Break time

I'm taking a break from preparing for my Eucharist exam tomorrow. There's A LOT of information to remember, and my brain needs a moment to rest from re-reading my notes. (At least the ones that make sense.)

This semester is turning out a little different than what I expected. On paper, the schedule looks great. However, after actually living it, it's a bit hectic. It feels a little disconnected to me, and doesn't give me a good solid block of time to do things, except on Tuesday mornings and Fridays, which is difficult for me since I'm not a morning person, and end up falling asleep while reading or preparing other projects. I'm dealing with it - and, in reality, it's not horrific, just a little disconnected in the way I was hoping this new schedule would run. But it is what it is.

Well, back to the grind. I think I'll do okay on the exam if I can just remember how this information goes together.

Oh, well . . . .



Enjoy the journey . . .

Congratulations . . .

. . . to the Pittsburgh Steelers on their historic sixth Super Bowl victory!

One of the good . . . um . . . GREAT guys

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R., pictured above, is one of my favorite modern guys who is on his way to canonization. I first learned about him in 2000, when he received his Beatification - the only North American to have this done in the Jubilee Year. He was a contemporary of Saint John Neumann, and both served in the Pittsburgh area at the same time. A local connection, yes - but it becomes a little more personal for me as he was the founding pastor of my first assignment parish, Saint Joseph Parish in O'Hara Twp. (The parish was founded in Sharpsburg in 1845, and relocated to O'Hara in 1960.)

A little bit about Blessed Seelos . . . (taken from a prayer card):

Blessed Francis X. Seelos, C.Ss.R., arrived in America in 1843. Having studied for the priesthood in Germany, he asked to be admitted to the Redemptorists with a view to future work in America. He was ordained in 1844. Three years after ordination, he was appointed Master of Novices and spent one-third of his priestly life training future priests. In 1860 the Bishop of Pittsburgh (the Right Reverend Michael J. O'Connor) wanted Father Seelos to be his successor. Father Seelos asked to remain a humble priest and his request was granted.

He was stationed in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Annapolis, Cumberland (MD), Detroit, and New Orleans. He preached missions and retreats throughout most of what was then the United States. Transferred to New Orleans in 1866, he contracted yellow fever and died October 4, 1867. Many miracles are attributed to his intercession during his life and after his death.

I have placed my seminary formation under his intercession. I believe his prayers to be working for me. I received a first-class relic of him recently, and I now count it as one of my prized possessions. It's awesome to get to know this "humble priest", and I do pray that he will, one day soon, be canonized and recognized for the good he has done for the people of Pittsburgh, and the United States.

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, pray for us!

A prayer:

Bountiful God, in Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos You have given Your people a model for those who labor joyfully in Your earthly kingdom. May his smile dwell on those who find life burdensome. In him, our eyes continually behold the gentleness of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.

All information presented here, and any further information, can be found at http://www.seelos.org/.

Enjoy the journey . . .