commentator here in Rome argues that it further concretises the Holy Father's conviction that the Mass should be celebrated ad orientum.

In a similar vein, one of Melbourne's auxiliary bishops, Peter Elliott gave an excellent and scholarly address at a recent liturgical conference in the United States. It is rather long, but well worth the effort to read especially in order to understand the Pope's subtle changes in the way papal liturgies have been conducted for the past few years.
The Glory of the Liturgy, Bishop Peter J. Elliott

Homily Feedback

2011-03-10T22:39:00.003+01:00

A young friend of mine sent me this "feedback" from last Tuesday's homily on Mark 12: 13-17, "Render unto Caesar..."

Hey, Padre, Here’s what came out from Jill after your homily last Tuesday after the gospel “give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar”. A fair crack at our Aussie accent!

Still alive

2011-03-06T23:00:00.002+01:00

Hi folks. I'm still alive, but with a new semester and a new university I've been pretty busy. I changed universities in February and am now at Santa Croce University. I have a doctoral director and have to do a few more classes.

In the past two months I have had some time at home to see the family and recover from a lingering cold and then a pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Jordan and Israel).

I'll try to be a bit more consistent with updating the blog, but obviously my other responsibilities take first priority.

Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Australia on a warm January Day with my brother Dominic (Mount Buninyong on the horizon is near where my parents live).

Ready for every good work: after Mass at the baptismal site on the River Jordan

And if you are interested, Domus Australia is progressing nicely

Australian Sense of Humour?

2011-02-07T22:41:00.001+01:00

Some people find it hard to understand the Australian sense of humour. A great example is this sign I photographed recently stuck on a hand-dryer a the rest rooms at the Visitors Center in Narrandera, country NSW.

One can only assume that it hails from the (thankfully) short period of time when KRUDD was our PM

Belated Happy New Year Greetings!

2011-02-06T21:48:00.000+01:00

A busy beginning to the year with a trip to Australia. Skype has made this medium to be a little redundant, but I'll try and drop a line here a bit more frequently. Let's start the year (in February) with a shot of Christmas in Australia. Reindeer and Santa Sled in the main street of Ballarat, Victoria (29 December 2010)

Christmas in Rome 2010

2010-12-25T22:57:00.000+01:00

Buone Feste!

Wishing all my friends and family a happy and holy Christmas and a new year full of blessings and prosperity. I had a wonderful Christmas Day with friends in Santa Marinella, an hour out of Rome.

Christmas Tree in Piazza Venezia, Rome

Christmas Crib in St Peter's Square, Vatican City

Christmas Crib in St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Piazza Navona, Rome

Fr Anthony Denton, Piazza Pio XII, Rome

Via Del Corso, Rome

Pope Benedict XVI giving the Urbi et Orbi blessing at midday from the Loggia of St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

Christmas Lunch at the Andersons'

Andy Moore, Bron Rawlins & Fr Anthony Denton

Santa's Raindeer in Piazza Venezia, Rome

Some others arriving at the stable, Piazza Venezia, Rome

Christmas Tree and Crib, Piazza Venezia, Rome

A Camel...

Tanti auguri di Buone Feste. Oggi è nato il nostro Salvatore.

Vatican: Pope’s words on condoms do not mark change in church teaching

2010-12-21T23:59:00.003+01:00

CDF Issues Clarification

Many faithful Catholics will be relieved to hear that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has issued a clarification of the Holy Father's words about condom use in his recent book, Light of the World. The "Note" was issued through Catholic News Service on the 21st December (perhaps an early Christmas present for moral theologians!):

CNS STORY: Vatican: Pope's words on condoms do not mark change in ...

While the clarification doesn't reveal anything new to serious-minded moral theologians, it does serve to break what seemed to be an apparent silence from the Vatican in the wake of the uproar over the Pope's comments. Furthermore it spells out two important facts: firstly that the Pope was not speaking in any sense about the contraceptive use of condoms and secondly that any sexual behaviour outside of marriage is always objectively wrong. The Pope's example was speculation about a possible movement of someone's heart towards the good, within an already immoral act.

Meanwhile trying to obtain a copy of Pope Benedict's book Light of the World: the Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times, is nigh impossible at least in Rome at the moment. Presumably this demand is the result of the sensational publicity the book received on public release and is the silver lining in the dark cloud that loomed over the book a few weeks ago.

Pope Benedict's Comments on Condom Use

2010-11-23T18:25:00.004+01:00

What Pope Benedict said and what he didn't say

The fracas that has erupted over Pope Benedict XVI's comments in his forthcoming book shows, yet again, that the contemporary media lacks the sophistication and the will to deal with, understand and communicate accurately Catholic moral teaching.

Here is the extract, from the book Light of the World due to be released this week, which was a response to a comment by the interviewer that "It is madness to forbid a high-risk population to use condoms." The pope replied at length about how sexuality risked being trivialized.

There may be a basis in the case of some individuals, as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom, where this can be a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsibility, on the way toward recovering an awareness that not everything is allowed and that one cannot do whatever one wants. But it is not really the way to deal with the evil of HIV infection. That can really lie only in a humanization of sexuality.

Are you saying, then, that the Catholic Church is actually not opposed in principle to the use of condoms?

She of course does not regard it as a real or moral solution, but, in this or that case, there can be nonetheless, in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality.

It's a pity that the Holy Father didn't put a qualifier in his original comment; but that doesn't change the fact that the media (and perhaps Western society in general) simply isn't up to the task. As a society, it seems to me, we are light years from gaining a nuanced and deep comprehension of Catholic teaching on many issues.

It may seem a rather obscure example to use, (the morality of male prostitutes using condoms in the ply of their trade!!!) but the point was to provide an example of how people can show signs of having concern for other people even in the midst of what is objectively immoral activity; that is, male prostitution. The Pope isn't condoning either prostitution (of whatever persuasion) or the use of condoms. He certainly isn't justifying contraception which the Church teaches is an intrinsic moral evil.

In fact I can only assume that he chose this extreme case precisely in order to avoid the scenario of the use of the condom as a contraceptive. If he would have used the oft-cited example of a married couple in which one spouse has AIDS, then the "spread of disease" question could easily be confused with the "contraceptive" issue.

As usual, we need to listen to what the person says, and not to what we would like him to have said or what we would have wanted to hear. Bishop Fisher, thanks be to God, has the clarity of expression to back up his expertise in Catholic moral theology.

Also see Prof Janet Smith's excellent response:

http://www.catholicworldreport.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=220:pope-benedict-on-condoms-in-qlight-of-the-worldq&catid=53:cwr2010&Itemid=70

Statement by Bishop Anthony Fisher OP
BISHOP OF PARRAMATTA

In his forthcoming book-length interview Pope Benedict XVI re-emphasises Catholic teaching that fidelity within marriage and abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage is the only morally permissible approach to chaste living. It is also the only practicable solution to the HIV-AIDs epidemic.

The Holy Father calls on the faithful to “fight against the banalisation of sexuality” which treats sex as a mere recreational drug, and to seek instead “the humanisation of sexuality” as the expression of marital love.

Despite some misinterpretation in the international media, the Pope has not deviated from or altered in any way Catholic teaching on the intrinsic wrongness of contraception or on reserving sexual intercourse (‘the marital act’) to marriage, that is of a man and a woman.

Pastors have long recognised that in cases such as homosexual intercourse, conception and marital acts are not at issue. Using a condom in this situation is clearly not contraception. It is clear that even here the goal must be to move the individual to living a truly ‘humane’, that is a chaste and loving, sexual life.

The Pope suggests that sometimes “as perhaps when a male prostitute uses a condom” to protect his client from disease, this might be a sign of an awakening moral responsibility. But using condoms, the Pope insists, is still not “a real or moral solution”.

Persecution of Catholics in Iraq

2010-11-17T20:49:00.000+01:00

Cardinal Francis George recently made some welcome comments on the continued Islamic persecution of Catholics in Iraq.

The prelate dedicated some words to the Christians of Iraq, who have been recently suffering violent attacks.

