News

Going Down With the Ship

1 Comment

Here is another Titanic story on LifeSiteNews emerging from the 100th anniversary (April 15th) of the sinking of the unsinkable ship.

On April 12, 1914, a 42-year-old Catholic convert by the name of Fr. Thomas Byles was on his way to New York via the Titanic to officiate at his brother’s wedding. He had spent the day saying Mass for the second and third class passengers and was reportedly praying the Divine Office when the ship struck the iceberg.

According to eyewitnesses, Father Byles helped women and children get into the lifeboats, then heard confessions, gave absolution, and led passengers in reciting the Rosary. Agnes McCoy said that Father “stood on the deck with Catholics, Protestants and Jews kneeling around him” praying for the repose of the souls about to perish. His friend Fr. Patrick McKenna said, “He twice refused the offer of a place in a boat, saying his duty was to stay on the ship while one soul wanted his ministrations.”

After the shipwreck, a newspaper said of him: “Among those who safely reached the land again no one seems to have been aware of his presence on the ship, but we may hope that many who meet him in a blissful eternity will praise God that Father Thomas Byles was there to administer absolution unto them.”

His body was never identified. May this priest among priests rest in the peace of Christ.

 

News, Women's Communities

Vatican Calls For Reform of the LCWR

Leave a comment

“The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has called for reform of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) and named Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle as its archbishop delegate for the initiative.” This was the headline on Zenit today. The release highlighted “addresses given at LCWR assemblies (that) contained serious theological and doctrinal errors.”

Most of the IRL women religious belong to communities that are part of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR), the LCWR counterpart, that was founded in 1992 to promote religious life in the Unites States. The CMSWR seek to promote unity among Major Superiors, thus testifying to their union with the Church’s Magisterium and their love for the Vicar of Christ on earth. They also staunchly back the Bishops as they fight the assault on our religious liberty.

Let us pray that all faithful women religious may come together as one. The Church teaches that “the bishops have by divine institution taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the Church, in such wise that whoever listens to them is listening to Christ and whoever despises them despises Christ and him who sent Christ.” (CCC 862)

General interest

“They Cast Lots”

Leave a comment

How beautiful our faith is and how visual are its signs in our cathedrals and in the relics that we treasure.

Here is one that I knew nothing about: the “Heiliger Rock,” now on display in the Cathedral of Trier, Germany, from April 13 – May 13, 2012.

According to tradition, the Heiliger Rock is the robe worn by Jesus for which the Roman soldiers cast lots (Jn 19:24). Found by St. Helena c.327 it is rarely on display.

Pope Benedict XVI, in a message to the Bishop of Trier, said that the robe (or tunic) made with a single piece of cloth, that is, with no seams, is a sign of “the unity of the Church, founded as one indivisible community by the love of Christ.” His love, the Holy Father says, “brings together that which has been divided.” The jubilee pilgrimage (it was first viewed in 1512) in keeping with this theme, has the motto: “Lead to unity that which is divided.”

“We ask the Lord,” says the Holy Father, “to guide us on the shared path of faith, to make it live again for us….growing together as Christians in faith, prayer and witness.”

 

 

News

100th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic

Leave a comment

This is the season for shipwrecks. A short while ago I wrote about our local bishop who was on the Andrea Doria. Now as we approach April 15th (remember to send in your taxes), the world is commemorating  the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. On her maiden (and only) voyage was a Jesuit novice by the name of Frank Browne. He set sail from Southhampton, England, and journeyed with the ship to France and Ireland. A benefactor was willing to pay the Jesuit’s way to America but his superior nixed the plan with the stern telegraph message: “Get off that ship.” He kept that telegram in his wallet for the rest of his life.

What makes this young man’s experience most interesting is the fact that he was a photographer. His photos of the life aboard the ship are classics. He took the last photo of the captain. He captured images of everyday life of the ship from first class down to steerage. James Cameron recreated his  image of a 6 year old boy spinning a top in his blockbuster movie.

Frank Browne’s life could be a movie in itself. He was a highly decorated chaplain in World War I and was a classmate of James Joyce who featured him in his novel, “Finnegan’s Wake.”

If you are interested in seeing his photos, a book  of his pictures has been recently issued called, “Father Browne’s Titanic Album.”

Men's communities, Saints

Agent 007 OFM Conv.

