Katie’s Blog

It sounded like a good idea back in January when my dad, sister, and I planned a hiking trip. We’ve hiked Mt. LeConte on close to a dozen occasions since I was a freshman in high school. But lately I’ve been missing the mountains and lamenting the fact that my sister and dad can drop everything to go on a hike whenever they want (not that they do, but still).

So at the start of the semester, we picked the weekend before exams for me to fly home. I thought “Well, if I have it on my calendar this far in advance, I’ll have to get my act in gear and plan ahead.” Well, that time has arrived–and I haven’t planned ahead the way I would have liked to. Oh well, I’m still super-stoked. Check out where we’ll be staying!!!

Perhaps I’ll post pictures when I return… and when I finish the last few papers of the semester!!!!!!!!

The student brothers who traveled to New York last week got some amazing shots of their adventures.

Here’s the full photo album.

And then some highlights on the Central Province website.

I’m so excited for Pope Benedict’s visit to the US this week. I wish I was fortunate enough to get to see him, but alas I will be watching via tv and the blog-o-sphere. January of this year was the 10th anniversary of my first visit to St. Louis–to see Pope John Paul II when I was a freshman in high school. Not only have I looked back on that moment of my life fondly, but I have see the grace in my life as a result of it.

So here are a few websites of notes for those interested in things papally-related:

USCCB Website- Christ Our Hope

Amy Welborn’s blog- she has some good stuff up already, certainly with more to come.

Pope 2008- blog from the National Catholic Register

A Papal Discussion- from the NY Times

From the AI website- student brothers travel to New York

Please pray for safety for all traveling pilgrims and for all those heads of state with whom the Holy Father will be visiting!

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd Benedict XVI a spirit of courage and right judgement, a spirit of knowledge and love.
By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love, and peace for all the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SOURCE: EWTN

I think actually the reference is the final four… that’s basketball, right? Well, I don’t follow the NCAA, but I do follow the list of classes I need in order to graduate. And earlier this week I registered for my FINAL semester here at Aquinas. My last five classes are:

1. Integrative Seminar (Boudreau, OP)
2. Pauline Literature (Martin)
3. SPM III (C. Wright)
4. Christian Anthropology (TBA)
5. Contemporary Moral Issues (TBA)

And then of course there is CPE this summer. But the end is near! In the meantime, we’re well into the month of April and I can hardly believe that there’s just a month of school left. Schoolwork is demanding my attention!

My dad sent out an email earlier this morning with the subject line “The Easter Bunny is at our house.” The family dog, Scout, has always enjoyed his stuffed carrot squeaker toys. It appears that as he napped with them this morning the paparazzi arrived in time to capture the moment for our amusement.

I do enjoy traveling and have always enjoyed road trips. This year’s spring break was no different. I had intended on keeping things a bit more low-key, but then everything I wanted to do fit into my schedule perfectly without any conflicts. And then *POOF* I was out of town for ten days.

I had a lovely trip to Connecticut to visit a religious community and go on a retreat. I’m so grateful that I made my retreat (which coincidentally also counts for my Lay Formation retreat requirement) at the start of my spring break. It allowed me to think, sleep, unwind, and pray–and who can’t use a little R & R now and then? Additionally, I was privileged to witness the joy the sisters live in their life, prayer, and ministry.

Then I was able to visit my little sister at her college–she took me to my first hockey game ever! (And her college won.) She and I have made a concerted effort to visit one another even though we don’t live close. When I was in college she would visit me for “Little Sibs Weekend.” She and I have celebrated Thanksgiving together the past two years, also. But there is something really fun about getting to see how grown up she is now that she’s studying hard in college.

Lastly, this past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to speak on a panel of alums at my alma mater, Saint Mary’s College (Notre Dame, IN). In my four years there I had never had the chance to hear first hand what you could do with a religious studies major. It was inspiring to visit with the other panelists and learn where God has led them in the past 15 years since they’ve graduated. The students themselves also seemed to be thankful to engage in conversation about what their degree can mean for/to them. I am very blessed to have the formative experience that Saint Mary’s gave to me. They value my opinion as a graduate and I continue to grown in gratitude for my time there. And as a bonus I got to give a “plug” for Aquinas and what a great school it is!

**The original post was lost when we had a server crash, but here’s a bit of it that I can remember.** (KJP- 3/18/08)

Joyce Rupp, a well-known spiritual writer, has a beautiful image for what we do during Lent. She calls it “tomb-watching.” I used this image in a preaching I gave in class earlier this week. Rupp’s imagery reminded me of the friends I’ve walked with through struggles and sorrows. And like angels who watched over the body of Jesus as he laid in the tomb, so often do we do the same with our friends in the midst of the “deaths” we each experience. Through the resurrection, these tomb-watches have great power as we remain confident in the new life that comes from death. Here is an excerpt of Rupp’s words:

Tomb-Watch:

It all began with a postcard tucked inside an envelope with a letter. I’m sure my friend never knew what that small print of the fourteenth station of the cross would generate in me. Neither did I. But I did know the instant I saw the print by the southwest artist, Ettore (Ted) DeGrazia, that something (or Someone) tugged at my Lenten spirit and asked me to look longer.