"Ever since the capture of Baghdad, it has been clear to anyone of good will that, while Muslim groups might be in conflict with one another, it was uniquely the Christians who were without protection in the wake of the American invasion of Iraq," he said.

He recalled in particular the Oct. 31 attack on the Syrian Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where some 58 were killed as they gathered for Mass.

The cardinal noted that "two were priests: one was killed at the altar and the other as he left the confessional."

He continued, "They are joined in death with hundreds of others who have died for their faith in Christ since the current conflict began."

Cardinal George quoted the words of an American Dominican sister, who wrote from Iraq that the Christian minority is fleeing "what is clearly a growing genocidal threat."

"As bishops, as Americans, we cannot turn from this scene or allow the world to overlook it," he said.

Together in mission

The prelate exhorted the bishops: "Dear brothers, we have all experienced challenges and even tragedies that tempt us to say at times, 'enough.'

"Yet all of our efforts, our work, our failures and our sense of responsibility pale before the martyrdom of our brothers and sisters in Iraq and the active persecution of Catholics in other parts of the Middle East, in India and Pakistan, in China and in Vietnam, in Sudan and African countries rent by civil conflict."

"With their faces always before us," he said, "we stand before the Lord, collectively responsible for all those whom Jesus Christ died to save; and that is more than enough to define us as bishops and to keep us together in mission."

Catholic Church in China

2010-11-09T00:04:00.001+01:00

I recently met some living Confessors of the Faith in Rome who spent time in concentration camps in China for being Catholic. Through the grace of God and generosity of a democratic country (notably NOT Australia or the USA) these humble, living martyrs now call freedom home. We mustn't forget that even though some regions in China take a more laissez faire attitude than others, the official position of the Chinese Government - according to their own documents - to the Catholic (Universal) Church is one of hostility. We need to pray for our fellow Catholics in China who continue to suffer for their faith and for their long-held loyalty to the Holy Father.

Regulations on Religious Affairs

Decree of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China
No.426

Regulations on Religious Affairs, adopted at the 57th Executive Meeting of the State Council on July 7,2004, are hereby promulgated and shall become effective as of March 1,2005.

Premier Wen Jiabao
November 30, 2004

Regulations on Religious Affairs

Chapter I General Provisions

    Article 1 These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws for the purposes of ensuring citizens’ freedom of religious belief, maintaining harmony among and between religions, preserving social concord and regulating the administration of religious affairs.
    Article 2 Citizens enjoy freedom of religious belief.
    No organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in any religion (hereinafter referred to as religious citizens) or citizens who do not believe in any religion (hereinafter referred to as non-religious citizens).
    Religious citizens and non-religious citizens shall respect each other and co-exist in harmony, and so shall citizens who believe in different religions.
    Article 3 The State, in accordance with the law, protects normal religious activities, and safeguards the lawful rights and interests of religious bodies, sites for religious activities and religious citizens.
    Religious bodies, sites for religious activities and religious citizens shall abide by the Constitution, laws, regulations and rules, and safeguard unification of the country, unity of all nationalities and stability of society.
    No organization or individual may make use of religion to engage in activities that disrupt public order, impair health of citizens or interfere with the educational system of the State, or in other activities that harm State or public interests, or citizens’ lawful rights and interests.

Article 4 All religions shall adhere to the principle of independence and self-governance. Religious bodies, sites for religious activities and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign domination. Religious bodies, sites for religious activities and religious personnel may develop external exchange on the basis of friendship and equality; all other organizations or individuals shall not accept any religious conditions in external cooperation or exchange in economic, cultural or other fields.

However, in the midst of great suffering the truth and beauty of the Catholic Faith continue to bring forth new life. I have verified this report and believe it to be true:

Read the article by Anthony E. Clarke, A journey to China’s largest Catholic village at:

http://www.catholic-sf.org/news_select.php?newsid=2&id=57724

Swiss Guards Barracks

2010-11-05T23:23:00.002+01:00

A look behind the walls of the Swiss Guards' Barracks in the Vatican City

Parade round (I think)

Uniforms ready for use (and NOT designed by Michelangelo)

Ceremonial Suits of Armor

Armory Museum

Now, any Stg.90s around hear?

Respect for Human Life the Most Important Issue when Voting

2010-11-04T15:13:00.001+01:00

Fellow Victorians, watch this video before voting in the next election.

Watch 'A Story About LIFE' here.

All Saints Day

2010-11-01T22:00:00.003+01:00

All Saints Day is a great feast for the Church. In Pontifical Universities like the Gregorian it is a public holiday, i.e. no classes today. We are reminded in the Preface of All Saints of the Ordinary Form of the Mass that we are united with the saints in the Church "as we hasten on our pilgrimage of faith, eager to meet them."

Cattedrale di Monreale

The saints celebrated today include all those holy people whose lives were perhaps lived in anonymity but who have been purified of all self love and are living in the Beatific Vision of God. It goes beyond the canonised saints - who certainly rejoice on this day - to include, we hope, even those we may have known but who will never be formally declared saints by the Church. The feast spurs us on to strive for holiness in spite of the challenges of our own and others selfishness that constantly hinder us in this endeavour.

Domus Australia and I

2010-10-26T00:05:00.002+02:00

Domus Australia is a new pilgrim centre for visitors to Rome located at Via Cernaia, 14B in Rome, Italy. First things first, though. I am told from very reliable sources that the current name is correct: Domus Australia or Australia House. A few people have referred to it as Domus Australis which is not its name (Wasn't Australis a cheap perfume from the '80s with a Ken Done design on the box?).

On Monday 18th October my appointment as the first Rector of Domus Australia was announced jointly by my Ordinary, Archbishop Denis Hart and the Archbishop of Sydney, George Cardinal Pell. I haven't looked yet but I'm pretty sure that there was a joint media release about the announcement on both the archdioceses' websites. People have sent me a link to the Sydney one (Announcement of First Rector) so I presume it is on Melbourne's.

There's not a lot to say at this stage, except to repeat what I already said in the media release. I am really excited to be involved in such a dynamic and interesting project. I have been in Rome all this year and have lived here for four years as a seminarian from 1998-2002. I will be continuing my doctoral studies in Dogmatic Theology at the Gregorian University.

Domus Australia with its pilgrim center and other facilities, especially the beautiful chapel, will offer a service to Aussies and our friends that will be new and unique. So many Aussies come to Rome and see the Coliseum and Forum and maybe St Peter's and the Vatican Museums, but there is so much more for Christians to see: 2000 years of faith expressed in art, architecture and people. Rome is a place where people's hearts can be changed by coming face to face with the living Church.

I was recently on hand on a number of occasions at Domus Australia to help welcome various delegations who were in Rome for the Canonisation of St Mary of the Cross, but I don't have any photos. You can check out the official website although I think most of the photos (certainly those of the chapel) are pre-renovation and restoration: www.domusaustralia.org

I do have plenty of photos of bogan Pies supporters like myself and am happy to share them... (and yes, if you look closely everyone seems to have their teeth in good order too)

Newman's Beatification

2010-10-25T23:25:00.002+02:00

Towards the end of my Summer pastoral work in Edinburgh I made my way down to London where besides a Day/Night cricket match between England and Pakistan at Lords...

... I also attended the beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman near Birmingham. It was a wonderful celebration and was a good preparation for the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross back in Rome.

Collingwood Magpies 2010 AFL Premiers

2010-10-22T19:22:00.002+02:00

After much early deliberation I made a split decision to go back to Australia for the AFL Grand Final. Let's just say it was an inspired decision...

Yes, that reads: Coll - 108, St Kilda - 52

After a drawn match the previous week, we finally got what we wanted. It was great to celebrate with family after 20 years of frustration.

"Good old Collingwood forever, they know how to play the game..."

We took some of the kids to the celebrations back at the club later that night. It was a very festive atmosphere.

AAMI Park stadium

Even the Geelong and Brisbane supporters in the family got into the excitement of the occasion.