1 Comment

In the James Bond movies, good always triumphed over evil. The Conventual Franciscans have their own version of agent 007, the English-born Friar Matthew Bond who seeks to conquer the forces of darkness by spreading the truth, beauty and goodness of our faith by the “writing” of icons. An iconographer and novice at St. Francis of Assisi Novitiate in Mishawaka, Indiana, Friar Matthew has done many icons and has given workshops on the “writing” and spirituality of icons.

Two of his most recent icons are of two soon-to-be canonized American Saints: Mother Marianne Cope and Kateri Tekawitha. Both Blesseds lived in New York State and have close connections with the Conventual Franciscans (that’s another interesting story).

Friar Matthew’s icon of Mother Marianne depicts her bandaging the wounds of a leper. Her medical supplies are at her feet. A hibiscus, the state flower of Hawaii, is depicted in the foreground. The Franciscan Church of the Assumption is to the left of the saint, and the Motherhouse that she left to go to Hawaii in 1883, is to the right in the picture.

To see more of Friar Matthew’s icons, visit the Conventual Franciscan website.

News, Papal Address, Resources

Pope Benedict, Vocations and the Apostleship of Prayer

Leave a comment

The Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of April as announced by the Apostleship of Prayer is:

“that many young people may hear the call of Christ and follow him in the priesthood and religious life.”

Amen to that! And the Pontiff’s mission intention is “that the risen Christ may be a sign of certain hope for the men and women of the African continent.”

The Apostleship of Prayer promotes among other things the offering of each person’s daily prayers, works, joys and sufferings to the Lord. Begun in France in 1844 by a group of Jesuit seminarians, the Apostleship of Prayer is truly the Pope’s own “prayer group.” It is, as Pope John Paul II wrote in 1985, “a precious treasure from the Pope’s heart and the Heart of Christ.”

The US National Director is Fr. James Kubicki, S.J., an IRL Board Member. Visit their website for morning offering prayers, the monthly intentions, reflections and much more.

 

News, Women's Communities

Honk If You Love Nuns!

1 Comment

During spring break this year instead of heading for Daytona Beach, 12 young women decided to participate in a “Nun Run,” a beautiful journey of faith which allowed them to see different communities and their apostolates up close and personal. All twelve students were from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, whose 2 traveling minivans were decorated with the words: “BC Nun Run” and “Honk if you love nuns!”

Their journey took them to 5 IRL Affiliate Communities: the School Sisters of Christ the King; Marian Sisters; The Benedictine Sisters, Mary Queen of the Apostles; the Little Sisters of the Poor (see their write up on the 4 days spent there); and the Sisters of Saint Francis of the Holy Eucharist. The “run” ended at the IRL Midwest Meeting in Independence, MO, where Fr. Thomas Nelson, O.Praem., offered advice on the practical steps for vocational discernment in general and discerning a religious community in particular.

One young women said, “The breathtaking truth that is found in religious life was clearly felt and experienced. And it has helped me so much to grow as a person, to love others, to live and share my life with others. It has been great!”

 

News, Women's Communities

The Growing Norbertine Family

Leave a comment

The Sisters of the Canonry of the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph in Tehachapi, California, otherwise known as the Norbertine Canonesses are expanding! On March 30, 2012, a groundbreaking ceremony was held marking a new chapter in the life of this new community which was founded in 1997. The canonesses have grown from five members to 25 members,  ten of whom who are in final vows.

The old modular trailers are a “health hazard” and a new building will accommodate not only the nuns but also their artisan cheese, biscotti and jam production. The nuns also make priestly vestments and sell Christmas wreaths. Over 1000 were shipped last year!! Plan a retreat with them and stay at their guest house for a time of spiritual renewal.

The Norbertines were founded by St. Norbert on Christmas Day in 1121 in France. The canonesses in the spirit of St. Norbert sing the divine office seven times a day in community in both Latin and English. They are the first women Norbertines in the US.

Click here for the full story in the Tehachapi News. Zenit also had a wonderful story after their solemn possession in 2011.

News

Win Incredible Monastery Gifts

Leave a comment

Kentucky Bourbon fudge anyone? Artisan cheeses. Homemade afghan. Jams. Caramels. Fudge from Italy! Note cards, CDs. Soap.

And a Nook! Loaded with Ignatius Press book titles!!!!!

No donation is required, but all donations help to support our work in building up the religious life. Just call the IRL office at 847-573-8975 and we’ll fill out the tickets for you. Mastercard or Visa accepted.