November/December 2020 INSPIRING New Works

AMERICA ON TRIAL CONTINENTAL ACHIEVEMENT Robert Reilly Kevin Starr he Founding of America is on trial. Critics say it was a he sequel to Continental Ambitions, Starr's magisterial work Tpoison pill with a time-release formula and that its Ton Catholics who explored, evangelized, and settled principles are responsible for the country's moral disintegration. North America. is work focuses on the participation of In this well-researched book, Reilly strives to prove this thesis is Catholics, alongside their Protestant and Jewish fellow citizens, false by tracing the lineage of the ideas that made the USA, in the Revolutionary War and the creation and development and its ordered liberty, possible. He argues that the bedrock of of the Republic. With the same panoramic view and cinematic America’s founding are the beliefs in the Judaic oneness of God; style, Starr documents how the American Revolution allowed the Greek rational order of the world based upon the Reason Roman Catholics of the English colonies to earn a new and better behind it; and the Christian arrival of that Reason (Logos) place for themselves in the emergent Republic. incarnate in Christ. CACH . . . Sewn Hardcover, $27.95 AOTH . . . Sewn Hardcover, $27.95 REAL PHILOSOPHY FOR REAL PEOPLE THE POLITICS OF HEAVEN AND HELL Robert McTeigue, S.J. James V. Schall, S.J. very corner of our lives brings us face to face with competing n invaluable contribution to the understanding of Ephilosophies and world views claiming to tell us de nitively Aclassical, medieval, and modern political philosophy what it means to be human. How can we know which one is right? while explaining the profound problem with modernity, which McTeigue gives a fun, humorous and invigorating crash course Schall shows to be a perversion of Christianity by trying to in practical logic, metaphysics, anthropology, and ethics, achieve man’s salvation in this world. It does this by politicizing equipping readers with a tool kit for breaking down and everything which results in the absolute state. e best defense evaluating the thought systems that swirl around us and even against this tyranny is “the adequate description of the highest within us. things, of what is beyond politics”. Both reason and revelation are RPRPP . . . sewn Softcover, $17.95 needed for this work, and they are eloquently set forth in this book. PHHP . . . Sewn Softcover, $19.95 CHRIST VS. SATAN IN OUR DAILY LIVES THE NEXT Robert Spitzer, S.J. George Weigel ith his focus on the human heart, Fr. Spitzer tackles the topic of recognizing and overcoming spiritual evil. His he is on the verge of a transition of great W goal is our moral and spiritual transformation, which leads to consequence. Drawing on his personal discussions with true peace and genuine happiness. He shows how to experience TJohn Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, and his decades of God's peace even during su ering and persecution. He examines experience with Catholics from every continent, Weigel the basics of the spiritual life and Christian mysticism, including examines the major challenges confronting the Church that the the contemplative dimension. He explains the purgative, next ponti cate must address as the Church enters new, un- illuminative, and unitive aspects of spirituality, as well as the charted territory. To what is the Holy Spirit calling this Lord's consolation and the passive Dark Night of the Spirit. Church-in-transition? What are the qualities needed in the man CVSP . . . Sewn Softcover, $19.95 who will lead the Church from the Chair of St. Peter? NPH . . . Sewn Hardcover, $19.95

www.ignatius.com

P.O. Box 1339, Ft. Collins, CO 80522 (800) 651-1531 INSPIRING New Works

Table of Contents

Features Columns AMERICA ON TRIAL CONTINENTAL ACHIEVEMENT 3 Piety and Orthodoxy 8 Back to the Basics: Robert Reilly Kevin Starr Q & A on the he Founding of America is on trial. Critics say it was a he sequel to Continental Ambitions, Starr's magisterial work Rewarded Tpoison pill with a time-release formula and that its Ton Catholics who explored, evangelized, and settled —Hungarian Founders of Essential Elements principles are responsible for the country's moral disintegration. North America. is work focuses on the participation of St. ’s Abbey of Religious Life In this well-researched book, Reilly strives to prove this thesis is Catholics, alongside their Protestant and Jewish fellow citizens, James Graves The Role of Spiritual false by tracing the lineage of the ideas that made the USA, in the Revolutionary War and the creation and development Direction—Part I and its ordered liberty, possible. He argues that the bedrock of of the Republic. With the same panoramic view and cinematic 6 Discovering the Sure style, Starr documents how the American Revolution allowed Rev. Thomas Dubay, S.M. America’s founding are the beliefs in the Judaic oneness of God; Pathway to the Lord the Greek rational order of the world based upon the Reason Roman Catholics of the English colonies to earn a new and better 11 Answering the Master’s behind it; and the Christian arrival of that Reason (Logos) place for themselves in the emergent Republic. — Bernard’s Four incarnate in Christ. CACH . . . Sewn Hardcover, $27.95 Degrees of Love Call—Being in the Right AOTH . . . Sewn Hardcover, $27.95 Most Rev. Donald J. Hying Place Where God Wants REAL PHILOSOPHY FOR REAL PEOPLE Bro. Bernard Mary THE POLITICS OF HEAVEN AND HELL Robert McTeigue, S.J. 16 On Fraternity and Fonkalsrud, OFM Conv. James V. Schall, S.J. very corner of our lives brings us face to face with competing Social Friendships n invaluable contribution to the understanding of Ephilosophies and world views claiming to tell us de nitively 13 Religious Pioneers in Aclassical, medieval, and modern political philosophy what it means to be human. How can we know which one is right? —Introduction to the America: Trailblazers of while explaining the profound problem with modernity, which McTeigue gives a fun, humorous and invigorating crash course Encyclical Fratelli Tutti Faith— Schall shows to be a perversion of Christianity by trying to in practical logic, metaphysics, anthropology, and ethics, Pope Francis achieve man’s salvation in this world. It does this by politicizing equipping readers with a tool kit for breaking down and Sr. Segale, S.C. everything which results in the absolute state. e best defense evaluating the thought systems that swirl around us and even Anne Tschanz against this tyranny is “the adequate description of the highest within us. Departments 18 Doctor of the Heart, things, of what is beyond politics”. Both reason and revelation are RPRPP . . . sewn Softcover, $17.95 needed for this work, and they are eloquently set forth in 2 Institute Insights Healer of the Soul: this book. PHHP . . . Sewn Softcover, $19.95 The Spiritual Counsel CHRIST VS. SATAN IN OUR DAILY LIVES 20 InnerView of Dr. Conrad Baars THE NEXT POPE Robert Spitzer, S.J. With Bro. Ken Apuzzo, B.H. George Weigel ith his focus on the human heart, Fr. Spitzer tackles the The Origin of topic of recognizing and overcoming spiritual evil. His Superior General of the he Catholic Church is on the verge of a transition of great W Repressive Neurosis goal is our moral and spiritual transformation, which leads to Brotherhood of Hope consequence. Drawing on his personal discussions with Rev. Brian Mullady, O.P. true peace and genuine happiness. He shows how to experience TJohn Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis, and his decades of God's peace even during su ering and persecution. He examines 23 IRL News & Notes experience with Catholics from every continent, Weigel 28 Theological Reflections the basics of the spiritual life and Christian mysticism, including examines the major challenges confronting the Church that the Christ’s Divinity as an the contemplative dimension. He explains the purgative, 26 Affiliate in Focus next ponti cate must address as the Church enters new, un- illuminative, and unitive aspects of spirituality, as well as the Benedictine Abbey Essential Mystery of charted territory. To what is the Holy Spirit calling this Lord's consolation and the passive Dark Night of the Spirit. Church-in-transition? What are the qualities needed in the man of St. Walburga Faith CVSP . . . Sewn Softcover, $19.95 who will lead the Church from the Chair of St. Peter? —Virginia Dale, Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J. NPH . . . Sewn Hardcover, $19.95 www.ignatius.com

P.O. Box 1339, Ft. Collins, CO 80522 (800) 651-1531 November/December 2020 Institute Insights Vol. XLIV No. 5 ur Mission: Religious Life is published R e v . T h o m a s N e l s o n , O.P r a e m . Oby the Institute on Religious Life, Inc. (IRL). The IRL is a national organization hrist’s Divinity is a central mystery of our faith, as the founded in 1974 to encourage, support late Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J., explains in his Theo- and assist authentic consecrated life as set forth by Vatican II and its implemen- Clogical Reflections. This mystery is also at the heart tation by the . Membership in of the Religious Life which is a closer following of Jesus the IRL is comprised of bishops, priests, Christ. This is why monks like St. Anthony of the Desert religious and lay persons. were great defenders of Christ’s Divinity, since their aus- Religious Life is sent to active mem- terity in following the Crucified One only makes sense in bers of the IRL ($30 per year for U.S. the light of His Divinity. Orthodoxy therefore is essential to the full living membership) or to those who request it. of religious life and those communities who make it a hallmark of their life Institutional or library subscriptions are also available. Send all correspondence flourish. St. Michael’s Norbertine Abbey is a sign of this, whose founding to Religious Life, P.O. Box 7500, Liber- Abbot drew many vocations because of his national reputation for or- tyville, IL 60048, or call 847-573-8975. thodoxy during the tumultuous times following Vatican II. James Graves Executive Editor writes about it in “Piety and Orthodoxy Rewarded.” Rev. Thomas Nelson, O.Praem. Faith is animated by charity, which can grow without limits. Most Rev. Managing Editor Donald J. Hying explains this growth in charity using St. Bernard of Clair- Mr. Michael D. Wick vaux’s four degrees of love in “Discovering the Sure Pathway to the Assistant Editor/Circulation Mrs. Anne Tschanz Lord.” From love of God comes love of neighbor, which is expressed Layout & Design in fraternity and friendship, a theme Pope Francis has turned to in his Catholic Creative Services, Inc. latest encyclical Fratelli Tutti, whose introduction we reprint here. The IRL Founder Brothers of Hope exemplify fraternity in placing it as a central charac- + Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J. teristic of their charism, as Bro. Ken Apuzzo, B.H., explains in our inter- IRL Executive Director view with him. Fraternity has always been central to the monastic life Mr. Jeffrey Karls and the Benedictine Nuns of the Monastery of St. Walburga in Colorado live their common life faithfully, whom we present in IRL Officers Affiliate in Focus. Most Rev. Robert F. Vasa Charity reaches its peak in the whose lives are filled with marvels President of good works. Sr. Blandina Segale, S.C., is a Servant of God and is on Mr. Paul Doetsch, Treasurer her way to being recognized as a saint. Anne Tschanz writes about her Mr. Frederick R. Dempsey, Secretary exciting life in the Wild West of the 19th century where all respected Most Rev. Bob Lombardo, C.F.R. her, even the famous outlaw . You can read about her in Mrs. Bonnie Quirke Religious Pioneers in America: Trailblazers of Faith. Charity not only ele- Mrs. Patricia Sanders vates to the supernatural, it also heals the natural by ordering all things Mr. Patrick Spencer to God. Neurosis is a wound in the soul that impedes the full exercise of Executive Committee charity. Rev. Brian Mullady, O.P., explains for us the origin of repressive © 2020 Institute on Religious Life, Inc. All neurosis in Doctor of the Heart, Healer of Soul: The Spiritual Counsel of rights reserved. Religious Life is printed Conrad Baars. Therapy is sometimes needed even among religious, but in the U.S.A. Reproduction of material ap- spiritual direction is always helpful. Rev. Thomas Dubay, S.M., answers pearing in Religious Life is prohibited with- questions on “The Role of Spiritual Direction – Part I” in his Back to Ba- out written prior permission. Unsolicited sics. Spiritual direction is certainly helpful in discerning a vocation to reli- articles, poetry and other original works gious life. In Answering the Master’s Call, Bro. Bernard Mary Fonkalsrud, may be submitted for consideration. OFM Conv., tells us about his vocation journey in “Being in the Right Please email submissions to: irlstaff@ Place Where God Calls.” religiouslife.com. Submissions may be edited for length and style. About the Cover: Saint Norbert and the early saints of the Norbertine Order adore the Christ Child (from a painting in the chapter house of the Abbey of Averbode) by Caspar de Crayer (1602).