DeGrazia’a print shows the body of Jesus wrapped in a traditional mummy-like white shroud, lying on a stone slab. Ah, but the body is not alone. All around it are shawled sorrowing angels keeping vigil. Their soft rainbow colors are the darkness of the tomb. Slightly bowed as they sit, one knows immediately that their hearts are weary with sadness for their Beloved. They watch with a patient vigilance, attending the One who has given all. They trustfully wait for the piercing light of Resurrection to banish the gloom of death’s house….

I understood, then, the power of these angels surrounding the shrouded body of Jesus. I saw clearly how each of us needs “tomb watches” every now and then. Maybe we are keeping vigil for a part of ourselves that lies dormant and seemingly dead or lost or has fallen into a coffin of depression or despair. Maybe that shrouded figure in us is the loss of a way to pray, a deadening unforgiveness, or a body experiencing its physical limitations. Maybe our “tomb watch” is our becoming the angel of vigil, attending someone else in pain. Maybe the vigil we keep is for the people of our world as we weep for their woe or for the Earth herself as she continues to experience humanity’s reckless waste and the grime of greed…

Easter is about “tomb watches”. It is about love that keeps vigil and waits and believes in life, no matter how dark and empty and cold the inner space feels. Easter is about hope that is willing to sit in the tomb while it trusts in transformation. Easter is about faithful companions who keep watch with us and cheer us on as we wait for our inner resurrection”.

from - ‘Out of the Ordinary’

This semester I’m very excited to be taking Christology. I’ve waited nearly three years to take this class (fitting it into my schedule has been a bear!). And my homework gains even more meaning as we ponder the mystery of Jesus’ death (and resurrection) this Lenten season.

Earlier this semester we read historical descriptions and depictions of Jesus Christ. The following is an excerpt from a handout we received. My small discussion group was deeply moved by these words:

He ate and drank for our sakes, though himself without hunger or thirst, he bore and suffered reproaches for our sakes, he died and rose again because of us. He who defended me also when I sinned and strengthened me with his greatness, will also comfort you that you may love him, this God who is both great and little, beautiful and ugly, young and old, appearing in time and yet in eternity wholly visible; whom no human hand has grasped, yet is held by his servants, whom no flesh has seen, yet now he is seen; whom no hearing has found yet now he is known as the word that is heard; whom no suffering can reach, yet now is chastened as we are; who was never chastened, yet now is chastened; who is before the world, yet now is comprehended in time; the beginning greater than all princedom, yet now delivered to the princes; beauteous, yet appearing among us as poor and ugly; this Jesus you have, brethren, the door, the light, the way, the bread, the water, the life, the resurrection, the refreshment, the pearl, the treasure, the seed, the abundance, the mustard-seed, the vine, the plough, the grace, the faith, the word: He is all things, and there is no other greater than he. To him be praise forever and ever. Amen.

Acts of Peter, 20 (selections)- c. 2^nd C. AD

Further reading on the Acts of Peter.

The new blog is up and running! I’m so excited we have this new fandangled blogger. It’s going to take me a bit of time, but I’ll go back and label each of my previous posts (as well as twiddle with the formatting of the text). A big thanks to Ed from our Technology Department who loaded my old posts into this new blog.

Oh, and eventually I’ll put up some new posts. Enjoy the look around!

Happy 2008 to everyone! In this new year, I offer a few thoughts/suggestions for ordering our prayer. I find the Holy Father’s intentions this month particularly necessary in light of the recent events in Kenya. A former Aquinas professor, Tom Esselman, CM, is now teaching at the Vincentian Seminary in Nairobi. He and the other Vincentians there are safe for the time, but they ask for your prayers.

Daily Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate
Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers,
works, joys and sufferings of this day, in
union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
throughout the world.

I offer them for all the intentions
of your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls,
reparation for sin, the reunion of all
Christians.

I offer them for the intentions of our
Bishops, and all members of the Apostleship
of Prayer and in particular for the intentions
of the Holy Father for this month.

POPE BENEDICT XVI’S
MONTHLY PRAYER INTENTIONS – 2008

January:
• Christian Unity. That the Church work for full visible unity that better manifests a community of love which reflects the Blessed Trinity.

• Church in Africa. That the Church in Africa, preparing for a special Synod, may be an instrument of reconciliation and justice.

Source for the rest of the year’s intentions:
http://www.apostleshipofprayer.org/2008.html