Life and Death

The past couple weeks have been very trying emotionally. I've faced life and death and questioned both.

I've questioned how amazing life truly is -- especially new life. I have taken life (of friends, family and enemies) for granted. After my nephew Holden was born, I reflected on a whole new meaning of life, from infancy to death.

Fr. Scott Carroll ordained to the Roman Catholic
Priesthood on May 8, 2013 and entered
eternal rest on May 10, 2013.

Death, too, has been knocking on my emotions. While I knew Fr. Scott Carroll fairly well, I can't imagine what was going through his thoughts and feelings knowing he was close to meeting his maker.

Scott Carroll, for those of you that don't know, was one of the most quietly-humble, servant-oriented and loving men I have ever met. Scott also had a great sense of humor, too. We worked a TEC together, and our paths crossed frequently at Saint Meinrad. He made a mean pizza at the UnStable.

He discerned, a little later in life, to join the seminary and become a priest. He studied at Saint Meinrad from 2006 to 2013, and was set to be ordained a priest on June 22, 2013. Due to his struggle with cancer and at the nudging of some friends and priests, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 08, 2013 and died on May 10, 2013 shortly after saying Mass. I don't know why God had to take this good man so young, but I do know that Fr. Scott will be an advocate for us in heaven praying on our behalf. I have solace in knowing that the Gospel at Fr. Scott's Mass today was as follows from John 6:20-23:

Jesus said to his disciples: 
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,
while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.
When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived;
but when she has given birth to a child,
she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy
that a child has been born into the world.
So you also are now in anguish.
But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy away from you.
On that day you will not question me about anything.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

Baby Holden born May 3, 2013
(Thanks to his grandma on his mom's side for this photo.)

As I commented earlier today on Facebook: May he now find eternal rest, peace and joy. Fr. Scott, you taught us how to keep "death daily before our eyes" and to give life everything you had, even saying Mass shortly before settling in to an eternal Eucharistic feast.

With regards to new life, I am in awe of my nephew, Holden (born May 3, 2013), and the joy he has brought into my life. Knowing that this small, tiny, helpless child that can only eat, sleep and poop will have so much potential to do great things is AWEsome. I am excited to watch as his parents love him, as his family loves him and as I love him. He will learn that love and share it in his own unique way throughout life. New life is very miraculous, and I thank God for showing me a new sense of joy.

Just some thoughts on life and death that I've been pondering lately...

Be well, and do something special for someone.

A Timely Article for Holy Week

One of the oblates at Saint Meinrad wrote this beautiful article about suffering and rejoicing and how one's relationship with God is impacted during times of sorrow and joy.

Thanks, Ann, for your insights and pulling together some great resources to craft this article.

The Sound of Discipleship

Eucharistic Adoration during TEC 370 in
the Diocese of Toledo in Ohio.

The sound of discipleship is the sound of silence.

I gave a talk during TEC (Teens Encounter Christ retreat) on discipleship, and the scripture passage I used was John 20:21. "As my father has sent me, so I send you." Discipleship has been on my mind a lot lately.

We closed TEC with Mass. At the end of Mass, participants lingered, signing one another's Bibles, sharing affirmations, giving hugs, maybe shedding a few tears and laughing about the memories made.

As time went on, more and more of the participants made their final goodbyes and went their way. The church grew more and more quiet, and finally the last person left. I was the sacristan for the weekend, so I made sure the lights were turned out in the church and that it was in the same shape as we found it.

The silence was at first intimidating and little bit saddening, but then I realized silence was the sound of discipleship. The youth and adults who attended TEC left to head back on their own journey of faith. They certainly were inspired this weekend to do something great, and I cannot wait to be inspired by the stories from their journeys.

My prayer is that all who were involved with TEC this weekend were strengthened and fortified to continue spreading peace, love and joy among their friends, families and enemies.

Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labors.
      St. Therese of Lisieux

What's your dance? [What's your trademark?]

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I'm watching the Grammys right now, and Justin Timberlake is singing and dancing. He has his trademark high-pitch singing voice, and in general, a particular style about him. It made me think about the Gagnam Style dance, and how that's its own trademark dance. Then there is the YMCA, the cha-cha slide, the electric side, crank that by soulja boy, etc. etc.

It makes me wonder what my own trademark will be throughout life. What will be your trademark? Do we even need to have a trademark? Maybe each person we encounter will label us with a certain trademark. What would you want that trademark to be?
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The Word Remarkable

Definition of Remarkable: To be worthy of notice or attention; notably or conspicuously unusual; extraordinary

I have 4 minutes to write this post before work starts, so it will be a simple post -- but hopefully extraordinary.