We are going to enjoy this for a while

Beautiful Edinburgh

2010-10-01T14:12:00.001+02:00

I spent the month of August supplying at Holy Cross/St Margaret Mary's parish in Edinburgh. It was a great opportunity to experience parish life in a different country and see a bit of Scotland in between times.

Edinburgh Castle

It was also the time of the Edinburgh Festival

Blessed John Henry Newman

2010-09-22T00:55:00.000+02:00

Cardinal John Henry Newman's Beatification

I had the great privilege of attending Cardinal Newman's beatification near Rednal (Birmingham, UK) by the Holy Father Benedict XVI last Sunday.

After a 2am rise and two and half hour coach ride to Birmingham I nearly didn't get admitted to the venue due to an administrative glitch. Fortunately I had printed out my email invitation and it did the trick of getting me in to Cofton Park and enabled me to concelebrate with the Holy Father. Mass began ten minutes late at 10:10am and as you can see from the photos (courtesy of Fr Nicholas Schofield) the priests were situated in the sanctuary area (for once) and close to the Holy Father. He was brilliant if a little tired after four days of an incredibly demanding State Visit to the UK.

Blessed John Henry Newman, pray for us.

I arrived back in Rome today (Tuesday 21st September 2010)

Polish Shrines

2010-08-29T17:32:00.002+02:00

BLESSED JERZY POPIEŁUSZKO

During my week in Poland I was keen to visit the church of St Stanislaus Kostka in the suburbs of Warsaw where Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko worked and is buried.

St Stanislaus Kostka Church, Warsaw

Interior of St Stanislaus Kostka Church, Warsaw

I spent an emotional couple of hours at this parish church which has become a sanctuary with millions of pilgrims annually coming to pray at the tomb of this martyr of Communism. Amazing to think that I can remember the news reports of his disappearance and the subsequent discovery of his mutilated body a few days later in 1984. An estimated half a million people attended his funeral at this church.

Grave of Blessed Fr

Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko

His 100 year old mother was present at the beatification Mass in June of this year. Here is a short BBC News report with footage of him preaching in St Stanislaus Kostka's: Popieluszko Beatification

CZESTOCHOWA

I traveled with friends to the famous Polish Marian shrine at Czestochowa. This is a beautiful shrine to Our Lady who is venerated as the Black Madonna. Like so many European shrines (think of Walsingham and Altötting) it is intimately tied up with the religious, cultural and political life Poland.

Operational canons (so I'm told)

Frs Anthony Denton and Ionut Strejac

CATHEDRAL OF THE POLISH MILITARY ORDINARIATE

KATYN FOREST MASSACRE MEMORIAL

Polish Military Ordinariate Cathedral

Monument to the 22,000 Polish Officers murdered

and buried in the Katyn Forest in Russia by the Soviet NKVD

Close up of some of the 22,000 names

New tombs of the Military bishop and his secretary who perished in the 10th April 2010 plane crash that also killed the President and his wife on their way to attend the 70th Anniversary of the Katyn Forest Massacre.

Australian Federal Election 2010

2010-08-28T23:48:00.001+02:00

Does Australia have a government yet?

Click on the link to find out:

http://doesaustraliahaveagovernmentyet.com/

Summer 2010

2010-08-28T00:06:00.008+02:00

Greetings from Scotland

That's me drinking Irn Bru in front of Deacon Brodie's Tavern on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Dear friends and family,

Writing from Edinburgh where I am well. But more about Scotland later...

I can't believe it is over a month since I made an attempt to start blogging after the trauma of exams in June. I have been either traveling or otherwise engaged in "pastoral activities" for the whole of August. July I was stranded in Italy awaiting a working visa for the United Kingdom so I could do a month's parish supply in Edinburgh. I made good use of that time in July visiting friends and having a look around.

Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw

Going back to the start of July I realized that I would have to surrender my passport in order to get the UK Visa, so in the week before the scary interview at the Worldbridge Visa Centre in Rome I took the opportunity to visit Fr Ionut Strejac in Warsaw, Poland. What started as a quick trip to Poland turned into an impromptu reunion of five very good friends. Fr Miguel Ramos from Mexico was already planning to visit Fr Ionut so he changed the order of his visit to overlap mine by a couple of days. Once I arrived on the evening of Wednesday 30th June we called Fr Roberto Cibaric in Croatia and told him to get him self on a plane to Warsaw. To our surprise he rang back the next day to advise of his arrival details.

Frs. F. Dobos, A. Denton, I. Strejac, M. Ramos, R. Cibaric

This meant that four of us would be together so we contacted Fr Franz Dobos whom we knew was busy working in a Catholic radio station in Italy and would probably not be able to leave even for a few days. It was as we suspected. But then a while later he rang back to say that he had "re-arranged" things and would be coming!

So in less than a week we arranged a mini reunion of us five friends who were ordained deacons together (in a larger group of 28) in 2001 and then ordained priests on the same day in three different continents on 29th June 2002. Furthermore we met less than a week after the anniversary. Our gathering coincided with the world cup so there was a great feeling of summer and excitement in the air.

Frs R. Cibaric, F. Dobos, A. Denton, M. Ramos, I. Strejac

We had a wonderful time and our host Fr Ionut made us very welcome. More to follow...

Dutiful uncle

2010-07-24T00:12:00.003+02:00

Macchine Italiane

When speaking to one of my nephews recently on Skype he asked me whether I had seen any cool cars in Rome. I must admit that I had been negligent in this regard and so decided to take my camera with me when I next went out. Well when you open your eyes and take a look around its amazing what you can see. I managed to snap photos of these two cars at the opposite end of the automobile spectrum, and both parked within meters of my front door.

Ferrari F430

Fiat Cinquecento (500)

From now on I'll pay closer attention to the cars creeping up behind me as I walk around and see what we can find.

Having started this piece a while ago, I came across an amazing thing once my eyes were opened to the reality. The first of the photos below was taken in Orvieto where I went for the feast of Corpus Domini. It is the rear of the latest weapon against crime on Italian streets: a Lamborghini Police car.

Lamborghini Police Car

But if your eyes are not that good this is what went past very quickly a few seconds before:

Polizia di Stato - vettura nuova

Lamborghini Gallardo

In case you're thinking it: this is no photo shop job. I love the Italian police, even with the silly little lolly pops that they wave ineffectually out the window to make people get out of the way. You can actually see one on the dash board of this car!

Now that's how to deal with the speeding problem. If you can beat them, then you can also join them.

Thanks

2010-06-16T00:02:00.001+02:00

Post Exam Laugh

Well, you've got to laugh

A good friend sent this to me the other day and I had to laugh. Reminds me of the final scene of Lord of the Rings - Return of the King: finally Gollum's purpose is known. Hey, everyone has a vocation in life! I'm the one on the far right in case you didn't know!

Questioning the Pope

2010-06-12T14:43:00.003+02:00

Prayer Vigil in St Peter's Square with 15,000 priests to mark end of the Year for Priests

Facade of St Peter's Basilica

Here is footage of the Prayer vigil for the end of the Year for Priests in St Peter's Square. As you may know I was priviledged to be invited to ask the Holy Father a question on behalf of the priests of Oceania. My question which appears at around the 54 minute mark was as follows:

Most Blessed Father,
This evening we are many priests gathered here. We know, however, that our seminaries are not full [except for that in Melbourne!] and that in the future, in some parts of the world, a lean time awaits us. What can we do that will be truly effective for encouraging vocations? And how can we propose our way of life - everything that is great and beautiful in it - to a young man of our time?

It was asked in italian, but there is an English voice-over. The magnificent Eucharistic Procession from the Bronze Doors through the Piazza up to the altar on the Sagrato starts at around 70 minutes.

Year for Priests concluding vigil

Awaiting the arrival of the Blessed Sacrament

St John Vianney - Curé of Ars

Pope Benedict XVI at Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican

2010-06-02T12:28:00.001+02:00

Marian Celebration at the Conclusion of the Month of May

Each year on the last day of May there is a Rosary Procession to the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens. The Rosary is prayed and the Lourdes Hymn is sung on route. Upon arrival at the grotto a liturgy of the Word is celebrated at the end of which the Holy Father gives a reflection. It was a lovely mild evening, which for a few of us ended with a spectacular dinner at "Agata e Romeo"!