2 November/December 2020 Piety and Orthodoxy Rewarded –Hungarian Founders of St. Michael’s Abbey– St. Michael’s Norbertine Abbey in Silverado, California, was founded in 1960 after seven Hungarian priests escaped Communism to relocate in the United States in pursuit of living their religious life and of educating and forming youth in the truths of the Catholic Faith.

By James Graves he Southern Austria-Hungary, California young Ladislas Parker TNorbertines, grew up an only child who are known for to a widowed mother. their piety and ortho- From a very early age, doxy, will soon have he showed signs of a a new, larger abbey to religious vocation. At accommodate their age 5, he remembered growing community. his mother turning a It’s been ten years kitchen stool upside since the death of down and standing Norbertine “Father him in the middle of Abbot” Ladislas the room, where he Parker (1915-2010), would imitate the one of seven found- gestures of his town’s ing Hungarian priests parish priest in the of Saint Michael’s pulpit. He faithfully Abbey in El Toro. served at Mass, and The community has by age 11, knew he grown steadily since wanted to be a priest. its establishment in But the family vine- the early 1960s; its yard needed a caretak- priests are known for their piety and orthodoxy, draw- er, and his mother and grandparents thought Ladislas the ing many to join the community and necessitating the logical candidate. However, one evening, his grammar building of a new, larger abbey several miles away from school teacher at the time, Steven Szomor, paid a visit its original site. Abbot Parker headed the community to the future priest’s home and told Ladislas’ mother and for 35 years until his retirement, and played a key role grandparents, “It would be a shame not to send this boy in navigating the Abbey in a healthy direction in the on in school.” Putting aside concerns about the vineyard, turbulent years following Vatican II. the family agreed and enrolled Ladislas in a local Norber- tine high school. Throughout his life, Abbot Parker kept Called at a Very Young Age a framed photograph of Szomor in his office, a reminder Born on December 19, 1915, in the Empire of of the teacher’s fateful intervention in his life.

November/December 2020 3 Ladislas entered the Nor- importance of the early ed- bertine high school and ucation of youth, and began learned firsthand of the Nor- an intense struggle to wrest bertine order. Founded 900 control of the state’s school years ago by St. Norbert, system from the Church. Archbishop of Magdeburg While the takeover of the and Vice Chancellor for the country began slowly, the Holy Roman Empire, the spe- aims of the new communist cial charism of the order, ex- government became clear in plained the Abbot, is “to com- 1948, when it outlawed polit- bine the contemplative life of ical parties and arrested Hun- a monk with the active life of gary’s famed primate, Cardi- a parish priest, and to tie this nal Mindszenty (who, work to the community in an the Abbot was proud to note, abbey.” graduated from a Norbertine Five of the original seven founders of St. Michael’s Abbey in 1990s. high school). The state then Fervent Devotion to the Holy Eucharist declared God a myth, a product of feeble men’s minds. The Norbertines are easily recognized by their tradi- Father Parker responded to the state’s self-declared tional white cassock (which, according to pious belief, atheism by delivering a series of sermons defending the was given to St. Norbert by the Blessed Mary reality of God’s existence and the immortality of man’s as a sign of her protection and favor) and their mot- soul. The authorities carefully watched the young priest. to, “Prepared For Every Good Work.” The essence or In fact, during one Lenten retreat in 1950, the secret “heartbeat” of the order is fervent devotion to the Holy police intervened and ordered Father Parker back to the Eucharist, central to Norbertine spirituality. abbey, declaring that his sermons were “undemocratic.” The order’s primary apostolate is the education and moral formation Daring Escape to Freedom of youth, preparing them to be good By this time, government mandates Catholics as well as productive, sta- had outlawed much of the work of the ble members of society. Abbot Parker, “The [Norbertine] Church. On the evening of July 11th, who recognized the importance of this the Abbey received word that a detach- apostolate early in his career, opined, Order’s primary ment of police was on its way to disperse “I am convinced that a person’s basic apostolate is the the community and seize the abbey. character traits are developed by the Heeding the words of Christ: “When 17th year. And, in the first six years, education and moral they persecute you in one town, flee a child at home learns more than in formation of youth, to the next” (Mt 10:23), Father Park- the 60 years after. Consequently, par- er and fellow Norbertine Father Siard ents have a tremendous responsibility. preparing them to be Haigli planned an escape to the free Without religion and faith, you cannot good Catholics as well world. Five other abbey priests agreed form children properly.” to join in the plan. With their abbot’s In 1935, Ladislas was accepted as a as productive, stable blessing, they decided they would es- novice at the ancient Abbey of St. Mi- tablish a community in an English chael of Csorna, Hungary, and was or- members of society.”. speaking country, learn the language, dained a priest five years later. Hungary and serve in their community. In five or was spared many of the worst ravages of World War II six years, once the communists were forced from power, and Father Parker led a rather peaceful life as a young they would return to Hungary and their abbey (this pro- novice master in the early 1940s. Yet many of the chal- cess, in reality, was to take forty years). lenges of his life were just beginning as he watched the At midnight, the fugitive priests slipped out. They communists come to power in his native Hungary after headed for the border across some of the country’s the war. Like the Norbertines, the communists saw the roughest terrain, reasoning that the authorities would

4 November/December 2020 be the least likely to Cistercians who were expect an escape in trying to escape by this region. Along the same route a few their escape route weeks later. they dodged patrols, cut through barbed “Come to Me” wire, tiptoed through —Relationality a mine field and fi- Father Parker and nally swam across a his six brother Nor- 60-foot wide river bertine priests then holding their clothes booked passage on above their heads. A a ship to New York parish priest friend ar- with $3,000 in bor- ranged their final 50- rowed money (“Mon- mile dash to freedom Groundbreaking for the construction of St. Michael’s Abbey in 1962. ey we paid back!” he in the back of a pick- later asserted.) They up truck across Soviet-occupied Austrian territory. were welcomed to the Norbertine Abbey in DePere, The seven fugitive priests were to later learn that Wisconsin, and went to work in parishes and schools their beloved Abbey was converted into a government for the next five years. headquarters building, and the remaining Norbertines In 1957, Cardinal James McIntyre invited the seven dispersed. They also came to realize the good fortune priests to teach at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, of their escape, learning of the capture of a group of (Continued on page 10) Fond Memories of My First Christmas as a Newly-Invested Norbertine Novice By Rev. Thomas Nelson, O.Praem. As an Order we begin our 900th anniversary of founding this Christmas. I was vested by Abbot Ladi- slaus Parker at the Christmas Midnight Mass, in the then small Priory chapel. Now we vest our novices on Christmas Eve at Midmorning prayer when we sol- emnly chant the in the now larger Abbey church. Having prepared so well for Christmas through the austere Advent season we celebrate Christmas with great solemnity as the community gives birth to new novices. We extend the celebration through the hristmas is a very special time at St. Michael’s Ab- octave to the Epiphany. It is truly a time of grace. Cbey. I entered the Norbertine community in Sep- tember of 1973 as a postulant when the Abbey was a newly-founded Priory. Many adjustments in thought and attitude had to be made before I would be ready for vestition and novitiate. One was the experience of Ad- vent. Gone were the decorations, Christmas music and parties I was used to in the world. They were replaced by the sober chant of the Advent Liturgy, ascetical surroundings, and fasting as the community prepared itself for Christmas—and as I prepared myself for vesti- tion as a novice. St. Norbert of Xanten vested his first novices on Christmas day in the year 1121.

November/December 2020 5 Discovering the Sure Pathway to the Lord –Saint Bernard’s Four Degrees of Love–

By Most Rev. Donald J. Hying

Saint Bernard’s writings which have much to teach us today about the spiritual life and prayer, as we move ever deeper into God and the mystery of His love for us. Whether we live a cloistered existence or are out in the world, we must discover our sure pathway to the Lord, where God gently but persistently brings us to Himself.

ecently, I was we move ever deeper blessed to lead into God and the mys- Rthe annual re- tery of His love for us. treat for the Cistercian “Love is the fountain Nuns here in my Dio- of life, and the soul which cese of Madison, Wis- does not drink from it consin. cannot be called alive.” The Valley of Our This quote inspired Lady Monastery in Prai- me to revisit my fa- rie du Sac has been a vorite reflection from sacred place of contem- Saint Bernard’s, “Four plative prayer, cloistered Degrees of Love.” life, and beautiful peace In our movement since it was established towards God, we pass in the 1950’s. through four levels of This community loving. of sisters radically dedicated to God through a life of The first is loving ourselves for our own sakes. In prayer, silence, and work is a blessing for all of us. Be- some ways, this first stage is one of self-absorption; life ing with them was a privilege and a grace. is centered on me­­—my wants and needs, my opinions and will, my need to control. Four Degrees of Love Without grace and transcendence, we can get St. breathed new life into stuck in this first level of myopic ego. Cistercian monasticism in the Middle Ages during the If we truly seek to be fully human and alive, we 11th century, and monasteries began all over Europe in come to realize profoundly that life is not essentially a refreshing movement of spiritual fervor. about us. Being with the Sisters on retreat inspired me to re- The second level is loving God for our own sakes. We visit some of Saint Bernard’s writings which have much begin to believe and pray. We find consolation in the to teach us today about the spiritual life and prayer, as practice of our Faith.