The word remarkable has been on my mind a lot lately. I've been wishing people a good day and telling them to do something remarkable. I think we have it within us to do small things each day to leave a remarkable impact on those whom we encounter. I am trying to be more and more intentional and aware of my actions and how they impact others.

It's also neat to watch others do remarkable things without them even realizing what they have done is remarkable. I have a mostly positive, optimistic outlook on society when it comes to folks doing the right thing and doing the remarkable thing, but I think we all can continue improving on that.

At any rate, do something remarkable today. You might start to notice the world around you in a little different light, and you will be surprised how it comes full circle with something good happening to you.

From a Hancock County Relay for life at my high school in Ohio.
There is hope in fighting cancer, and I find it remarkable when folks with cancer,
their family and their friends take on the fight against cancer.

Who is "Saint Menard's"?

I work at a seminary and school of theology which is home to an Archabbey -- also known as a monastery. It can get a little confusing, but all terms aside, the name of the place is Saint Meinrad. It has many pronunciations, but my favorite is probably "Saint Menards", like the home depot store.
Today is Saint Meinrad's feast day, and one of the monks here wrote reflections in a book about various saints. Here is the reflection on Saint Meinrad so you can learn a little more about this man who was known for his hospitality, dedication to prayer and his devotion to growing closer to God.

Meinrad, the “Martyr of Hospitality,” was born of a free peasant family near what is modern-day Würtemberg, Germany. As a youth he became a monk in the Benedictine abbey of Reichenau, Switzerland. Following his ordination to the priesthood, he became a teacher in the monastery school. Seeking a life of solitude, he received permission to become a hermit and settled in a nearby forest around the year 829. Meinrad acquired a reputation for holiness and many came to him seeking his advice and prayers. Desiring greater solitude, he moved to a remote spot in the Black Forest.

After living in this new hermitage, the site of which would eventually come to be known as Einsiedeln (the “Hermitage”), he courteously received two visitors, who turned out to be thieves who believed Meinrad was hoarding treasure. Finding none, the theives clubbed the holy man to death. His body was later recovered by the monks of Reichenau and a new abbey grew up on the site of Meinrad’s hermitage: the Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln. Today, this monastery, with its famed “Black Madonna,” is one of the most popular destinations for pilgrims in Europe. In 1854, monks travelled from Maria Einsiedeln to settle in rural Indiana, bringing their Benedictine heritage, and the legacy of Saint Meinrad, with them.

Although Saint Meinrad is one of the Church’s lesser-known saints, his life and death, particularly his willingness to offer hospitality to all who came to him (including those who, according to tradition, he knew would take his life), reminds us that hospitality is an essential facet of our life in Christ. Realizing that all that we have has been given to us as a gift entrusted to us by God, we are empowered, like Meinrad, to share those gifts freely with others: “Even now go in, ask God and his saints to be gentle with you, and afterwards return to me, so that I may share for the love of God whatever blessing I can offer you that he bestows” (Saint Meinrad).

-Taken from From Season to Season: A Book of Saintly Wisdom by Br. Silas Henderson, O.S.B.(Abbey Press, 2012: Click this link to be taken to the book's website)


Saint Meinrad, pray for us.

Reflecting on Reflection

Phil, Bryce and Tim at Holiday World.
(Photo courtesy of Bryce's phone)

Trying to contemplate the title of this post confuses me a bit, but it seems appropriate.

Of all the books, stories, encounters, growing experiences and life lessons I've come across, one of the most important take-aways has been the importance of reflection. I will not go on-and-on about reflection, but I write about it to merely encourage it. Reflection can be of varied time frames: a day, week, month year, decade, lifetime, etc.

In my own experiences, I often dwell on emotions and encounters that my conscience has floating out in thinking-space (like: outer space).

My emotion and encounter happened this week, on which I've been dwelling. Two very good friends of mine were in the area from Toledo, Ohio. They stopped in Santa Claus for dinner and to stay the night. Over the course of our conversation it came up that I should take a day off or half a day off work. It's difficult for me to give up control of my plans like that, but I am very happy I chose to take half a day off work. We spent a wonderful morning at Holiday World, the theme park outside my neighborhood.

Reflecting on why this emotion and encounter is in front of me, it is teaching me me to continue balancing responsibility and relationships, and understanding how the two work together. I've also learned to reflect on what my conscience has floating around in thinking-space.