Sunday, June 10, 2007
Now on Twitter
Check out twitter.com. Pretty cool concept. I don't know whether I can keep up with it or not, but you can find me by searching for alberione.
New Podcast!
I launched a new podcast last week. It's not really a personal podcast...it's just makeup classes for 9th grade PSR (Parish School of Religion). This is part of the three year Confirmation program at St. Peter Parish.
If you have nothing better to do and want to hear about the Old Testament, you can check it out at 9psr.com.
If you have nothing better to do and want to hear about the Old Testament, you can check it out at 9psr.com.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
The Night of Light
Taken from a biography of Blessed Alberione by Sr. Mary Tiziani dal Masetto, SDDM found at here.
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On the night between December 31, 1900 and January 1, 1901, James knelt in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. He was sixteen, still somewhat confused as a consequence of his recent crisis.
The Cathedral of Alba was filled with parishioners and seminarians in response to the powerful, prophetic voice of Pope Leo XIII. The ardent pontiff had already called on the Catholic world to spend a Holy Year of prayer in preparation for the twentieth century and had written the encyclical Tametsi Futura, in which he vigorously pointed to Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life leading humanity to salvation.
After the celebration of midnight Mass, James and the other seminarians stayed at length in prayer. Four hours of fervent prayer! Young James was the last to rise to his feet. Later that morning another seminarian, Giordano, expressed astonishment upon meeting him; James must have let something of his interior state show.
Let us listen to how Alberione, fifty-three years later in Abundantes Divitiae Gratiae Suae, described his experience of God:
“ Particular enlightenment came from the Host, and a greater understanding of that invitation of Jesus: ‘Come to me, all of you…’ (Mt 11:28).
“ He seemed to fathom the heart of the great Pope, the Church’s call (for help), and the priest’s true mission. What Toniolo said about the duty of being apostles today and of using the means exploited by the opposition made sense to him. He felt deeply obliged to prepare himself, to do something for the Lord and for the women and men of the new century with whom he would spend his life” (AD 15).
“He had a clear grasp of his own nothingness. At the same time he experienced a message from the Eucharist, ‘And know that I am with you always, yes, to the end of time’ (Mt 28:20). He understood that he could count on the Eucharist—on Jesus—for light, nourishment, consolation and victory over evil” (AD 16).
“His prayer was…for the century to be born in Christ in the Eucharist; for new apostles to reform the law, education, literature, the press, morals; for the Church to give fresh impetus to mission; for good use of the new means of apostolate; for society to welcome the great teachings of Leo XIII’s encyclicals.
“ His mind and heart became so fixed on the Eucharist, the Gospel, the Pope, the new century, the new means…and ‘Come to me, all of you’…from then on these things always dominated his thoughts, inspired his readings, his study, his prayer, his spiritual work, and his yearnings. He felt an obligation to serve the Church, the women and the men of the new age, and to work with others in an organized way” (AD 19-21).
“ Projecting himself mentally into the future, he felt that, in the new century generous people would experience what he was feeling and that teamed up into an organization they could bring about what Toniolo kept on repeating: ‘Unite; if the enemy finds us alone he will defeat us one by one.’ …This idea of his at first was quite confused; with the passing of time, it became clearer and more specific” (AD 17, 21).
In that first and extraordinary prayer he saw and felt clearly the specific mission, and the particular spirit, in which the Pauline Family would be born and live.
Though Alberione wrote the above experience in his characteristically laconic, under-stated way, we can gauge the magnitude of the mystery that had enveloped him that night. The huge growth in holiness, the enormous development of the works of God for which he would become a tireless instrument throughout his long life, would find in this “night of light and fire” its official onset.
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On the night between December 31, 1900 and January 1, 1901, James knelt in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. He was sixteen, still somewhat confused as a consequence of his recent crisis.
The Cathedral of Alba was filled with parishioners and seminarians in response to the powerful, prophetic voice of Pope Leo XIII. The ardent pontiff had already called on the Catholic world to spend a Holy Year of prayer in preparation for the twentieth century and had written the encyclical Tametsi Futura, in which he vigorously pointed to Christ as the Way, the Truth, and the Life leading humanity to salvation.
After the celebration of midnight Mass, James and the other seminarians stayed at length in prayer. Four hours of fervent prayer! Young James was the last to rise to his feet. Later that morning another seminarian, Giordano, expressed astonishment upon meeting him; James must have let something of his interior state show.
Let us listen to how Alberione, fifty-three years later in Abundantes Divitiae Gratiae Suae, described his experience of God:
“ Particular enlightenment came from the Host, and a greater understanding of that invitation of Jesus: ‘Come to me, all of you…’ (Mt 11:28).
“ He seemed to fathom the heart of the great Pope, the Church’s call (for help), and the priest’s true mission. What Toniolo said about the duty of being apostles today and of using the means exploited by the opposition made sense to him. He felt deeply obliged to prepare himself, to do something for the Lord and for the women and men of the new century with whom he would spend his life” (AD 15).