6 November/December 2020 Peace and joy come our Pathway to the Lord way as we study the Scrip- Saint Bernard’s Four tures or serve the needs of Stages of Loving is a sure others. pathway to the Lord. In this stage, we have Moving from self-cen- begun to move towards God, teredness towards transcen- but we are still the center of dence, allowing the love our religious practice. of the Lord to invade the To put it frankly, we love fortress of the ego, to break God for what we get out of down the walls of fear, it. shame, hatred, and sin, is to At this level, we can eas- become the person God has ily become discouraged and abandon prayer altogether called us to be from before all time. if we do not feel comforted or strengthened or when The beauty of the final stage is that we do not our petitions of intercession seemingly go unanswered. come to hate ourselves or lose ourselves in the spiritual The third movement is loving God for God’s sake. quest. We discover who we are and then make a radical We have persevered in the practice of faith and gift of self to God and others. prayer; we have experienced the dark night where God In my pastoral experience, I have often encoun- seemingly withdraws all consolation and light. tered people who were on the cusp of a spiritual break- We have discovered that pursuit of a relationship through, but in that precise moment of surrender to with God is our highest good, no matter how we feel or God, they held back out of fear. They could not make even if we seem to be getting nothing the leap of faith. out of it. Afraid that a life of faith would To reach this level, we need much somehow hurt them or demand that purification and suffering, as we move they become a radically different per- beyond the limits of self and seek God “We must build a son or that they would lose their sense who is both a mystery beyond all un- of self, they would withdraw from the derstanding and yet dwelling within monastery of the heart, divine initiative. In one sense, they us through the wonder of sanctifying grounded in Christ, were absolutely right. grace. The spiritual path to God through One would easily think that this built on love and faith, Christ requires the death of our false loving God for His own sake is the where God gently self, the surrender of sin and egoism, highest level, but Saint Bernard offers the loss of an indulgent autonomy. one more. but persistently This journey is not for the faint of Loving self for God’s sake takes us brings us to Himself.” heart. back to the beginning, but we now love On the other hand, the spiritual ourselves in God, purified of selfishness life sets us free to believe, love, and and ego. give ourselves away. We come face to face with the We see our own human reality from its deepest paradox of the Gospel. identity, that we are beloved children of God, pur- To find our life, we must lose it, to live, we must chased with the precious Blood of Jesus Christ and die, to rise, we must be nailed to the Cross. anointed in the Holy Spirit. Whether we live a cloistered existence or are out This fourth stage is the fulfillment of the greatest in the world, we must build a monastery of the heart, commandment of the Law: Love God with your whole grounded in Christ, built on love and faith, where God heart, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as your- gently but persistently brings us to Himself. self. In the end, we can never love God or others from This article was slightly adapted from Bishop’s Hying a position of self-loathing. Otherwise, we will project column in The Catholic Herald for the Diocese of Madi- onto others our hatred of self. son. Reprinted with permission.

November/December 2020 7 Back to the Basics Q & A on the Essential Elements of Religious Life

The Role of Spiritual Direction –Part I– By Rev. Thomas Dubay, S.M. ( 2010)

I’ve noticed a growing practice Our second basic: competency in and then proceeds to give retreats to Qof non-clerical spiritual directors matters theological and spiritual cannot other religious and laity? and directresses guiding people in the be achieved except through long years of Our third basic: the competent affairs of their prayer development study. I spent fifteen years teaching guide is strongly attached to the Church and their interhuman relations. This major seminarians and have some and her teaching. History is strewn with guidance is given within the retreat idea of what our typical priests do individual and communal examples context and outside of it. As one might and do not know. Two years of philo- of the catastrophes that have resulted expect, there are those who look with from the dissemination of private and favor on this trend while others heart- erroneous opinions dealing with the ily dislike it, at least for themselves. spiritual life. One need only think of What do you think of it? movements like those of the Albigen- “The areas of human sians and Jansenists and of laxisms of It may be well for us to begin all sorts. Throughout Church history Awith some undebatable basics. existence encompaseed our very best spiritual directors, the The areas of human existence encom- by what we call the saints, have been unshakably com- passed by what we call the spiritual life mitted to the Church’s mind. I know involve the very deepest levels of the spiritual life involve the of not a single exception. They are human person. We just cannot get very deepest levels aware that a sign of listening to the more central than man’s relations to Lord is listening to His representa- and communion with God. Further- of the human person. tives: “he who hears you, hears Me; more, the human person is precious. he who rejects you, rejects Me” (Lk No one may tinker with or ineptly We just cannot get 10:16). A director who is propound- babble about these depths of His exis- more central than ing his private opinions in place of the tence. Hence our first undebatable ba- Church’s doctrine is sowing a seed sic: whoever engages in spiritual direction man’s relations to and that will soon wither and die. must be well equipped and competent. communion with God,” I may now be specific. I do not Whether that person be cleric or not, have any problem with a woman man or woman, he (she) must be fit giving spiritual direction. St. Teresa for the task. If a medical doctor must sophical and four years of theological of Avila did it. Women today can be skilled and may be sued for mal- studies are by no means an automat- do it—and­ often more competently practice if he is not, a spiritual doctor ic assurance that a man is competent than men. My problem is with lack needs even greater competency, even to guide others in advancing prayer. of aptitude and training. Whether if we have no prisons to enforce the What must we then think of a reli- one is a man or woman, if he (she) need. The stakes are higher. gious who takes a one-year course is not knowledgeable, I have grave

8 November/December 2020 reservations about that person guid- what they need most. A supermarket ing others either within a retreat or approach to revelation is selective and outside of it. In my own work, I have therefore basically dishonest. A faith- come upon the blunders worked ful proclamation to the Word brings upon people and retreats directed to our attention both what we want by inept people. Like most ages, we and do not want to hear. If a religious today have a few Teresas of Avila admires fine clothing and seeks out or Johns of the Cross. What we lack elegant food and drink, he is not like- in advanced prayer experience, we ly to select as his retreat master some- should supply by long study. Taking one who strongly believes in Gospel a few courses is not long study. poverty. Yet that is exactly what he (e.g. a thorough knowledge of mor- needs most. One who pays small at- It would seem to follow from al theology, St. , tention to the Magisterium dreadfully Qwhat you just said that the rap- Scripture studies, credits in religious needs to hear the proclamation from id spread of directed retreats poses life studies, counseling courses)? one who does accept the Church as serious problems. Since the directed How do individuals who wish to Christ instituted it. All the soothing retreat ordinarily cares for six or eight make a directed retreat assure them- words of a directed retreat will do lit- people, we would need large numbers selves of competency in the director tle good to one who is skirting the real of directors to answer the needs of the (directress)? Is it sufficient to go by obstacles to Gospel living. growing numbers who are seeking this word-of-mouth recommendations? Experience has made plain to me type of retreat experience. I know, for Or should one just take his chances? another advantage of the proclaimed example, of very few religious wom- retreat. An institute can be much en who have the training you require Aside from the competency benefited by all members of a prov- in the previous question, and yet they Qproblem do you see any oth- ince hearing the same Gospel mes- are giving retreats. Would you agree? er difficulties in the directed retreat sage given in one or more communal movement? retreats. If the message is authentic Yes, serious problems do indeed and well presented, it can serve as a Afollow from the undebatable ba- Yes, but we should not concen- mighty promotion of shared vision in sics I mentioned. But that of course Atrate only on difficulties. There the congregation. And, as I have at does not render the basics debatable. are considerable benefits in the direct- length elsewhere shown, there simply Reasoning of this type flies in the ed retreat. In skillful hands it can be is no deep Gospel community where face of evidence. Yet, that is where a powerful introduction into a more there is no shared vision. If they are current practice is taking us. serious contemplative prayer life. The promoted to excess, directed retreats I may suggest some questions. retreatant can find the true experience can further a rugged individualism. Ought we to have a kind of licensing that far more than the minimal daily A third problem is the sheer nu- procedure whereby people are tested half-hour of meditation is feasible for merical insufficiency of competent before they are permitted to guide oth- him. The individualized attention giv- directors. Even if only half of all re- er people? Secular society does this. It en to him can be a great help to zero ligious made directed retreats, there does not allow people to tamper with in on specific impediments to growth. would be a wholly inadequate supply others’ lives unless they are properly In some cases the directed retreat can of personnel. Widespread directed certified. The state does not allow a be focused on reaching an important retreats, given the bell curve of hu- person who has done a year or two of decision in one’s personal life. man abilities, would have to be heavy studies in medicine to practice surgery But there are drawbacks. All of us with mediocre directors. or psychiatry. Should we be less de- need to hear God’s Word proclaimed What may we conclude? I would manding in a far more important field? to us by a “sent” representative, for, as suggest the occasional directed re- Who would do the testing? The Saint Paul tells us, “faith does come treat, that is, one in which the mas- bishop? The major superior? Both? through hearing” (Rm 10:17). Some ter is carefully chosen and confident- An interdiocesan board? What sort people are inclined to choose what ly prepared. I would not advise a of norms would the testing include they want to hear, and to leave aside steady diet of them.

November/December 2020 9 St. Michael’s Abbey (cont. from pg. 5) and disciplines of religious life and The years after the close of Vati- California. By 1960, Father Parker left their communities. St. Michael’s can II through the 1980s were a pe- and his fellow Norbertines had collec- was no exception. By 1968, all of the riod of steady recovery and rebuild- tively earned $46,000 and purchased St. Michael’s seminarians had left; ing for St. Michael’s. The priory be- a remote strip of cattle-grazing land only Father Parker and the six Nor- came better known nationally, and at the base of the Saddleback Moun- bertine priests remained. an increasing number of men from tains (in what would later become “We were depressed,” recalled the across the U.S. came to test their the Diocese of Orange, California), Abbot. vocations. In time, St. Michael’s was and established St. Michael’s Priory, But realizing that this time of des- able to establish several apostolates: named for the Abbey of Csorna. olation could, in fact, be a time for a full time residence high school, a “There was not a tree in sight,” re- renewal, the seven priests gathered summer camp for 6- to 12-year-old called the Abbot. “We planted every together and re-evaluated the pur- children, the staffing of parishes and one.” pose and direction of their communi- schools in Los Angeles, Orange, Riv- Excited that they had finally re-es- ty. Under Father Parker’s leadership, erside and San Bernardino counties tablished their community, the Nor- they affirmed St. Michael’s as “an in- and assistance provided at many lo- bertines knew they now needed vo- stitution specifically dedicated to the cal parishes. cations. Father Parker visited local mind of the Church, the authentic diocesan high schools and preached and perennial sense of the vocation An Abbey is Officially to the students about the Norber- to religious life, a structured com- Erected tine way of life. By 1962, 29 young munity prayer life and intellectual A special honor came to St. Mi- men had entered St. Michael’s newly formation patterned after Augustine chael’s in 1984, when the Abbot opened junior seminary. and .” General of the Norbertines and Pope St. Michael’s became a target of John Paul II approved the conferral Religious Vocations criticism in some Catholic circles, of abbey status on St. Michael’s. At Slowly Emerge which labeled the Norbertine com- this time, Father Parker received the But the Norbertines’ excitement munity as “arch-conservative” and title of “Father Abbot.” over their new community, and the “pre-Vatican II.” The Abbot, sen- In 1990, another milestone was initial rush of young men testing sitive to such criticism, responded achieved with the fall of communism their vocations, was soon to end. with his favorite post-Vatican II in the Soviet Union and eastern At the close of the Second Vatican motto, “At St. Michael’s, we seek ‘to Europe. Too old to return himself, Council, many of the young people hold steadfast to all that was good in Abbot Parker was able to send two in religious orders and seminaries re- the old, and not to shy away either young Norbertines back to Hungary belled against the rigorous schedules from that which is new.’” (Continued on page 22)

10 November/December 2020 Answering the Master’s Call

Vocation Stories Being in the Right Place Where God Wants By Bro. Bernard Mary Fonkalsrud, OFM Conv.