Pope Benedict XVI

Lourdes Grotto - Vatican Gardens

The original altar from the grotto in Lourdes, France, now in the Vatican

Fr Anthony Denton at Lourdes Grotto, Vatican City

Pro Life Martyrs

2010-05-30T00:55:00.003+02:00

We were talking at dinner today about evangelization and the fact that contemporary Western culture needs to be re-civilized as part of that re-evangelization. Many people live like animals. People have lost their memory of cultural mores about courtesy and decency. However, things like using cutlery correctly and men taking their hats off inside (and especially inside churches) etc. fade into insignificance when you consider the more insidious aspects that are now accepted. That unborn babies are killed in clinics and hospitals in every major city of the world every day is just part and parcel of living in 2010. And yet this is where we have arrived at. When the Church does speak out in defense of life in a consistent and courageous way the result has moved from indifference to complete outrage, as testified by this news report from Canada.

28-May-2010 -- Catholic World News Brief

Quebec Cardinal Astounded By Uproar Over Pro-Life Remarks; Assembly Unanimously Backs Abortion

MAY 28 (Catholic World News) - Cardinal Marc Ouellet expressed astonishment at the reaction to his recent statement that abortion is a moral crime that cannot be justified even in the case of rape. In response, a newspaper columnist said he hoped the cardinal would die a slow and painful death, while the National Assembly of Quebec unanimously expressed its support for free access to abortion.

“When it comes to a religious figure or the imposition of a religious doctrine in Quebec, people are going to speak out,” said Ainsley Jenicek of the Quebec Federation of Birth Planning.

“For the unborn, there is not justice. He is the weakest human being; nobody is protecting him,” the cardinal said as he reflected upon the reaction to his remarks. “I am aware that in Canada, in Quebec in particular, you will not reform society at the moral level by teaching morals first. It will be through a new evangelization.”

“If you do not meet Jesus Christ, it is very difficult to accept the teaching, the moral teaching of the Church,” he added. “I am aware of that, even if what we teach is coherent at the rational level.”

This kind of public reaction which would wish physical harm on people who call for the end to murdering pre-born children, is a further warning of the bitterness in the anti-life camp, which is only going to get worse the more society drifts away from its Christian roots. There is real odium fide here (hatred of the faith). It is not unthinkable that in the not too distant future there will be new martyrs in the Church who will die proclaiming the Church's teaching on life issues and issue relating to sexuality. We need to think and pray about our own response to such a situation. Christ must be re-introduced to culture. As the Cardinal says we need to begin the reform of society through the change of heart that comes when we meet Jesus. We also need to pray for our leaders like Cardinal Ouellet that they may remain courageous under fire and preach the truth in love, no matter what the cost and consequences.

Loreto in May

2010-05-20T22:30:00.005+02:00

Pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Holy House in Loreto, Le Marche, Italy

Loreto (from the train)

Last week end the other two NAC students (Fr Dishan Candappa and Michael Gallacher) and myself made a pilgrimage to Loreto. In spite of the rain we had great time and I got heaps of reading done both on the train and in my hotel room. We arrived for dinner on Friday and checked into the Hotel San Gabriel (of course).

Michael Gallacher and Fr Dishan Candappa

in Piazza della Madonna, Loreto

Tradition holds that the house of the Holy Family of Nazareth was miraculously transported by "angels"to Loreto in Italy. For this reason Our Lady of Loreto was declared patroness of air travelers. Recent archeological and historical documents have come to light which pretty much disprove this tradition. The alternative history held that the Angeli family saved the walls of the holy house from the Muslims as the Crusader dominance of the Holy Land came to an end. They transported these walls from Palestine to Croatia (1291) and finally to Italy in 1294.

Bramante's marble casing around the holy house

Other findings give very good support to the tradition that the holy house itself is genuine. The bricks [now in Loreto] formed three walls of a kind of addition to the cave dwelling of the Holy Family in Nazareth. The basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth is constructed over the original part of the house and the basilica of Loreto houses(!) the rest of the house.

Inside the Holy House

This is the best I could do. You can't see the bricks which formed the lower part of the house, to which were added the upper walls and the roof (and eventually the marble casing and the basilica itself). Pope John Paul II described the holy house as the icon of the Incarnation of the Word. Not an abstract truth but an event and a mystery. There is a long list of saints who have visited the Holy House. Among my favourites: St Ignatius Loyola, St John Bosco and St Josemaria Escrivà.

Left to Right: Fr Anthony Denton, Michael Gallacher and Fr Dishan Candappa

Pre-dinner drinks in the lobby!

We had a great pilgrimage. It wasn't quite the Canterbury Tales, but we did our bit of praying, eating and drinking. I prayed the Litany of Loreto each day inside the holy house, a place sanctified by the presence of St Joseph, Our Mother Mary and Our Lord during their earthly lives.

Michael Gallacher, Fr Dishan Candappa and Fr Anthony Denton,

Compline: did the Office ever look like so much fun?

After four hours on the train, via Ancona we arrived in Rome with plenty of time for dinner and a relatively early night on Sunday

Michael Gallacher, Fr Anthony Denton and Fr Dishan Candappa

Loreto Train Station

Pilgrimage to Turin 2010

2010-05-14T00:07:00.001+02:00

Passio Christi Passio Hominis

Casa Santa Maria where I live organized a pilgrimage to Turin to venerate the Shroud. Turin, the home of Juventus F C, Marconi's first radio broadcast and the birthplace of numerous saints is a four hour train ride on the FrecciaRossa (Red Arrow fast train) from Rome. It took us over ten hours in the chartered coach! We spent all of Friday traveling. Arriving around 4:30pm we had two hours to look around the centre of the city. Seeing as I had spent a month in Turin in the year 2000 I was well-placed to lead a group from our hotel to the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians in which Saint John Bosco, St Maria Mazzarello and Saint Dominic Savio are buried. We had half an hour in this beautiful basilica before moving on to the baroque masterpiece which is the Consolata Church. This is where the image of Our Lady of the Consolation is housed and venerated. It is the antithesis of the Sorrowful Mary images and is also very beautiful (Sorry, no photos). After dinner I went with a few priests for a quiet drink.

Pilgrims walking towards the Cathedral of Turin

In order to view the Shroud up close (about four meters away) it is necessary to register and get a time slot. Ours was for 9am on Saturday morning. We made our way to a spot behind the cathedral from where the pilgrimage walk began. This was to control the flow of pilgrims and to allow them to prepare for the few moments of prayer before this most sacred relic, which Pope Benedict recently called the "Icon of Holy Saturday."

Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Torino, Italy

The Shroud is housed in a chapel in the cathedral and is only on display every ten years. This time it is open for a period of six weeks. The crowds were large but the organization was magnificent.

The Shroud - The burial cloth of Jesus

I took this photo myself during the five minutes we had to view the shroud up close. People can enter the cathedral and pray any time without getting very near. I was amazed how moving the experience was. In this photo taken on my little camera you can clearly see the image of Jesus' body inexplicably imprinted on to the cloth. Of course "imprinted" isn't really the right word because scientists don't know how the image is attached to the cloth.

Tomb of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

On the left hand nave of the cathedral is the altar and tomb of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, patron saint of World Youth Days. I prayed here for all the young people that I know.

Fr Anthony Robbie and Fr Anthony Denton

We were only in Turin for about 18 hours including sleep. After viewing the Shroud and praying we headed to the Church of San Secondo for Mass and then headed back to Rome, arriving after 10pm.

Church renovation

2010-05-12T12:45:00.000+02:00

Holy Spirit Catholic Church, East Thornbury, Melbourne, Australia

Renovation of sanctuary 2009

This make-over took several months and was made possible

through a donation from a parishioner while I was Parish Priest.

Concept design: St Bede's Studio

Architect: Stephen Clements

Builder: Michael Bland

Before

After

Evangelization through the Internet

2010-05-02T16:14:00.001+02:00

Disclaimer: this picture is not meant as a metaphor for the Church!