“He had a clear grasp of his own nothingness. At the same time he experienced a message from the Eucharist, ‘And know that I am with you always, yes, to the end of time’ (Mt 28:20). He understood that he could count on the Eucharist—on Jesus—for light, nourishment, consolation and victory over evil” (AD 16).
“His prayer was…for the century to be born in Christ in the Eucharist; for new apostles to reform the law, education, literature, the press, morals; for the Church to give fresh impetus to mission; for good use of the new means of apostolate; for society to welcome the great teachings of Leo XIII’s encyclicals.
“ His mind and heart became so fixed on the Eucharist, the Gospel, the Pope, the new century, the new means…and ‘Come to me, all of you’…from then on these things always dominated his thoughts, inspired his readings, his study, his prayer, his spiritual work, and his yearnings. He felt an obligation to serve the Church, the women and the men of the new age, and to work with others in an organized way” (AD 19-21).
“ Projecting himself mentally into the future, he felt that, in the new century generous people would experience what he was feeling and that teamed up into an organization they could bring about what Toniolo kept on repeating: ‘Unite; if the enemy finds us alone he will defeat us one by one.’ …This idea of his at first was quite confused; with the passing of time, it became clearer and more specific” (AD 17, 21).
In that first and extraordinary prayer he saw and felt clearly the specific mission, and the particular spirit, in which the Pauline Family would be born and live.
Though Alberione wrote the above experience in his characteristically laconic, under-stated way, we can gauge the magnitude of the mystery that had enveloped him that night. The huge growth in holiness, the enormous development of the works of God for which he would become a tireless instrument throughout his long life, would find in this “night of light and fire” its official onset.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
SQPN CST #40: Is God Real? (We say yes)
SQPN CST #40: Is God Real? (We say yes)
Catholic in a Small Town on SQPN.com. Faith, Family, media and pop culture... Catholic in a Small Town has it all! (...and two hilarious hosts, as well!)
Check 'em out!
Catholic in a Small Town on SQPN.com. Faith, Family, media and pop culture... Catholic in a Small Town has it all! (...and two hilarious hosts, as well!)
Check 'em out!
SQPN: The Best in Catholic Podcasting
If you haven't heard of SQPN, you really need to check it out. Head over to SQPN.com.
SQPN was started by a Roman Catholic priest in the Netherlands, Fr. Roderick Vonhögen. The network consists of several podcasts, all with a Catholic flavor. Some podcasts are hosted by married couples, others by priests. There is even a podcasts hosted by kids!
I highly recommend SQPN.com! Great podcasts about life, faith, and family!
SQPN was started by a Roman Catholic priest in the Netherlands, Fr. Roderick Vonhögen. The network consists of several podcasts, all with a Catholic flavor. Some podcasts are hosted by married couples, others by priests. There is even a podcasts hosted by kids!
I highly recommend SQPN.com! Great podcasts about life, faith, and family!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Pope praises the life of the consecrated
Monday, July 10, 2006
Restoration begins in the family
"GOD WISHED TO RESTORE ALL THINGS in Jesus Christ and he decreed that Jesus should begin his work presenting to all families a perfect model in the Family of Nazareth. In the Holy Family, fathers, mothers and children can find divine lessons of patience, chastity, filial love and the example of hard work. In that situation Jesus lived, worked, and prayed for many years and so the work of restoration began in the family." -- Blessed James Alberione
This quote is found opening Chapter One of the Statute & Directory of the Holy Family Institute. It sets the tone for the discussion of the nature and purpose of the Institute that follows in the Statute.
Blessed James Alberione established 10 branches in his Pauline Family. The first and second branches to be founded are the most well-known in the United States: the Society of St. Paul and the Daughters of St. Paul. You can check out more about these religious communities here:
The Society of St. Paul
The Daughters of St. Paul
The final branch to be founded is the Holy Family Institute. The fact that the Church has recognized a new secular institute for the married and widowed speaks volumes about the importance of family life today.
Here is the link to the official website of the Holy Family Institute in the United States.
It is my desire in to share with you my experiences and reflections as a consecrated married man in the Holy Family Institute.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
About the Holy Family Institute
Reflections on consecrated married life in The Holy Family Institute.
The HFI is part of the Pauline Family founded by Blessed James Alberione. The Society of St. Paul and the Daughters of St. Paul are two of the most well-known branches of the Pauline Family.
The Holy Family Institute nourishes a marriage-and-family spirituality in the Pauline tradition. After a period of formation, HFI members make Church-regulated public vows (the Evangelical Counsels) according to their state in life.
The HFI is part of the Pauline Family founded by Blessed James Alberione. The Society of St. Paul and the Daughters of St. Paul are two of the most well-known branches of the Pauline Family.
The Holy Family Institute nourishes a marriage-and-family spirituality in the Pauline tradition. After a period of formation, HFI members make Church-regulated public vows (the Evangelical Counsels) according to their state in life.
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