first discerned that perhaps God heard of the “Conventuals”; it really was calling me to religious life intrigued me and I was captivated by Iin 2008 when I attended World what this friar represented. Youth Day in Sydney. I had a very After the course finished, I re- powerful experience praying in front of turned home and began to focus on the WYD Cross and Icon of Our Lady the community of religious brothers and the Child Jesus when they came that I was set on joining, and even- to visit my home parish. As I sat there tually decided that I would like to quietly praying I began to really ana- move into a monastery and begin lyze my life, where I was, where I was formation. I loved the experience going, and I felt it just wasn’t enough; and learned so much from the broth- like there was something more I was ers I lived with. It was very difficult being asked to do. I remember lock- to move away from home, but I was ing eyes with Our Lady’s image and it for a few days before contacting comforted by the fact that my family’s just staring; the longer I looked, the them to express interest. I discerned house wasn’t too far from the monas- deeper I was drawn into thought and with the Brothers for about two years tery. I continued to attend universi- prayer, asking her to help me make and was very happy spending time ty for the teaching degree, and had sense of this “itch” I began to feel. with them, praying with them, going some in-house classes with my for- As I sat there perplexed by these to functions and events, visiting their mation director. I was nearing four feelings, I began to pay closer atten- schools and monasteries. months as a postulant when I began tion to the Child Jesus in her arms; His As I was preparing to make a vo- to feel that perhaps God wasn’t call- face was illuminated and staring hap- cational decision, I was invited to at- ing me to this particular community; pily at His Mother. Internally I heard tended a month-long, full-time live- I became a little distressed because a voice saying to me “Listen to Him,” in retreat called the Youth Leaders I had built up so much hype among “Follow Him”; and I instantly knew Formation Course being run by the my friends, family and the communi- this was Our Lady, Mary the Mother Archdiocese of Sydney. I had an ty and just didn’t want to feel like I of God, encouraging me to orient my amazing experience together with let anyone down. life to Christ and “pursue Him.” the other young people, immersing One night as I sat in my room in I took the opportunity during ourselves in the Faith and how to the monastery, “Conventuals” came WYD to visit the Vocations Expo truly represent it to others. During to my mind. It was weird because I and to speak to various congregations this course, a Conventual Francis- hadn’t even thought of them since and see what each had to offer. In the can Friar was one of the speakers. I YLFC and now the name randomly back of my mind I initially felt drawn had heard of Franciscans before and came into my head. Out of curiosity to the Order of Brothers who had had a special devotion to Sts. Maxi- I opened up my laptop and typed the founded my school. When I found milian Kolbe and Joseph Cupertino, name into Google; a few different them, I took information and sat with but I had never seen a friar in grey or websites came up. I went firstly to

November/December 2020 11 the Australian website. I was a little hadn’t had that expe- disappointed at what I found; the rience first, my cur- site was very basic and hadn’t been rent experience and updated in a while. It did though expectations of the have an e-mail address for their vo- friars may have been cation director which I wrote down. I much different and continued to search online and came harder to adjust to. across an American site which had My friends and family more content. I was very intrigued were very supportive with what I found, reading the his- of my decision too and tory of the Order; their loyalty to the continued to stand by Catholic Church; learning about the me as my discernment ministries they are involved in; see- began to take a differ- ing that they are getting good num- ent path. and also became very involved in the bers of vocations worldwide; and that I kept in contact with the Fran- Kellyville parish. Eventually the friars not just one, but two of my favorite ciscan vocation director, e-mail- invited me to move in as a volunteer saints— and Jo- ing him back-and-forth for a few to fully immerse myself in their daily seph Cupertino—were Conventual months. It was difficult because he schedule and prayer life. I loved every Franciscan Friars! I also loved that was stationed in Melbourne and I minute and eventually decided to ap- they have a very strong devotion to was in Sydney, so one day I asked if ply. Since the Australian Delegation Our Lady; live, work and pray com- there was anyone closer that I could is under the American Province of St. munally; and follow the humble and get in touch with and have a face- in Chicago, I began my faithful example of St. Francis of As- to-face meeting. He suggested that I formation in the United States. sisi. I read many articles and viewed contact the friars in Kellyville. I soon My postulancy at the National a ton of videos, and the more I was drove to the friary and nervously got Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe— finding, the more I felt that I needed out of my car. From nowhere I heard Marytown, was an amazing time of to get in contact with them. this voice say, “Are you Luke!?” I growth, both spiritually and human- Initially, I just needed to talk to turned to see a friar popping his head ly. There were many new experienc- someone about the awkward situa- around the corner of the building; es and so many friendships made. I tion I was in. I decided to contact the Brother Louis was in the middle of immersed myself in the life of the vocation director for advice. I typed brushing his teeth and had tooth- community and loved the classes up an e-mail outlining who I was, paste running all down the front of and ministry we participated in. I be- what I was doing, the circumstanc- his habit. “I’ll be with you in a sec...” came really involved in the Militia of es of my situation and the fact that As he disappeared I couldn’t help the Immaculata movement founded I felt perhaps God was telling me to but laugh! My nerves completely by St. Maximilian Kolbe to promote go elsewhere. He responded with a vanished and I knew at that moment total consecration to Our Lady. beautiful message encouraging me to that I was in the right place. These I truly felt that I was in the right keep pursuing my vocation and that friars where just like me! place where God wanted me to be. if I felt awkward breaking the news That day went extremely well. After my novitiate year in Indiana, I to the Brothers face-to-face, I could The friars were amazing and I had a spent an apostolic year at Marytown write a letter outlining exactly what I tour of the beautiful grounds and the before returning home to Australia was thinking and feeling; so I did just parish church. I continued to visit to pursue a Masters of Church His- that. The Brothers received the news on a regular basis, even going down tory at the Catholic Theological Col- graciously and congratulated me in to Melbourne a few times to meet lege in Melbourne. While in school I reaching my decision to leave on the friars there. After completing my got involved in various ministries. In good terms now, rather than stay and university degree, I began to teach September 2019, I professed my sol- be unhappy. I had a very worthwhile emn vows as a Conventual friar and experience with them and they really For more information visit: now serve at our Shrine of the Holy taught me so much; I think that if I FranciscanCommunity.org Innocents in Kellyville.

12 November/December 2020 Religious Pioneers in America Trailblazers of Faith

Servant of God Sr. Blandina Segale, S.C. —“The Fastest Nun in the West”— By Anne Tschanz

eople have always been en- Sister Blandina was teaching thralled by the characters and in when word came in 1872 Phistory of the American West. that she was to immediately leave Always a part of the story, whether for Trinidad, in the Colorado Ter- behind the scenes or in the middle ritory. Traveling alone, she seemed of the action, were the brave mis- to face the daunting journey with- sionaries who brought the Good out shedding a tear, but she wrote: News as well as educational and “The tears will flow when none charitable institutions to the fron- but He and myself will know.” She tier towns. One of those intrepid was heartsick for her Father who pioneers was Sr. Blandina Segale, did not want her to leave but her S.C., an Italian American Sister Mother told her: “I want to tell you of Charity, who kept a journal for that I never doubted your vocation. her sister (Sr. Justina Segale, S.C.) I agree to your sacrifice, my dear about her missionary life in what is child, keep on serving God, I will now Colorado and . never interfere.” As it said in the original forward To reach Trinidad required a to her journal, she worked with “In- train ride and then a perilous stage- dian and Mexican, Catholic and old, her family emigrated to Cin- coach journey through hostile and non-Catholic, rich and poor, the cinnati where Blandina’s Father barren lands. Many were the peo- criminal and the law-biding.” Most started a fruit stand and eventually ple she later tended who became notably among the latter group was a successful produce store. Inspired ill, injured or grievously wounded the outlaw and gunfighter Billy the by the Sisters of Charity and their while on the same trail. Arriving in Kid whose interactions with Sister works of mercy, and knowing about Trinidad on December 9, 1872, the Blandina gained all religious in their their dedication in serving the dwellings to her appeared to be dog habits his undying respect. Sister wounded on the battlefields of the kennels. Adopting St. Francis Xavi- Blandina had a cool head in a cri- Civil War, she told her Father: “As er as her model for the missionary sis, unbounded courage and innate soon as I am old enough, I shall be life, she wished she had many hands good business sense that served her a Sister of Charity.” In 1866, at age and feet and hearts to “place at the well as she dealt with frontier jus- 16, she walked through the door of service of the Eternal.” She vowed tice and its people. the Motherhouse, and was soon fol- to “do whatever presents itself, and Sister Blandina was born Rosa lowed by her beloved sister, Maria never omit anything because of Maria Segale in 1850 in the north- Maddelena, later called Sister Justi- hardship or repugnance.” ern Italian village of Cicagna, near na. Her name in religion was Blan- Unlike the other sisters, Sister . When she was four years dina, after the 2nd Century . Blandina spoke Spanish, a great

November/December 2020 13 help to her in lands the mob, asked for that were once part of and received pardon, Mexico. The inhabi- lived to stand trial, tants were a mixture was convicted, and of native people, His- given a sentence. panics who had been The outcasts of there for generations society were sought and Americans, very for and cared for by few of whom were Sister Blandina. One Catholic. She had example was a wom- great compassion for an known as “Crazy the “rightful posses- Ann” who was tend- sors of the soil,” the ed by Sister Blandina Native Americans. Generations to She intervened many times to as she was dying. Sister told her, come, she said, would blush at the thwart an injustice. In one instance, “You are one of God’s children, but wrongful deeds done to them. She she heard that men with evil de- forgot you once loved Him, yet He had great admiration for the Fran- signs were plotting a mine collapse still loves you.” The faith that was ciscans and the Jesuits “who staked to gain possession of it. To openly instilled in Ann was revived. “May all to bring the knowledge of God to confront them could cause trouble her soul rest in peace,” wrote Sister those who inhabited the land.” As- so she sent a trusted Native Amer- Blandina, “for surely peace left her signed to teach in the public school, ican as a worker to quietly inspect from the moment her downward some of the students were older the supports. In this way, the mine course began, and only returned and taller than herself, but quickly remained in possession of its right- when she came back to God.” She learned that they could not pull any ful owner. Another time, she stood once told a Jewish doctor, as they pranks on Sister Blandina. between angry , who want- were treating a woman thrown out Sister Blandina used all her in- ed justice for their murdered com- of saloon, that every person was a genuity to accomplish the impos- rade, and men who were mistakenly “human bearing the stamp of the sible or right a wrong. The school- thought to be harboring the killer. Immortal.” room (Public School #1) was a sim- Both sides trusted her word and the One day, Sister was taken to ple adobe structure with no venti- confrontation ended peacefully. the bedside of one of Billy the Kid’s lation. With no money, but trust in In another instance, one of her gang members, who had killed a God and a plan, she climbed on the pupil’s told her that his father had man while being simultaneously roof armed with a crowbar and be- shot a man, and as soon as the vic- wounded himself. Seeing him pre- gan throwing adobe bricks down to tim breathed his last, the furious viously, she had felt nothing but the ground. A well-known towns- mob was going to drag his father out fear and loathing. Now she said to woman spotted her and asked in of jail and lynch him. Sister Blandi- him: “I see that nothing but a bullet Spanish, “For the love of God, Sis- na asked the dying man if he could through your brain will finish you!” ter, what are you doing?” In short forgive his assailant and the answer She reproached herself later for order, workmen were sent to tear was yes. She then went to the sheriff these words, but he didn’t, he saw down the structure. Other trades- to stop the lynching, but he said to in her “no shamming but the right men and suppliers exchanged goods her: “What has any sheriff here ever stuff.” Telling her of the despicable and skill for their children’s tuition. been able to do to prevent a mob crimes he had committed, he asked Soon, a bright, well-aired building from carrying out its intent?” She if God could forgive him. Remind- with a blackboard, desks, a stage said, well be the first to try! The six- ing him of the Good Thief, she told for performances and flowers on foot plus sheriff looked at the petite him that God was merciful to all the windowsill arose like a miracle. figure before him and said: “If you who turned to Him in sorrow. When the bishop of Denver arrived, are not afraid, neither am I.” The As the patient was losing he was amazed: “I see how you man- prisoner, who was “trembling like an strength, Billy the Kid and his gang age to build without money.” aspen,” walked with them through arrived, intent on scalping the