But maybe the Pope sometimes feels like Noah in this scene!

Here are some words of Pope Benedict on the value of using the media and more specifically, the internet for evangelization. He is a master at adapting metaphors. Note his comparison of the the digital sea in which the barque of Peter navigates. Very clever:

"[The media must] focus on promoting the dignity of persons and peoples, they need to be clearly inspired by charity and placed at the service of truth, of the good, and of natural and supernatural fraternity" (ibid.). Only under those conditions can the epochal journey that we are undertaking become something rich and fertile with new opportunities. Without fear we want to set out upon the digital sea embracing the unrestricted navigation with the same passion that for 2,000 years has steered the barque of the Church. More than with technical resources, although necessary, we want to qualify ourselves dwelling in this universe too with a believing heart, that contributes to giving a soul to the uninterrupted communicational flow of the Internet.

This is our mission, the Church's mission that she cannot renounce: The task of every believer who works in the media is that of "opening the door to new forms of encounter, maintaining the quality of human interaction, and showing concern for individuals and their genuine spiritual needs. They can thus help the men and women of our digital age to sense the Lord's presence"

We must be playing the game if we are to score any points! The Internet needs a soul and you and I are the ones that have to do it. So blog away...

Pray for Priests who pray for you

2010-05-02T14:53:00.002+02:00

Sunday Reflection for May

This YouTube clip was sent to me by a priest in Australia. Well worth the three minutes it takes to watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_7_VrAxu14

Oremus pro invicem = Let's pray for one another

A Roman Back Yard

2010-04-29T22:36:00.000+02:00

Sabato Santo dalla Famiglia De Luca

As a seminarian I was welcomed in to the De Luca family many times for family celebrations and especially for Christmas and Easter when I was most likely to be homesick. It is great to be now able to have the freedom to visit regularly. I spent the afternoon of Holy Saturday with Giorgio, his parents, Sig. Antonio and Sig.ra. Donatella, sister, Daniella & nephew piccolo Leonardo.

It was beautiful Spring weather to spend in the expansive (for Rome) garden that wraps around the palazzo and is totally private.

Attached to one wall is this little gem of a plaque referring to the "bad" if relatively ordered years of Fascism under Mussolini. The colloquial translation would be: "We were better off when we were worse off"!!! It stops short of saying "Viva il Duce!"

Of course no visit to the De Luca garden would be complete without a hunt for the tartarughe (tortoises). They used to be painted blue so they could be easily be found! but perhaps that's no longer E.C. (=ecologically correct). But then if there is an ode to Mussolini on a nearby wall they're not likely to be worried about being politically correct. Maybe they ran out of paint.

And finally here's Leonardo just being silly!

Diaconate Ordination Anniversary

2010-04-28T21:05:00.003+02:00

On the 28th April 2001 I was ordained a deacon in

St Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Deo Gratias!

St Peter's Basilica, Rome

Unfortunately, I can't find most of the photos, even though I'm sure I scanned some. Sorry about the picture quality. It was a Saturday morning and nearly all of my immediate family were there. Tess and Lou and their husbands couldn't come because they were both expecting babies. I was fortunate to have quite a few guests considering the distance for most. There were even friends from England, France and the USA.

28 were ordained to the diaconate in the one ceremony by Cardinal Iosef Tomko, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Afterwards we all returned to Collegio Urbano for our respective festas. Mine was shared with now Frs Miguel Ramos, Franz Dobos & Ionut Strejac. Here we are cutting a cake!

In the evening we had another celebration with my family and friends. The following day (Sunday) I assisted at Mass for the first time by myself as a deacon. Fr Mark Withoos said the Mass at the tomb of Blessed Josemaria Escrivà. Afterwards we went to the Hotel of the Sisters of St Brigitte of Sweden in Piazza Farnese for a great lunch.

During the course of the two weeks we had together we did a kind of Griswalds Italian vacation, terrifying people in the hospitality industry from Venice to Sorento and in between: Ravenna, Florence, Assisi, Pompei among the highlights. But if that wasn't enough we were privileged to two private audiences with Pope John Paul II. It was quite surreal being asked by (now) Cardinal Dziwisz (then secretary to the Pope) to introduce each member of my family to the successor of St Peter! It was a blessed time for me and my family.

Left to Right: Mary, Peter, (Edmund) and Fr Anthony Denton with Pope John Paul II

Suffer and become holy

2010-04-26T22:29:00.000+02:00

After our wonderful Roman ANZAC day dinner, I was walking the short distance home with two other priests. Only a few meters from the entrance to Casa Santa Maria a couple of men walking past us in the opposite direction approached and asked me if we spoke Italian. Upon responding in the affirmative he and his companion proceeded to verbally abuse us and even used the new anti-clerical phrase (in Italian) Pedofile. I started to give some back but was persuaded by the others not to react.

It's a strange experience and thankfully one that doesn't happen all that often. A similar thing happened to me in San Francisco in 2002 in the wake of the sex abuse crisis in the USA. I don't think I was wearing clerical dress (having a day off on holidays!!!) but was with a Franciscan priest who was in his habit. I had only been ordained a few months and ended up chasing the kids down the street :-)

The reason why it is so strange is that I and every person I know (priest or layman) considers child abuse of any description to be abominable. I wasn't particularly shaken by the confrontation but listening to this podcast of Bishop Slattery's homily given at the National Shrine in Washington DC on Saturday was a great reminder of the place of suffering in the Christian's life, but particularly at present. Furthermore it brought to mind those words of Fr Paul Mankowski SJ about priestly life: "A priest should live in such a way that the only explanation for his life is that God exists." The answer to reform in the Church in every age is personal holiness.

Have a listen or read the homily at Fr Z:

Bp. Slattery’s Sermon in Washington DC - unforgettable

Let's pray and encourage each other that we may be saints.

Cardinal Pell's new book

2010-04-26T09:51:00.001+02:00

I hear Cardinal Pell has a new book coming out. I told the publisher I would be happy to pass on the information of the official book launches. There are lots of rumours that the Cardinal will be going to Rome. I have no inside knowledge but the book launches might become a rare opportunity to meet the great man. Here is the flyer:

JOIN CARDINAL GEORGE PELL

FOR THE LAUNCH OF HIS NEW BOOK

Test Everything;

Hold Fast to What is Good

Sydney

To be launched by Fr Paul Stenhouse msc

Friday, 14 May 2010 at 5.30pm

At the Crypt of St Mary's Cathedral,

Cathedral Street, Sydney

Melbourne

To be chaired by John Roskam and

launched by Professor Claudio Véliz

Monday, 17 May 2010 at 6.30pm

At the Celtic Club,

1st Floor, 316-320 Queen Street, Melbourne

(Hosted by the Institute of Public Affairs)

Ballarat

To be launched by Bishop Peter Connors

& Michael Gilchrist

Tuesday, 18 May 2010 at 7pm

At Nazareth House, 218 Mill Street, Ballarat

Brisbane

To be launched by Fr Tim Norris

Saturday, 19 June 2010, at 7pm

At St Kevin's Parish Hall, Glendalough,

251 Newman Rd, Geebung

Cardinal George Pell will be present at these

launches and available to sign copies of his book

RSVP: anthony@connorcourt.com

or by phone (03) 9005 9167

Connor Court Publishing,
PO BOX 1, BALLAN, VIC, 3342
Ph (03) 9005 9167, Fax (03) 5303 0960
sales@connorcourt.com
www.connorcourt.com

ANZAC DAY IN ROME

2010-04-26T00:57:00.000+02:00

The Rome War Cemetery

Via Nicola Zabaglia

A quick word about the moving service held in Rome on Sunday 25th April 2010 at the Rome War Cemetery. A large gathering of Australian and New Zealand ex pats paid our respects to the ANZACs and all fallen soldiers who died defending our freedom. Cardinal Pell was present along with Amanda Vanstone, Australian Ambassador to Italy and representatives of many other diplomatic missions.