14 November/December 2020 four physicians who refused Sister Blandina went on to treat their comrade. Ap- her rounds again, visiting preciative of her care of his jails, becoming a probate comrade, Billy told her he officer dealing with ju- would grant her any favor, so venile delinquency, and she said, “Cancel your plans addressing human traf- to scalp the Trinidad physi- ficking, amongst other cians.” Billy agreed. When things. the sick man lay dying, he In 1981, she was giv- asked not to be disturbed so en as a gift from her for- as to keep his mind on the mer students a trip back prayers said by the Sisters: to . She was 81 years “Miserere mei Deus…” When old. A journalist said that Billy happened to come across she was going to petition Sister Blandina on one of her the Pope about elevating many journeys, he spotted the cancer victim who could not bear to Mother Elizabeth Ann habit, recognized her, raised his cap be separated from her care. He died Seton to sainthood, “but people say and rode off. in with the Last Sacra- that Sr. Blandina is saint enough In 1877, Sister was transferred ments and Sister wrote: “His soul herself, canonized by 60 years of to Santa Fe, an area that reminded was worth the effort made.” She and faithful doing.” Sister Blandina died her of her childhood home in Ita- another sister once made an un- in Cincinnati on February 23, 1941. ly. The Ordinary in charge was the planned visit to Chihuahua in Mex- Her last words, spoken in Italian, famed Archbishop Jean-Baptiste ico where religious in habits were were “Gesu…Madre..,” the first two Lamy, while the governor of the not permitted. After Mass, they words she learned to write as a child. area was Lew Wallace, author of were greeted with cries of “The lit- After her death, her life story was “Ben Hur.” A military man, speak- tle nuns! The little nuns! Thanks be featured in articles, books, a comic ing of the Sisters of Charity in San- to God!” The enthusiasm by all was book, poems, and even on the CBS ta Fe who operated an orphanage, so great that she asked the govern- television series Death Valley Days hospital and free school, talked of ment officials the logical question: (“The Fastest Nun in the West”). them as “crossing desert, facing ev- “If the minority passes objection- Her exciting and adventure- ery danger, falling in the ranks, or able laws, why cannot the majority some life, episodes too numerous dying at their posts, with no aim but demand laws to repeal them?” For to mention here, can overshadow for the sake of God, and suffering which there was no answer. Their her main desire—to serve and bring humanity…” habits would blend in unnoticed, souls to Christ. As a newborn, her Throughout her years and dif- it was said, but Sister said, “Ah! mother had presented her to Our ferent assignments in the territory, That would make us hypocrites.” Lady and prayed: “To help man- Sister Blandina helped to build up The faith of the people there taught kind, Madre mia, to comfort the sor- and found schools and hospitals and her that, even with persecution, the rowful, to harbor the harborless, to homeless shelters, assisted orphans, “Barque of Peter is unsinkable.” visit the sick, to teach Your ways to secured care for indigent patients, In 1893, Sister Blandina went mankind.” Surely, this was fulfilled made coffins for the poor, and more. back to Ohio after 20 years in the in her daughter, Servant of God When told that she should careful- West, where she and Sister Justina Blandina Segale, S.C. ly guard her funds, she said: “Never founded the Santa Maria Institute, fear! My investment is more solid a Catholic settlement house for For additional informa- than the Rockies—they may crum- poor Italian immigrants. Especially tion, see At the End ble but His Word will not.” concerning, said Sister Justina, was of the Santa Fe Trail In 1881, Sister went back to “that they might not lose the price- by Sr. Blandina Segale. Cincinnati for a retreat. Along with less heritage of their faith.” A wide The book is available at her sister companions was a mouth range of services was offered, and Amazon.com.

November/December 2020 15 On Fraternity and Social Friendship The following is the introduction from Pope Francis’ latest encyclical letter, Fratelli Tutti (“On Fraternity and Social Friendship”). In this teaching, the Pontiff indicates that by embracing Gospel values, we can indeed build a better, more just and peaceful world, with the contribution of all people and institutions. The Holy Father proposes St. as the model of this fraternal openness needed to transform our world. This is something all religious women and men can aspire to embrace as they live out their consecrated lives as individuals and in community.

ratelli tutti.” With these words, St. Francis of Assi- and transcended differences of origin, nationality, col- “ si addressed his brothers and sisters and proposed or or religion. It was his visit to Sultan Malik-el-Kamil, Fto them a way of life marked by the flavor of the in Egypt, which entailed considerable hardship, given Gospel. Of the counsels Francis offered, I would like Francis’ poverty, his scarce resources, the great dis- to select the one in which he calls for a love that tran- tances to be traveled and their differences of language, scends the barriers of geography and culture and religion. That journey, un- distance, and declares blessed all those dertaken at the time of the Crusades, who love their brother “as much when further demonstrated the breadth and he is far away from him as when he is grandeur of his love, which sought to with him.” In his simple and direct way, “It is my desire that, embrace everyone. Francis’ fidelity to Saint Francis expressed the essence of his Lord was commensurate with his a fraternal openness that allows us to in this our time, love for his brothers and sisters. Un- acknowledge, appreciate and love each by acknowledging concerned for the hardships and dan- person, regardless of physical proximity, gers involved, Francis went to meet the regardless of where he or she was born the dignity of each Sultan with the same attitude that he or lives. human person, we can instilled in his disciples: if they found This saint of fraternal love, simplic- themselves “among the Saracens and ity and joy, who inspired me to write contribute to the other nonbelievers,” without renounc- the Encyclical Laudato Si’, prompts me ing their own identity they were not to rebirth of a universal once more to devote this new Encyc- “engage in arguments or disputes, but lical to fraternity and social friendship. aspiration to fraternity. to be subject to every human creature Francis felt himself a brother to the for God’s sake.” In the context of the sun, the sea and the wind, yet he knew Fraternity between times, this was an extraordinary rec- that he was even closer to those of his all men and women.” ommendation. We are impressed that own flesh. Wherever he went, he sowed some eight hundred years ago Saint seeds of peace and walked alongside the Francis urged that all forms of hostility poor, the abandoned, the infirm and the outcast, the or conflict be avoided, and that a humble and fraternal least of his brothers and sisters. “subjection” be shown to those who did not share his faith. Without Boarders Francis did not wage a war of words aimed at impos- There is an episode in the life of Saint Francis that ing doctrines; he simply spread the love of God. He un- shows his openness of heart, which knew no bounds derstood that “God is love and those who abide in love

16 November/December 2020 abide in God” (1 I offer this social Jn 4:16). In this Encyclical as a way, he became a modest contribu- father to all and tion to contin- inspired the vision ued reflection, in of a fraternal soci- the hope that in ety. Indeed, “only the face of pres- the man who ap- ent-day attempts proaches others, to eliminate or not to draw them ignore others, we into his own life, may prove capa- but to help them ble of responding become ever more with a new vision fully themselves, of fraternity and can truly be called social friendship a father.” In the that will not re- world of that time, bristling with watchtowers and de- main at the level of words. Although I have written it fensive walls, cities were a theatre of brutal wars be- from the Christian convictions that inspire and sustain tween powerful families, even as poverty was spreading me, I have sought to make this reflection an invitation through the countryside. Yet there Francis was able to to dialogue among all people of good will. welcome true peace into his heart and free himself of As I was writing this letter, the Covid-19 pandem- the desire to wield power over others. He became one of ic unexpectedly erupted, exposing our false securities. the poor and sought to live in harmony with all. Francis Aside from the different ways that various countries has inspired these pages. responded to the crisis, their inability to work together Issues of human fraternity and social friendship became quite evident. For all our hyper-connectivity, have always been a concern of mine. In recent years, we witnessed a fragmentation that made it more diffi- I have spoken of them repeatedly and in different set- cult to resolve problems that affect us all. Anyone who tings. In this Encyclical, I have sought to bring togeth- thinks that the only lesson to be learned was the need er many of those statements and to situate them in to improve what we were already doing, or to refine a broader context of reflection. In the preparation of existing systems and regulations, is denying reality. Laudato Si’, I had a source of inspiration in my brother It is my desire that, in this our time, by acknowl- Bartholomew, the Orthodox , who has spo- edging the dignity of each human person, we can con- ken forcefully of our need to care for creation. In this tribute to the rebirth of a universal aspiration to fra- case, I have felt particularly encouraged by the Grand ternity. Fraternity between all men and women. “Here Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, with whom I met in Abu we have a splendid secret that shows us how to dream Dhabi, where we declared that “God has created all and to turn our life into a wonderful adventure. No human beings equal in rights, duties and dignity, and one can face life in isolation… We need a community has called them to live together as brothers and sis- that supports and helps us, in which we can help one ters.” This was no mere diplomatic gesture, but a re- another to keep looking ahead. How important it is to flection born of dialogue and common commitment. dream together… By ourselves, we risk seeing mirages, The present Encyclical akes up and develops some of things that are not there. Dreams, on the other hand, the great themes raised in the Document that we both are built together.” Let us dream, then, as a single hu- signed. I have also incorporated, along with my own man family, as fellow travelers sharing the same flesh, thoughts, a number of letters, documents and consid- as children of the same earth which is our common erations that I have received from many individuals home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her and groups throughout the world. beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own [Fratelli Tutti does] not claim to offer a complete voice, brothers and sisters all. teaching on fraternal love, but rather to consider its To read Fratelli Tutti visit Vatican.va universal scope, its openness to every man and woman.

November/December 2020 17 Doctor of the Heart, Healer of the Soul The Spiritual Counsel of Dr. Conrad W. Baars

The Origin of Repressive Neurosis By Rev. Brian Mullady, O.P.

eurotic behavior is an ac- petites are aroused by the same ob- amputee may find surgery repulsive quired emotional difficulty ject. In this way each appetite will because of the pain and the assault as opposed to psychopathic respond to the object in a different on his body, yet if this is the only N 2 behavior which is constitutionally way.” way to save his life, he will choose to determined. For Dr. Baars, there are There are two possible sources embrace it because of his health. A two main types of neurosis: repres- of conflict between powers of desire man may desire sexual pleasure be- sion and affirmation. The classic as is clear from the treatment of nor- cause it feels good but may choose neurosis is the repressive type and mal psychology. The one is between to deny himself this feeling because since this is the one most psychia- the will and the passions. The oth- it is evil. trists are familiar with, it is import- Freud thought this last denial ant to treat it first. Dr. Conrad Baars was the source of repression, but in defines repression as: “an emotion fact this denial is a sign and an origin which arises in the psyche and a of emotional maturity. In this denial force which opposes and represses “Since the passions reason penetrates more into the life 1 this emotion.” This opposition does are naturally born of the passions, especially for those not resolve the emotional drive or of us wounded by Original Sin. In cause it to disappear, but rather bur- to be obedient other words, the more the natural ies it alive. The emotion continues to reason, there can law and authentic human reason to influence the life of the soul but guide emotional development, the from a subconscious perspective. be no unnatural more human the person experienc- The outward signs of this influence ing this will become, even when this become pathological. conflict between leads to denial of the passions. The Dr. Baars is of the opinion that the will and universal truth about man will influ- the source of the conflict cannot be ence the usefulness judgment which the conscience and the moral law the passions.” guides and directs the sensitive life, (superego) as Freud believed because and true integration will occur. for one thing the objects of the good er is a conflict within the passions The problem is that moral are different when viewed from the themselves. Since the passions are norms can be interpreted only in a point of view of the intellect and naturally born to be obedient to sensory and non-intellectual way. the senses. “Properly speaking, a reason, there can be no unnatural Children do this because they do conflict results when two opposing conflict between the will and the not have developed intellects, but emotions are present simultaneous- passions. A diabetic may find can- this is not normal in adults. To base ly in regard to one and the same dy sweet to the pleasure principle, something like obedience only on object. […] To speak of a conflict but his reason and will tell him he fear of the superior’s reaction or it is necessary that two or more ap- must deny himself this pleasure. An pleasure at accomplishing things

18 November/December 2020 may be normal in children but it in of children. The passion or pleasure the repressed emotion and reason. no way arrives at the maturity envi- arises and the child from the emo- Thus, the action of the repressed sioned in the vow of obedience. tion of fear opposes the very feeling emotion remains outside the con- As long as the usefulness judg- itself. A conflict therefore occurs, trol of reason and will. Only when ment is correctly formed then all not between the intellect and will the repressing emotion recedes and is well. “Because of a misinformed and the passions but within the pas- normal psychological conditions usefulness judgment, it is possible sions themselves which is caused return, will guidance by reason be- for man to consider a desire for a not by moral teaching, but by bad come a possibility.” pleasurable object as harmful, and moral teaching. In fact, since God Depending on the intensity thus to arouse in the utility appetite made the pleasures, they cannot be of the repressing emotion, the re- (irascible appetite), for instance, evil in themselves. pressed emotion may be more or the emotion of fear. In the cause Normally, if any emotional urge less admitted into consciousness. of conflict between the emotions like this were subject to the con- Dr. Baars makes an important dis- of these two appetites—desire and trol of intellect and will, continual tinction for all moral theology. fear—the sensory life does not pos- denial over time would lead to the Consciousness of the influence sess any natural means of solu- of the passion is not the same tion.”3 This is the second pos- as willing it. Will demands the sible conflict between the two application of reason to the emotional appetites (pleasure passion. “An emotional arous- or concupiscible and utility or al may be present more or less irascible) and is the origin of consciously even when it is not neurotic behavior. voluntary.”5 Thomas Aquinas For example, the sexual makes the point also regarding urge always arises in puberty. things like temptation and the God Himself made the pleasures sin of morose delectation which in this regard. Pope John Paul II is sin in engaging or failing to has continually taught that this drive away thoughts regarding is the first emotional experience pleasure. “Delectation is said to a child has where the world be morose not from a delay of moves beyond self-gratification to “formation of a habit, so that the time, but because reason in delib- being other centered. Granted it is urge would respond to the guidance erating dwells thereon, and fails to only on the sensory level and very of reason with increasing facility.”4 drive it away.”6 imperfect, still it contains the seeds In this abnormal control, reason Several important factors must of what will eventually grow into and will are increasingly left out of be observed in this conflict. The re- the mature commitment of mar- the picture and from the behavior pressing emotion may attack the re- riage in a mature person. Moreover, which results from it because the pressed emotion during every stage the pleasures are so great here be- repressing passion will not allow the of the expression of the emotion: cause the goods of fidelity, fecundity existence of the repressed feeling to love, desire or joy, hate, aversion or and friendship are so important for enter into the arena of control. One sorrow. The emotional conflict can human development. emotion is used to control another, also involve emotions in the same Suppose a child has received not the intellect and will. One does appetite. So for example one can re- the impression from well meaning not experience peace and facility in press fear by renewed fear or fear by educators who want him to avoid control but a complete lack of con- anger or anger by fear. Many peo- sin that all the pleasures connected trol and tension. For example, one ple today have the impression that with sexuality are sinful in them- hates the idea of sexual passion but even the feeling of anger is always selves. There was a Puritanical has a compulsive desire to look at sinful. This despite the fact that the strain in Christianity which taught pornography on the Internet. “To Lord Jesus became angry and even that the pleasures in marriage are put it differently, the repressing Scripture teaches, “Be angry and do tolerated evils because of the good emotion has been wedged between (Continued on page 22)

November/December 2020 19 InnerView

With Bro. Ken Apuzzo, B.H., Superior General of the Brotherhood of Hope

The Brotherhood of Hope just cele- young man or woman is not married people, especially college students brated its 40th anniversary on Sep- then they are more free to serve the who are unchurched or have a min- tember 15, 2020, the Feast of the Church. Father Philip speaks elo- imal connection to the Catholic Exultation of the Holy Cross. How quently about the incredible gift of faith. We see ourselves as “spiritual did the community get started? a man or woman called to share in Navy Seals.” We are trained, zeal- The Brotherhood of Hope was the exclusive love of Jesus for His ous and committed to support one founded by Fr. Philip Merdinger in Father. This gift is not less human another. We live and go on mission 1980. He was a priest of the Arch- but actually enters more deeply into every day to the front lines of the diocese of Newark in New Jersey. the ultimate human fulfillment in lost in small teams of 3-4 broth- He felt called to found a community God alone which supersedes tempo- ers. We don’t want to be trapped of men that could witness to a re- ral sexual gratification. in offices or be “email evangelists.” newed dedication and appreciation Our modus operandi is “direct, on for the gift of celibacy for the King- Your motto: Primum Deus, Deus campus, relational evangelization.” dom. Since the 1960’s and the sex- Solum (“God first, God alone”) and Even in these days of the coronavi- ual revolution, there has been a dra- the emblem on your habits, taken rus, we are constantly finding ways matic decline in the recognition of from Hebrews 6:19 (“the anchor of to reach students face to face and what the call to celibacy for Christ hope”) seems to symbolize very well person to person. There simply is is really all about. For the broader what ties you together as brothers no virtual substitution for direct re- secular culture, celibacy is consid- and animates your apostolate to the lational encounters! ered an inhumane denial of our lost in our society. sexuality and even in the Church, Our mission is to reach who we The vocation to religious broth- celibacy is often reduced to a func- would call “the spiritually poor.” erhood is often a forgotten expres- tion. The prevailing thought is if a For us, these are primarily young sion of religious life. What unique

20 November/December 2020 or an organization! We are first a For you, also, the Brotherhood of “spiritual family” and a “band of Hope has truly been a family affair! brothers.” You do not really know Yes, I would like to share one us if all you have seen is our mis- last utterly unique story about our sion on campus. You need to get life. I will start with this provoca- closer. Pray with us, stay with us, tive statement. “My natural father smoke some cigars around the fire was my father and my brother.” pit and you will begin to sense the My mother passed away young at deep love, charity and bonds of 49 years old. My siblings were out aspects of this particular vocation brotherhood that we share. We of college. My father was a devout need to be reaffirmed in the Church live in small “platoons” because Catholic and a Wall Street bank ex- today? that way every brother counts, is ecutive. He shared that he had no We are unique in that we are known and has an opportunity to desire to remarry and he really did a new religious community of reli- contribute to our life and mission. not need to work anymore. To my gious brothers. By far, most new re- utter shock, he expressed interest ligious communities in our day are Your primary mission is evangeli- in becoming a brother. He was 49 orders of priests. Religious brother- zation on college campuses. Today, years old at the time. My brothers hood when lived well witnesses to you serve at Rutgers, the Univer- and sister and all his friends thought the great truth that God is worthy sity of Minnesota, Northeastern this was some kind of mid-life crisis. of all of our lives and the best of our University, Florida State Univer- Well, he actually did it! He left his lives. sity and others. This is the time career, gave everything away and This is true in and of itself apart when young people often leave the became a brother. from Holy Orders. It is incredibly Catholic Church. What are young inspiring to see young men in the people seeking today and what prime of their lives offering them- is attracting them back or to the selves totally for the Lord and the Faith? service of His Church. This is rad- We run or serve at five major ically counter cultural! These men Universities in the United States. could have been successful in just Most of these are secular univer- about anything they chose to pur- sities. Our experience has mostly sue. Our way of life causes those been being invited into an under around us to ask “why would you do achieving Newman Center or Uni- this …this is crazy…” Our response versity Parish. Usually within four is not so much verbal as existential. years, through a lot of prayer, in- This became one of the greatest “Jesus Christ is the only thing that tercession and very difficult ground gifts of my life. To share my voca- satisfies everything.” You cannot level outreach, remarkable turn- tion with my father! By the way, just know this unless you “sell all and arounds have happened in all of to complicate things, we share the come and follow Him.” these locations. We also have start- same name. He is Bro. Ken Apuz- Why does a young man join ed and served numerous young pro- zo and I am Bro. Ken Apuzzo. This our Brotherhood? You might be fessional groups. created some interesting challenges surprised by the main reason! We brothers have a close collab- over the years. He passed away in Brotherhood in Christ! While our orative relationship with a national 2005. On his gravestone is inscribed, mission is vital and central to our Catholic college missionary associ- “Bro Kenneth A. Apuzzo devoted life and call, most of the young ation called Saint Paul’s Outreach. spouse and religious brother.” So, men joining us will be drawn to Their missionaries serve side by you see my father is my brother... our deep bonds of brotherhood. side with our brothers and togeth- Now and for all eternity! We very much see ourselves as a er some of the most comprehensive For more information visit: “spiritual family in the order of and impactful college missions have BrotherhoodofHope.org grace.” We are not first an order been the result.

November/December 2020 21 St. Michael’s Abbey (cont. from pg. 10) to preach the Gospel and teach En- glish. Forty years of communist rule had taken its toll on the original St. Michael’s Abbey in Csorna; howev- er, a new abbot had been elected and a new generation of Norbertines be- gan refilling the abbey. Abbot Parker made more frequent trips to Hungary after his retirement in 1995, but was slowed down by illness, including Parkinson’s dis- ease. He died in 2010 at the age of clude 49 priests and 48 seminarians. other founding Norbertines are still 94. Many turned out for his funeral And, having outgrown their abbey, alive to see the dedication, they Mass at Mission Basilica San Juan in 2018, the Norbertines began con- would no doubt be proud. Capistrano, followed by his burial at struction on a new, $120 million ab- This article was originally featured Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest, bey in Silverado Canyon (artist ren- in The National Catholic Register. Jim a short drive from the Abbey. dition above), several miles from the Graves: © 2020 EWTN News, Inc. From his initial community of original site, which is on schedule to Reprinted with permission from the seven priests in 1961, Father Ab- be dedicated in early 2021. Although National Catholic Register— bot’s community has grown to in- neither Father Abbot Parker nor the www.ncregister.com.