It was a beautiful mild Spring day with the sun shining, but everyone was shaded by the trees and ancient walls of the war cemetery near Piramide on Via Nicola Zabaglia. A marble plaque advises that the land was donated by the Italian people to honour the fallen buried therein. There are three Australians buried in the cemetery and today their graves were marked by small Australian flags driven into the well kept green turf.

The words of Atatürk (1934) written of the ANZACs in Turkey, could be applied to all those lying in this cemetery:

"Here in this country of ours

you, the mothers,

Who sent their sons from far away countries

Wipe away your tears,

Your sons are now lying in our bosom

And are in peace

After having lost their lives on this land

They have become our sons as well."

After the ceremony, which was well planned and executed, the hundred or so people present, which included a significant number of priests and seminarians, were invited to a decent morning tea of among other delicacies, lamingtons, Anzac Biscuits and sausage rolls!!!

In the evening at 6pm some of the Australian priests and seminarians went to Mass at the private chapel of Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta on the Aventine Hill, celebrated by Cardinal Pell. Some of us were invited to dinner at "Il Buco" not far from Casa Santa Maria to celebrate the 12th anniversary of Fr Anthony Robbie's ordination to the priesthood. A great spread and excellent company.

Lest we forget.

Time for Monica to go

2010-04-23T17:54:00.000+02:00

Dear Family and friends,

Having been accused of having bird flu and other such explanations for the lack of communication on this site, the answer is simply that I have had other things to do...like study for instance. And going to Paris for the Easter Octave and lots of visitors.

But I know that people are sick of looking down on Monica so it's time for her to move on. Instead here is a nice shot taken during the visit of Jackie and Connor Sweeney to the Casa for lunch a few weeks ago.

More to follow...

Monica in Rome

2010-03-13T21:52:00.000+01:00

Hannah Bannister and Monica O'Shea waiting to get in to Casa Santa Maria

(my room is directly over the entrance)

A few weeks ago Fr Alex Sherbrooke & the School of Mission at St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Soho Square, London made a pilgrimage to the Eternal City. Monica O'Shea was able to tear herself away from her fundraising job for the renovations of this historic church to join them for the weekend.

It was my privilege to host Monica, Hannah Banister and some of Monica's Aussie friends in Rome to Casa Santa Maria for dinner, which Monica cooked, of course. And it must be said that she is a good cook. We have a guest kitchen on the fourth floor for private parties and functions. I had the location, the guest list, the food and drink. I was just missing someone to throw it all together. As you can tell from the photo a good time was had by all!

Left to Right: Fr Anthony Denton, Fr Mark Withoos, Daniel McCaughan, Michael Gallacher, Fr Dishan Candappa, Hanna Bannister, Nicholas Rynne, Monica O'Shea

Mon and Hannah returned on Sunday morning for Mass and a walk around the Casa.

A Sunday Reflection: Offer your bodies & work in the Mass

2010-03-13T21:19:00.001+01:00

Fr Anthony Denton in the Sacred Heart Chapel,
a private oratory in the Casa Santa Maria,

where I sometimes offer my daily Mass

I thought that at this stage in Lent (Laetare Sunday) we could all do with some encouragement. Part of Fr Raniero Cantalamessa's Lenten reflection to the Pope and Curia on the Mass (with my emphasis):

"The offering of the priest and of the whole Church, without that of Jesus, would neither be holy nor acceptable to God, because we are only sinful creatures," he said, "but Jesus' offering, without that of his body which is the Church, would also be incomplete and insufficient: not, be it understood, to procure salvation, but because we receive it and appropriate it. It is in this sense that the Church can say with St. Paul: 'in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.'"

And the preacher offered a simple example to illustrate his point.

"Let us imagine," he said, "that in a family there is one child, the first born, most devoted to the father. He wishes to give him a present for his birthday. However, before presenting it to him he asks all his brothers and sisters secretly to add their signature on the gift. It then arrives in the hands of the father as the indistinct homage of all his children and as a sign of the esteem and love of them all but, in reality, only one has paid its price.

"And now the application. Jesus admires and loves the heavenly Father. He wishes to give him every day, until the end of the world, the most precious gift he can think of, that of his life itself. In the Mass he invites all his 'brothers,' who we are, to add their signature on the gift, so that it reaches God the Father as the indistinct gift of all his children. [...] But, in reality, we know that only one has paid the price of such a gift. And what a price!"

Laity, too

Father Cantalamessa proposed that laypeople, too, are called to offer themselves with Christ in the Mass.

"Let us try to imagine what would happen if also the laity, at the moment of the consecration, said silently: 'Take, eat, this is my body. Take, drink, this is my blood,'" he proposed. "A mother of a family thus celebrates her Mass, then she goes home and begins her day made up of a thousand little things. But what she does is not nothing: It is a eucharist together with Jesus! A [religious] sister also says in her heart at the moment of consecration: 'Take, eat ...'; then she goes to her daily work: children, the sick, the elderly. The Eucharist 'invades' her day which becomes a prolongation of the Eucharist."

The Pontifical Household preacher called for two categories of people to particularly take to heart his message: workers and young people.

"Do we teach the Christian laborer to offer in the Mass his body and his blood, that is, his time, sweat and toil," he reflected. Work in this way, he said, will not be confined to a Marxist focus on the product, but rather becomes sanctifying.

And youth, Father Cantalamessa said, have a special need to offer themselves at Mass.

He explained: "Suffice it for us to think of one thing: What does the world of boys and girls want today? The body, nothing else but the body! The body, in the mentality of the world, is essentially an instrument of pleasure and exploitation. Something to be sold, to squeeze while it is young and attractive, and then to be thrown out, together with the person, when it no longer serves these ends. Especially the woman's body has become merchandise of consumption.

"Do we teach Christian boys and girls to say, at the moment of consecration: 'Take, eat, this is my body, offered for you.' The body is thus consecrated, becomes something sacred, it can no longer be 'given to eat' to one's concupiscence and that of others, it can no longer be sold, because it has given itself. It has become Eucharist with Christ."

"The Apostle Paul," Father Cantalamessa reflected, made this exhortation to the Christians of Corinth: "The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord. ... So glorify God in your body.

Sacerdotal simplicity

2010-03-03T11:45:00.000+01:00

A few weeks back I mentioned that I was "organizing" my room. Well, it has been organized now and is quite comfortable. Here are some shots of my room looking towards three of the four corners. (You don't really need to see the sink to the left of the window)

Desk and ergonomic study chair

Bed and comfy chair ("Oh no; not the comfy chair!")

Wardrobe and couch.

Palazzo del Quirinale

2010-02-28T00:04:00.001+01:00

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to accompany Cardinal Pell on a private tour of the Quirinal Palace, now the official residence of the Italian President. The Palazzo del Quirinale was once the papal summer palace before being acquired as a public building by the newly united Italy after which it became the state residence of the Savoia family. Several rooms are being restored by the same company that is restoring

the chapel at Domus Australis in Rome. Being with a Cardinal essentially means "access all areas." Not many people get to see this desk or enter this room. It is the private office of the President of the Italian Republic (He was making a cup of tea in the kitchenette when we popped in [not really]). Like most of the current interior it was decorated by the Savoys. As its name suggests the Palace is situated on the Quirinal Hill just behind the Gregorian University.

By the way here is a mnemonic device to learn the Seven Hills of Rome:

Can Queen Victoria Eat Cold Apple Pie?

Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, Aventine, Palatine

School's in and Lent has begun

2010-02-20T22:10:00.000+01:00

Now that classes have started my time is limited once again but all is going well. This past week I have attended 5 new courses equalling 10 hours of classes. This is considered a lot for a doctoral program which normally doesn't comprise any coursework. As I explained elsewhere I have to do these classes to fulfill the university's prerequisites because I have transferred universities. It is great to be studying full time. I am really enjoying the mental stimulation and the possibility to read and grow in my knowledge of God. Here are a few photos of the recent snowfall in Rome. They show the Gregorian University's main entrance on the Piazza della Pilotta from a distance out side the Casa Santa Maria (seen on the left of the top photo) and up close (in the photo below).