Repressive Neurosis (cont. from pg. 19) it can actually be about almost any garding vocations and people in not sin” (Eph 4:26). Anger is one emotional experience. formation. Some women enter of the passions and must be felt, es- One final point regards the order convents from fear of men. Some pecially to defend one from evil in of the appetites. In normal emotion- men become priests because they the face of a sinful world. There is a al integration, the pleasure appetite want to be loved and taken care of. distinction between feeling and an- comes first. Love is the predominant They fear the normal demands of ger and its expression; for example, emotion because it expresses union adult life. These are emotions con- tantrums or losing one’s temper. with the goodness of being as such. trolling very spiritual decisions and Yet, many educators do not make The usefulness emotions only enter they are inadequate. Basic mor- that distinction. when love or hate are frustrated by al maturity is necessary for any- Another important factor in difficulty in obtaining their objects. one pursuing a religious vocation repression is that the nature of the In repression the utility, appetite is of whatever kind. This can only repressing emotion depends often predominant and so all goods are result from a free and informed on the temperament of the person judged according to their usefulness choice in a person with basic emo- suffering from this. In people with or harmfulness but nothing is really tional maturity. a dominant personality, the charac- good in itself. This is contrary to na- ter may be dominated by emotional ture and produces a utilitarian spirit Footnotes: energy or courage. One puts accom- and tension. It is a contrary personal- 1 Conrad W. Baars, Psychic plishing things in the place of any real istic norm of Vatican II which states Wholeness and Healing, New experience of loving and being loved. that no person may be an object of York: Alba House (1981), p. 33. In one with a weak personality, fear use, every person must be a subject 2 Baars, Psychic, p. 34. may be the predominant experience of love. From this point of view ev- 3 Baars, Psychic, p. 37. of the psyche. This is important for erything, even God, is loved only as 4 Baars, Psychic, p. 39. distinguishing kinds and guidance in a useful good. 5 Baars, Psychic, p. 40. repression. Freud thought repression Priests and religious must apply 6 Thomas Aquinas, Summa was basically about sexuality, but these ideas judiciously especially re- Theologiae, I-II, 74, 4, ad 3., p. 4.

22 November/December 2020 IRL News & Notes Dominican Nuns Launch First International Website n October 7th, the Nuns of the Order of Preachers, common- ly known as the Dominican ONuns, launched their first internation- al website, morialesop.org, in order to make their mission of prayer within the heart of the Order of Preachers bet- ter known. St. Dominic de Guzman found- ed the Nuns of the Order in 1206, ten years before the friars were founded in 1216, when he gathered together nine women who were converts from the Cathar sect to the Catholic Faith at the Monastery of Notre Dame de Prouil- he in southern France. From the very source page featuring various articles lenges of language, nuns from all over beginning St. Dominic associated the about the nuns’ charism as well as back the world collaborated with Sr. Mary contemplative nuns with the mission of issues of Monialibus, the international Magdalene making the website a fruit the Order to preach the Gospel for the bulletin of the nuns. of sisterly communion on an interna- salvation of souls through their lives of Sr. , OP, from the tional level. prayer and penance. Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosa- There are approximately 2,500 Although each Dominican mon- ry, Summit, NJ was commissioned to nuns in 190 monasteries in five conti- astery is autonomous, the Dominican create the website. Despite the chal- nents of the world. nuns are bound together by a com- Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker Honored mon Rule and Constitutions and their On September 28, 2020, Moth- profession of obedience to the Master er Christina Murray, SJW, and of the Order of Preachers, which is Sr. Celeste Marie Downes, SJW, unique among the contemplative or- of the Sisters of St. Joseph the ders of nuns. Worker in Walton, Kentucky, The new website, morialesop.org, received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross in a ceremony is in the three official languages of the held at the Cathedral Basilica of Order of Preachers: English, French the Assumption in the Diocese and Spanish. Readers can learn about of Covington. the different elements that make up the A papal award bestowed on contemplative life of the Nuns and the clergy, religious and lay faithful particular way the contemplative nuns in recognition of distinguished participate in the preaching mission of service given to the Church, it was established in 1888 by the Order. Pope Leo XIII and is the high- There is an interactive map where est medal that can be awarded one can find any monastery in the to the laity by the Pope. Also world. Links to individual monastery known as the "Cross of Hon- websites as well as contact information or," it's meaning in Latin is: “For can easily be found. There is also a re- Church and Pope.”

November/December 2020 23 IRL Board Member Named Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago hen Rev. Robert Lombardo, cago in 2005 at WCFR, became Bishop-elect the request of Robert Lombardo, CFR, it was a Cardinal George time of celebration and thanksgiving to establish a for the many in the Chicago Arch- mission outreach diocese who know and support the to the poor on Mission of Our Lady of the Angels the city’s West and its Franciscan community. Side. He is the Bishop Bob will stay at Mission founder and di- OLA, remain the director of the rector of the Mission, continue as the superior Mission of Our of the Franciscans of the Eucharist, Lady of the An- and become the vicar for Vicariate gels and found- III in the Archdiocese of Chicago. er and superior In a brief video commenting of the Franciscans of the Eucharist University of St. Mary of the Lake/ on his selection as bishop, he rec- of Chicago. The mission, located in Mundelein Seminary from 2013 to ognized that these are challeng- West Humboldt Park, operates food 2015, member of the Institute on ing times. He said he hopes to be and clothing pantries, conducts af- Religious Life board from 2010 an instrument of peace and asked terschool, family and senior citizens’ to the present, dean of Vicariate III for prayers that he become a holy programming, and hosts retreats, A from 2015 to the present and co- bishop. Bible camps, and religious education lead of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Appropriately for someone who classes. Initiative on Evangelization from has lived a life serving the poor, he Bishop Lombardo has served the 2016 to the present. He is involved was ordained on November 13, archdiocese as a member of the Hu- in Chicago civic organizations, in- 2020, the Feast of St. Frances Xavier man Dignity and Solidarity Office and cluding his service as a board mem- Cabrini. Priest Advisory Board from 2006 to ber of the Chicago Coalition for the Bishop Lombardo came to Chi- 2015, adjunct faculty member at the Homeless from 2008 to 2010.

Join Us on December 8th for a Virtual Celebration on Facebook Live!

n October 30th, the IRL began 40 Days of Prayer, asking that we all Ojoin together to pray for one another. On each of the 40 days, a dif- ferent IRL Affiliate Community (or two!) prayed for you and for the many needs of our country and Church. On December 8th, we will conclude the 40 Days with a Virtual Cele- bration including a recitation of the Rosary, music and some wonderful guests! Please join us!! No Facebook account is necessary to participate in the event. “I learned that the world's existence is maintained by chosen souls; that is, the religious orders. Woe to the world when there will be a lack of religious orders!” SacredImageIcons.com —Saint Faustina

24 November/December 2020 Pope Issues Motu Proprio on the Establishment of Institutes of Consecrated Life ope Francis, with an Apostolic The Apostolic See PLetter issued motu proprio, and has the responsibility to entitled Authenticum charismatis, has accompany the pastors modified Canon 579 of theCode of in the process of dis- Canon Law concerning the erection cernment leading to the of institutes of consecrated life. ecclesial recognition of a With this amendment, new insti- new institute or society tutes of consecrated life and societies of diocesan right. This of apostolic life must receive written is in line with Vita Con- approval by the Apostolic See, which secrata no. 12, which af- alone has final judgment as regards firms that the vitality of their erection. Previously the law new institutes and soci- stated that diocesan bishops could eties “must be judged by establish new institutes with prior the authority of the Church, which has her. It is at the heart of the Church, a consultation with the Holy See. the responsibility of examining them decisive element of her mission” (Letter Referring to Evangelii Gaudium in order to discern the authenticity of to Consecrated Persons, III, 5). no. 130, the Apostolic Letter notes the purpose for their foundation and The rescript of the same law that “a sure sign of the authenticity of to prevent the proliferation of institu- which was promulgated on June 1, a charism is its ecclesial character, its tions similar to one another, with the 2016 stipulated that prior consul- ability to be integrated harmoniously consequent risk of a harmful fragmen- tation with the Holy See was to be into the life of God’s holy and faithful tation into excessively small groups.” understood as necessary for the val- people for the good of all.” The faithful, “The act of canonical erection by id erection of a diocesan institute of therefore, have the right to be alerted the Bishop transcends the diocesan consecrated life, on pain of nullity of by their pastors about the authentic- sphere alone and makes it relevant the decree of erection of the institute ity of the charism and the reliability to the wider horizon of the universal itself. The new motu proprio makes ex- of those who present themselves as Church,” the Apostolic Letter notes. plicit that diocesan bishops can only founders after genuine discernment. Though established in the context of a validly erect institutes of consecrated The Apostolic Letter further un- particular Church, they serve as a gift life by a formal decree, and only when derlines that “it is right to respond to the Church which “is not an isolated written permission has been given by to the gifts which the Spirit inspires or marginal reality, but deeply a part of the Apostolic See. in particular Churches, welcoming them generously with thanksgiving” 75th Jubilee Celebration but it is also necessary to “avoid the On October 10, 2020, the Missionary imprudent emergence of institutes Sisters of the Mother of God closed their which are useless or lacking sufficient 75th Jubilee year with a Divine Liturgy Perfectae Caritatis, of Thanksgiving offered by Metropoli- vigor” ( §19). tan Borys Gudziak and Bishop Andriy Discernment about the ecclesiali- Rabiy. Founded in 1944, the community ty and reliability of charisms is an ec- continues to fulfill their mission today— clesial responsibility of the pastors of forming youth on the basis of Christian particular churches. This, the Letter principles in the Byzantine-Ukrainian notes, is expressed in “care for all forms rite. “The Missionary Sisters gave up much of what our world values,” said of consecrated life and in the task of Archbishop Gudziak. “Everything they stand for, everything they do evaluating the necessity of establishing and manifest, is a sign of the sisters’ desire to live with Christ and give new institutes of consecrated life and everything to Christ.” new societies of apostolic life.”

November/December 2020 25 Affiliate in Focus Benedictine Abbey of St. Walburga Virginia Dale, Colorado

“And may He bring us all together to everlasting life...”

he Abbey of St. Walburga is and endurance. These are the qual- a small community of Bene- ities that create beauty in life and Tdictine contemplative nuns of reflect the inherent harmony of the the Roman Catholic Church. They Holy Trinity. are located in a valley in northern As contemplatives, the nuns seek Colorado, where the high plains meet in all the aspects of daily life to deep- the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. en their attentiveness and their re- As a cloistered Benedictine commu- sponse to the presence of God at work nity, the nuns’ primary duty for the in the world. Saint Benedict urges to Church is to pray the full Divine “attend with the ears of your heart” to Office. The goal of their life is union whether in direct service to others or the voice of God speaking in prayer, with God, seeking Him in communi- undertaken for the financial support in community life, in work, and in ty according to the Gospel and under of their community, is also offered to one’s surroundings. Quoting Psalm the inspiration of the Rule of St. Ben- the glory of God. 95, he warns: “If today you hear His edict. Ora et Labora (“prayer and work”) voice, harden not your hearts.” The community devotes much is the famous motto associated with Because the task of contempla- of their day to the Word of God, the Benedictines. The nuns acquired tive attentiveness is difficult and de- through lectio divina and in liturgical this motto because Saint Benedict manding, the community chooses to prayer (the Divine Office). This life taught his disciples a healthy balance maintain a certain distance from the of prayer bears fruit in hospitality, pro- of prayer and work. Liturgical prayer clamor that can tear at the edges of viding an opportunity for people to be has the highest place in the Benedic- our inner silence. One of the tradi- in an atmosphere where they can tru- tine’s life, but Saint Benedict realized tional disciplines that serves to pro- ly seek God. All of their daily work, that human beings are not just spirits tect their focus is the cloister. but also flesh—both aspects of the The Benedictine nuns at the Ab- human person must be used to glorify bey of Walburga embrace constitu- God. Thus in the daily schedule there tional enclosure, which allows a cer- is an interweaving of prayer and work. tain latitude for interacting with the In particular, the Abbey of St. public while still preserving their con- Walburga strives to maintain such a templative way of life. They delegate balance through the discipline of a certain members of the community to daily schedule which provides time receive guests and retreatants; to go for prayer, work, community gather- town to shop and do whatever other ings, recreation, and rest. Balance, business life requires; to answer the however, does not imply mediocrity. telephone, read newspapers and news It is rather a basic human need; it in- magazines, make judicious use of the volves harmony, prudence, patience, Internet, and try to stay aware of the