We started Lent, of course, during the week and I made a commitment to make the pilgrimage of the Station Churches. This comprises a visit and Mass at a different Roman church each day of Lent according to an ancient custom that was lost and revived by St Phillip Neri then lost again and revived some years back by some seminarians at the North American College. About 200 people, mainly seminarians and priests, make the pilgrimage each day from the North American College on the Janiculum Hill and the Casa Santa Maria in the historic center of Rome. It provides the opportunity to make a pilgrimage on foot to various parts of the city during the course of this penitential season. In addition it allows us the chance to see the beauty of these buildings and to venerate the numerous saints buried within their walls. Most of all I am reminded that Lent itself is a pilgrimage towards Easter. We fast in order to enjoy the feast. Self denial trains us, but also makes the celebration of Christ's resurrection at Easter even more joyful. The discomfort of pouring rain we experienced on the last three days' walks are a small offering to be added to our own private mortifications, prayers and almsgiving which are by and large done in secret.

Snow in Rome

2010-02-13T00:04:00.001+01:00

The usually beautiful court yards of the Casa Santa Maria in Rome where I live looked even more picturesque after an hour's heavy snowfall this morning. This is the first time in several years that snow has fallen in Rome and the heaviest for a long time. During my first four years in Rome (1998-2002) I never saw snow fall. Unfortunately, it didn't last for long because the snow turned into rain and melted it all in a couple of hours. Still the Romans became very excited and headed out to all the piazzas to enjoy it.

Today I began the (long) process of obtaining my Permesso di Soggiorno, which basically gives temporary citizenship and is needed for stays longer than a year in Italy. I also organized my room and arranged things to make it more comfortable. Photos to follow... of course!

Pro Life Victory

2010-02-08T22:36:00.002+01:00

Tim Tebow is an American NFL star and a convinced Christian. Due to difficulties during the pregnancy his mother was recommended an abortion. Focus on the Family succeeded in getting CBS to air a commercial featuring him and his mother during the NFL Superbowl on Sunday. There was outrage from the pro-abortion feminists and bemusment from those who actually believed that the former were in fact pro choice (and not simply pro abortion).

Take a look at this video clip from Fox News. Note the "agenda" of Focus on the Family: they want to take away a woman's right to choose. Bad Focus on the Family. Note also that no one had viewed the ad at this point. I think this interview is a case of the devil showing his hand. Stupid Devil.

Tim Tebow's Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad - FOXNews.com

Now have a look at the ad. It is brilliant. It doesn't mention abortion, but the femos had inadvertently provided the background by their vociferous opposition so that everyone who saw the ad knew it was pro life and anti abortion. Brilliant. And the link to the Focus on the Family website tells the rest of the story. Here is the 30 second commercial:

YouTube - Focus on the Family's Super Bowl commercial with Pam and ...

Finally, of note is one of the Scripture references Tebow sports, written in zinc cream under his eyes, during games: John 3:16.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

It wasn't that long ago that even if you did have the money to pay for a pro life ad it would never have been screened. The times they are a changin'!

Gloria

2010-02-08T12:33:00.001+01:00

At Fr Dillon's request (seen here at the organ of St John Lateran, Rome) an adjunct to the Nunc dimittis of a few days ago:

"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. World without end. Amen"

Or as the Americans pray (somewhat annoyingly): "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever will be. Amen."

Great Catholic Traditions

2010-02-01T23:41:00.000+01:00

It's great being a Catholic. This is part of the procession of the relics of St Pontianus of whom I wrote a few days ago. He is the Patron Saint of Spoleto (Former See of Blessed Pope Pius IX). It is said of St Pontianus' protection, that the city of Spoleto may tremble but will never fall (Spoleto tremera' ma non crollera').

As we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation we likewise go in procession with blessed candles to remind ourselves that Jesus is the light that shines for all men. As Simeon declared in the Temple upon seeing the Christ child: "At last all powerful master, you give leave to your servant to go in peace, according to your promise. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all nations, the light to enlighten the gentiles and give to glory to Israel, your people."

Don't forget to go to your church on the 3rd February to receive St Blaise's blessing of throats (performed with the candles blessed at the Presentation Mass on the 2nd). There is no end to the blessings that the Lord will bestow on those who love Him. I just love being a Catholic.

I believe in Providence

2010-02-01T20:43:00.000+01:00

Last Friday I realized I could no longer put off the dreaded enrollment at the Gregorian University. I walked the two hundred or so meters from the back door of the Casa Santa Maria to the Greg prepared to do battle with the bureaucrats who can be found in every Italian institution. After locating the Office and introducing my self to the Secretary of the Faculty of Theology I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted with a wide smile as she recognized my name as being as belonging to the priest from Australia who was being sent by his bishop to undertake doctoral studies. To my even greater astonishment she was able to locate and produce documents outlining my bishop's request for a place in the doctoral program.

The surprises kept coming. I was supposed to have enrolled as a student before I could even work out a program of studies with the Dean. In Italy this is called Immatricolazione and entails the furnishing of assorted documents to establish one's identity etc. It turned out I was several days late (although no one had informed me of this), the pre-immatricolazione session having expired several days beforehand. A fine would have to be paid for the error. However, the helpful lady behind the desk announced that, of course, I already had a matricolazione number... because I had undertaken a course at the Greg before. My mind was trying to come to terms with this when I remembered that I had indeed studied at the Greg when I took Fr Reginald Foster's Latin Language Experiences more than ten years before. I had never enrolled though... or so I thought. Then from the back of the dark recesses of my mind came the vague recollection that maybe I had enrolled once upon a time, but I certainly had no record of it among my papers.

The kind secretary who seemed pleased to have been of such help then made a phone call. It seemed I was really on a roll this morning. The Dean (Decano) of Theology was not available due to a much talked about illness that had forced him to cancel his exams; but the deputy Dean was there and would see me there and then even though I didn't have an appointment.

Hastily stuffing my superfluous papers (and equally unnecessary excuses for why I shouldn't have to pay a late fee for matricolazione) into my satchel I hotfooted it down the corridor to the Deputy Dean's Office. He was waiting and let me in although he neither introduced himself nor offered his hand in a gesture of greeting. I produced my own academic transcripts and handed them to him along with the folder which the secretary had given me.

He started typing my name in a word file on his computer and was intrigued why my matriculation number was so old! He then preceded to tick off the languages I had studied according to my transcript: Hebrew... ok. Greek... ok. Latin... Have you studied Latin? Oh no here we go, I thought to myself. I tried to explain my lack of any documentation while assuring him that I had studied under Fr Reg Foster. I was thinking how am I going to explain this? He's going to make me do a Latin course and exam for sure. Then, after typing some more on his computer he brings something up on the screen and announces, "Eccolo, avevi ragione" (here it is, you were right). In fact I had been blubbering about how I had done the course but never sat an exam blah, blah, blah. So I shut up. Its all here, he says. And you received a good grade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was shocked that there was even a record of my having studied, so without thinking I said, Are you sure? "Caro mio, ci sono cose che io so di te che tu non sai!" My friend I know things about you that you don't even know! Evidentemente!!!

***For the record, Fr Foster never had exams. He would give us worksheets twice a week that took about four hours each to complete. You didn't bother going to class without having done them; and you didn't continue the course if you didn't come to class.

Unfortunately, it was not the same story for my record of modern languages of which doctoral students at the Greg need four. English... si. Italiano... si. French... I learnt it for six years at high school. Well, we don't have any record of that... Well you'll have to sit a French test. And Spanish or German later on. By the third semester (of six) i.e. half way through, you will have to have put the languages in order? Right.

But then came the question of recognizing my Licence. Even though it's from another Pontifical University here in Rome, I have to undertake five courses at Licence level and pass them all with an average of not less than 9/10... Right.