26 November/December 2020 In the Spirit of the Founders. . . Unshakable Faith in God’s Providence he Benedictine Abbey of St. Walburga was founded in T1935 from the Abtei St. Wal- burg in Eichstätt, Germany. Three members were sent to a then-remote farm in Boulder, Colorado. Times needs of the world for which they pray were troubled in Germany. Hitler’s daily. However, the nuns ordinarily do rise to power cast the shadow of not accept work outside the confines threat over all religious foundations. of their monastery; they do not watch Ironically, the Abbey of St. Walburg Archbishop of Denver, the Holy television or listen to the radio; they was itself thriving to such an extent See raised the community to the limit conversations with family and that it could no longer house its status of abbey. On May 16, 1989, friends; they do not go out for social growing population of nuns. Mother Maria-Thomas Beil was or entertainment purposes; and they For both reasons, Abbess elected the first abbess. visit their families only under very Benedicta von Spiegel chose to As the numbers continued to limited circumstances, though they make several foundations in the grow, however, the community too welcome them to visit once a year. English-speaking world: one in began to outgrow its buildings. By In this way enclosure is a grace, a Minster, England, one in Latrobe, 1992, it was clear that more work- true gift, to embrace a cloistered life Pennsylvania, one in Canyon City, space and larger living quarters for the glory of God, that they may Colorado, and one in Boulder. They were needed. As various options give more of themselves to Him and would serve both as a potential ref- were considered for expansion, less of themselves to passing distrac- uge for the nuns of Eichstätt and an the nuns realized that their Boul- tions. Living this life is a witness to outlet for the burgeoning commu- der location, by this time on a busy one’s eternal goal—that He will one nity at St. Walburg as it outgrew highway and surrounded by sub- day bring us all to everlasting life. its buildings. The first nuns built a divisions, was not the right place strong foundation for the future by to build a new monastery. So, in their hard work, their grinding pov- 1997, after five years of planning, erty, and their unshakable faith in discussion, and preparation, the God’s providence. community relocated to Virgin- In 1986, Abbess Franziska ia Dale, Colorado. They lived, Kloos, O.S.B., who, as abbess of the prayed and worked in a small mon- Abbey of St. Walburg in Eichstätt astery of modular buildings for two was still the superior of the Convent and a half years, while the infra- of St. Walburga in Boulder, granted structure and the first phase of the the Boulder community its indepen- permanent Abbey building was be- dence from the motherhouse. It re- ing constructed. On October 22, For more information contact: mains a member community of the 1997, the nuns sang the Te Deum, Federation of Bavarian Monasteries the Church’s great song of thanks- Abbey of St. Walburga 1029 Benedictine Way of Nuns, with strong ties of gratitude giving to God, for the first time in Virginia Dale, CO 80536 and affection to the motherhouse, their new Abbey. The new Abbey Tel: 970-472-0612 but is now an autonomous house. Church and monastery were bless- [email protected] In 1989, at the recommenda- ed by Most Rev. Charles Chaput, Walburga.org tion of Abbess Franziska and of the Archbishop of Denver, on Novem- Most Rev. Francis J. Stafford, then ber 7, 1999.

November/December 2020 27 Theological Reflections

By Rev John A. Hardon, S.J. Servant of God/IRL Founder (1914–2000)

Christ’s Divinity as an Essential Mystery of Faith o be a Christian not only in That is why the writings of the among professed Christians is some name but in reality, one must Fourth Evangelist are such a pre- form of Gnosticism disguised under Tbelieve in the divinity of Je- cious treasury of revealed wisdom a variety of clever names that fill so sus Christ, that He is true God and testifying to the divinity of the Sav- many books that are supposed to be true man. To be Christian means to ior. The Apostle is so explicit about Catholic. believe that the Infinite Creator of Christ’s oneness with the Father and It is Saint John who records the Heaven and earth became a speech- Christ’s divine nature, that critics of dialogue between a group of Jews less child who was conceived of His the faith have to resort to dismissing and Jesus. The Jews picked up heavy virgin mother, born at Bethlehem, John’s writing as Hellenistic theory stones to throw at Him. So He asked died on the Cross, ascended into superimposed on the simple message them: “I have done many good works Heaven, and is seated at the right of the other three evangelists. John for you to see; works from My Father; hand of His heavenly Father. begins his Gospel with a prologue for which of these are you stoning Since the dawn of Christianity, that leaves nothing to the imagina- me?” The would-be stoners answered the divinity of Christ has been the tion. “In the beginning” says John, Him, “we are not stoning you for do- single most frequently and strongly “was the Word, and the Word was ing the good work, but for blasphemy: challenged mystery of our faith. We with God; and the Word was God... you are only a man, and you claimed say that the Church is going through and the Word was made flesh and to be God” (Jn 10:24-33). the most serious crisis of the twenty dwelt among us” (Jn 1:1,14). The crowning witness to His pro- centuries of her history. At the cen- Even if the Gospel was not the fession of divinity occurred a week ter of this crisis is the wide spread last inspired writing of the Apostle, it after the Resurrection. The doubting doubt and denial that Jesus Christ, was certainly occasioned by the rise Thomas was not among the Apostles the Son of Mary, is the son of the of Gnosticism. The Gnostics claimed when the Savior appeared to them living God. There is nothing else in to know the mysteries of the uni- on Easter Sunday night. When the our Catholic faith that needs to be verse. According to them, matter is others told Thomas that they had more clearly understood and firmly hostile to spirit. On these terms, God seen the Lord, he stubbornly replied believed than Christ’s divinity. could not have become man. Why that he would not believe unless he As we know, St. John the Apos- not? Because God, who is pure spirit, put his fingers into the wounds in tle was the only one of Christ’s im- could not have united Himself with Christ’s hands and his hand into mediate disciples who did not die a a human body. More important, the Christ’s opened side. A week later, martyr’s death. He lived until the Gnostics denied an objective divine Jesus appeared to the disciples, called close of the first century of the Chris- revelation that was completed in the Thomas to Him, and asked him to tian era. All of this was providential apostolic age and which the Church, do exactly as Thomas demanded. to ensure that the beloved founded by Christ, alone has the And pronounced those words that could write his Gospel, letters, and teaching authority to interpret deci- by now have been repeated millions the Book of Revelation. Between sively the meaning of what God has of times by believing Catholics at the Christ’s Ascension and the death of revealed. elevations at Mass. “My Lord and my Saint John were circulated the earli- All the errors that are plaguing God,” Thomas declared. The human est heresies which denied that Jesus the modern age are rooted in Gnosti- language could not be more clear. Je- was indeed the Son of God. cism. That is why the cardinal heresy sus Christ is our Lord and our God.

28 November/December 2020 GREAT BOOKS & FILMS ON FATIMA

NEW! FATIMA 100 Questions and Answers about the Marian Apparitions — Paul Senz he Blessed Virgin appeared six times Tin 1917 to three shepherd children in the tiny village of Fatima, Portugal.  e story and message of these apparitions have gripped the imagination of people all over the world, including simple believers, FATIMA FOR TODAY theologians, skeptics, scientists and . e Urgent Marian Message of Hope  is book presents 100 of the most common questions, with detailed answers, to explore FATIMA MYSTERIES Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR the context of these apparitions and why the Mary's Message to the Modern Age n this authoritative, up to date book, requests of Our Lady are so important today Grzegorz Gorny and Janusz Rosikon IFr. Apostoli, foremost Fatima expert, for the Church and the world. lavishly illustrated, over-sized volume carefully analyzes the Marian apparitions, FHQAP . . . Sewn So cover, $14.95 with glorious photographs and insights requests, and amazing miracles that took Aon the whole story of the apparitions of Our place in Fatima, and clears up linger- Lady of Fatima in 1917, perhaps the most ing questions about their meaning. He NEW! important private revelations in Church challenges the reader to hear anew the history. A unique work on Fatima that pres- call of Our Lady to prayer and sacri ce in ents the bigger story in pictures and detailed reparation for sin and for the conversion of text of the historical events before, during the world. 16 pages of photos and a er Mary’s appearances. It underscores FATOP . . . Sewn So cover, $18.95 the serious nature of Our Lady’s requests for prayer and sacri ce for the conversion of the world and salvation of souls, probing the mys- teries of Fatima and their continued relevance for our modern age. FATMH . . . 8 x 10 Hardcover, 400 pages, $34.95 "A masterpiece!  e most comprehensive DVD FATIMA book ever on the Fatima apparitions.” he major new feature  lm tells the — Fr. Donald Calloway, Author, dramatic true story of the apparitions Champions of the Rosary Tin 1917 of the Mother of God to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal. It DVD portrays the great challenges the children THE 13TH DAY encountered with family, government, and Stylistically beautiful and technically innovative, this acclaimed the Church to convince them of Our Lady’s movie on Fatima uses state-of-the-art digital effects to create appearances, and her urgent message to the stunning images of the visions and the  nal miracle of the sun world for prayer, penance and conversion, that have never before been fully realized on screen. concluding with the spectacular Miracle of 13DM . . . 85 mins, $19.95 the Sun witnessed by over 70,000 people. DVD Endorsed by the Vatican and Fatima Shrine, FINDING FATIMA with original song by Andrea Bocelli. Produced by the  lmmakers of the acclaimed e 13th Day, this powerful documentary FATIMM. . . DVD, 113 mins, $22.95 combines archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and original interviews with Fatima experts to tell the whole story of Our Lady of Fatima. FFAM. . . 90 mins. $14.95 www.ignatius.com

P.O. Box 1339, Ft. Collins, CO 80522 1-800-651-1531 PO Box 7500, Libertyville, IL 60048

“Institute on Religious Life” Vita Consecrata Classes Now Available for Download!

he Vita Consecrata Institute graduate-level courses, taught each Tsummer at Christendom College for consecrated persons, are avail- able for download by the laity as well. The courses are in-depth studies about Church history, Scripture, the Theology of the Body, Christian prayer and asceticism, spiritual direction, virtues, St. Thomas Aquinas, and much more, from expert professors such as Rev. Thomas Nelson, O.Praem., Rev. Brian Mullady, O.P., Rev. Thomas Dubay, S.M., Rev. Benedict Groeschel, Rt. Rev. Marcel Rooney, O.S.B., and many others.

Please remember Here are a sample of some VCI courses available: the IRL in your will or estate plan!  Christian Prayer and Contemplation Our legal name is:  Liturgy and the Consecrated Life “Institute on  History of Consecrated Life Religious Life, Inc.”  The Spiritual Doctrine of St. Teresa of Jesus Contact us at  The Spiritual Conferences of St. John Cassian 847-573-8975 or  Canon Law and the Consecrated Life write us  The Consecrated Life and Vatican II for further details  Morals and Psychology Courses are generally 20 hours in length and cost only $30.00. Visit the IRL catalog to order: ReligiousLifeCatalog.com. A link to the course will be sent to your email inbox.

For more information please visit ReligiousLifeCatalog.com or call 847-573-8975