So which courses to choose? I had had the foresight to ask some other priests at the Casa which were some good courses to take, so I had also filled out the corresponding form and, just on the off chance that it would be accepted, asked Msgr Kelly (the Director of the Casa) to sign the sheet. This meant that if the Dean accepted them I was home and hosed. He started to go through the course handbook suggesting courses that related to Ecclesiology and giving me the codes so I could write them on a new sheet. I didn't say anything, not wanting to push my luck. Then he looked over the desk and saw the already-signed sheet. Oh, you've already done it? He took a look and said that it was basically the same as what he was suggesting. Why don't I just sign this one, he asks? Right.

We're done then, he says, after signing the two copies which I had prepared according to the directions in the Course Hand book. No handshake... Whatever!

Next stop was the Academic secretary to record the courses and receive my enrollment certificate. No one waiting in the office. All done and stamped - 12:20pm. 10 minutes to get to the ecomomato to pay. RUN.

Down the stairs. Long line of students waiting. Then I see a separate sign up the stairs to the Economato. Again, no one in the office. May I pay? Sure. Done.

All within an hour. Apparently a world record (for the Gregorian University; for Italy, maybe?). Legend status. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!

Why ? The birds will still sing

2010-01-27T11:42:00.000+01:00

In choosing a moniker for my Blog I wanted to avoid anything which included my own name in it. But, a bit like doctoral topics on John Henry Newman, everyone seems to have already thought of every one that occurred to me. So casting the net a little more widely I thought about the purpose of my Blog: to stay in touch with a lot of people and do so without spending too much time in the process. However, Pope Benedict reminded us recently: "All priests have as their primary duty the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, and the communication of his saving grace in the sacraments. Gathered and called by the Word, the Church is the sign and instrument of the communion that God creates with all people, and every priest is called to build up this communion, in Christ and with Christ."

How is a priest, assigned to full time study, supposed to live out this "primary duty" of proclaiming the love of God when he has no flock to pasture? Certainly, through his study; which Fr Basil Cole OP suggests can be called a "quasi sacrament", he offers his research and writing for the Church (to say nothing of his daily offering of Mass, Mental Prayer, Divine Office, Rosary, Spiritual reading etc). But the Holy Father in his "Message for World Communications Day" which will take place on Sunday 16th May, ingenuously broadens the terminology and scope of the Church to include what he calls the "digital continent" of the internet. In this way there is a cyber-flock which, like all parts of the Church, is in search of the trancendentals (truth, beauty and goodness) that needs to hear the saving proclamation of the gospel.

Therefore, my Blog can, perhaps even must, become a means of proclaiming the love of God in the ordinary life of a student priest.

After some more thought and prayer one of my favourite sayings came to mind: "The birds will still sing in the morning."

The phrase "The birds will still sing" was often found on the lips of Les Darcy, a champion Australian boxer and devout Catholic who died tragically in 1917 at the age of 21. At the time of his death, probably from septicemia, the priest attending him declared that he wondered if he had ever committed a mortal sin in his life. He was a daily Mass goer and whenever he was in a major competition he would he would drop by St Mary's cathedral in Sydney for confession. At one period in his short life it was not uncommon for him to work for 10 hours as a blacksmith before catching a steamer from Maitland to Sydney where he would fight 15 or so rounds in the evening and return by steamer to his home so he could hear 6 am Mass the next morning. His motivation was the love of his family, for whom he fought (literally) to get out of poverty. He is considered one of the great Australian boxers of all time.

Since I came across Les Darcy a few years ago he has become one of the inspirations in my life for growth in conformity to Christ. And often when things get tough I remember his carefree response even on those rare occasions when he lost a fight: "Don't worry; the birds will still sing tomorrow."

Why don't we Christians worry?

Because Christ has risen from the dead, and therefore we who are baptized (& seeking to grow in holiness) are the most hopeful of all people on the face of the earth.

Australia Day 2010

2010-01-27T00:44:00.000+01:00

Happy Australia Day!

Don't worry, I'm sure the novelty of writing will wear off when I start putting pen to paper (so to speak) for my doctorate. In the mean time a few words to wish you all a blessed Australia Day. If nothing else I hope that we stop and thank the good God for the immense blessings we have in our country Australia. Its not until we leave our fair shores that many of use realize just how good we have it Down Under. And God wants to give us these blessings for the simple fact that he loves us.

For reasons beyond my control and only possible due to Italian bureaucracy I didn't make it to the Australia Day function this evening at the Australian Embassy to the Holy See. But, I said to myself: "Don't worry, the birds will still sing tomorrow." I did get to the North American College ("the NAC") where our Aussie seminarians showed "The Castle" to some bemused American seminarians. It's been a long day...

Our Lady Help of Christians, Queen of Australia, Pray for us.

Rome Sweet Home?

2010-01-25T22:44:00.000+01:00

I'm still not necessarily convinced about writing a blog. But perhaps it is the only really practical way to let people know what I'm up to. Having been in Italy now for three weeks and having only called home once maybe this is the best way to stay in touch.

The last three weeks have been very enjoyable. I flew out of Melbourne on the 2nd of January 2010 after a relaxing few days at home with Mum and Dad in Ballarat. I had a reasonably tolerable flight with Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Rome. It was made pleasant by the discovery that my friend Bernard Marusic was not only on the same flight, but was seated next to me, on both legs of the journey. Bernard is helping to run the Centro San Lorenzo in Rome (a youth outreach only a few hundred meters from St Peter's Square).

Week 1 was taken up by my attendance at the Year For Priests Conference for English-Speaking Clergy which took place literally in the Vatican; at the Domus Sanctae Marthae (Domus Sanctae Marthae). This "hotel" for Cardinals was built to house the Cardinals during a conclave. It's first such use being in 2005 for the election of Pope Benedict XVI. We were truly blessed to be staying so close to the tomb of St Peter for a week. The talks were all of a high quality and served to fortify us in our knowledge of and love for the priesthood.

On Saturday 9th January I went to Spoleto in Umbria with some priest friends. We had a wonderful time wandering through the streets in search of good restaurants (of which, I am happy to say there were many!). N.B. the Trebbiano white and Montefalco (Sagrantino) red were staple accompaniment to the strangozzi pasta with tomato base or truffles... Need I say any more? Perhaps the highlight was the celebration of the feast of the city's patron saint, St Ponziano, a soldier who died around the age of 16 probably in the persecution of Decius between the years 156 and 165. He was beheaded and the relic of his skull preserved in the city's cathedral. On his feast day it was processed through the city alleyways from the cathedral to the church dedicated to the saint outside the city, preceded by many soldiers in uniform and clergy including the new bishop Renato boccardo. It was a rather motley crew, but very sincere and prayeful.

I returned to Rome and after collecting my key from the Casa Santa Maria (more about that later) I stayed the night with my good friend Fr Mark Withoos, who is now stationed in Rome.

The weekend was spent down in Naples with the Wahlin family who are friends of Fr Glen Tattersall, who kindly introduced us to Chad and Kim and their seven children (plus baby in utero). An American family, they live at the U.S. Naval base in Naples... protecting us all from terrorists (sounds like we need some valmorfication here). Visiting the amazing churches once again was a reminder that Italy is the country of saints. Of particular note: the crucifix that spoke to Saint Thomas Aquinas ("You have written well of me, Thomas") is found in the church of St Dominic and the room in which he taught theology was shown to us by a friendly care-taker. Also the Gesú Nuova (Jesuit Church) is simply stunning; to say nothing of the sight of a massive church filled with young people for the Sunday night Mass and seven priests hearing confessions...

Chad drove Fr Tattersall and myself back to Rome on Monday and I settled in to the Casa Santa Maria. This past week has seen the arrival of Cardinal Pell, with whom I have been able to catch up and the sorting out of many practical things here at the Casa. I can report that the food is great, the building in which I live simply incredible and the Baroque chapel of the college needs to be seen to be believed. The only downers (but who am I to complain!!!!!!) are the trip down the corridor to the bathroom in the morning and the noise outside my room of Roman life continuing on at its usual frantic pace. If any of you know Rome I am a coin's throw from the Trevi Fountain and neighbour to the Pontifical Gregorian University (where I will be studying).

The only question that needs to be answered: What is the meaning of the Blog's name?

But that can wait until next time. God bless and Viva il Papa!