Mark your calendar...

In addition to the Masses on November 2, All Souls Day, at 7 p.m. there will be Solemn Evensong, followed by a presentation of John Rutter's Requiem.  The Festival Choir and the Academy Honors Choir will be accompanied by orchestra and organ for this remarkable work.  Don't miss it!

Pentecost XXIII

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."

-St. Luke 19:1-10

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service: Grant, we beseech thee, that we may run without stumbling to obtain thy heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Crusader Times

Read all about scholarships, sports events, opportunities for charitable work, musical events, and much, much more -- all in The Crusader Times!

Our new Archbishop...

On Monday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m., the Mass of Thanksgiving and Farewell for Archbishop-designate Gustavo Garcia-Siller, will be broadcast from Chicago. You can view this on our own archdiocesan website by going to  http://www.archsa.org/.

We will be welcoming our new Archbishop on November 23, when he will be instituted as the Ordinary of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. 

Most gracious Father, the giver of all good and perfect gifts, who of thy wise providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church; Give thy grace, we beseech thee, to thy servant Gustavo, to whom the charge of this Archdiocese is committed; and so replenish him with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue him with innocency of life, that he may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Cardinal-designate Burke...

...and our responsibility in voting.

La Sagrada Familia to be consecrated...

Begun in 1882, and scheduled to be completed by 2025, the Templo de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is the masterwork of the great Catholic architect Antoni Gaudi.  I've posted pictures before, but since the Holy Father will be consecrating this great church next week, I thought you might enjoy this excellent video, which gives a tour of a truly unique building.

Ss. Simon & Jude, Apostles

O God, we thank thee for the glorious company of the apostles, and especially on this day for Ss. Simon and Jude; and we pray that, as they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so we may with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Lady, Queen of Palestine

O Mary Immaculate, gracious Queen of Heaven and Earth, we are prostrate at your feet, sure of your goodness and confident in your power.

We beg you to look kindly on the Holy Land, which, more than any other country, belongs to you since you have honored it by your birth, your virtues and your pain, and that it is here where you gave the Savior of the World.

Remember that you were made Mother and dispenser of graces. Deign to grant special protection to your earthly homeland to dispel the darkness of the error, so that the sun of eternal justice may shine on it and that the promise, fallen from the lips of your divine Son to form one flock under the guidance of one shepherd, may be fulfilled.

Obtain us to serve the Lord in righteousness and holiness, every day of our lives, so that by the merits of Jesus, with your maternal protection, we can pass from the earthly Jerusalem to the splendors of the heavenly Jerusalem.

Even if you don't speak Italian, you'll enjoy the images on this video, which shows last year's celebration of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine, at the shrine in Deir Rafat.  At about the four-minute point, the images simply repeat themselves and the sound stops, so you won't necessarily want to go to the end, unless you decide you'd like to see the pictures without hearing the Italian commentary!

The Crusader Times

You can click here to read the latest edition of The Crusader Times, which is the official newsletter of The Atonement Academy.

Blessed Charles of Austria

The decisive task of Christians consists in seeking, recognizing and following God's will in all things. The Christian statesman, Charles of Austria , confronted this challenge every day. To his eyes, war appeared as "something appalling". Amid the tumult of the First World War, he strove to promote the peace initiative of my Predecessor, Benedict XV.

From the beginning, the Emperor Charles conceived of his office as a holy service to his people. His chief concern was to follow the Christian vocation to holiness also in his political actions. For this reason, his thoughts turned to social assistance. May he be an example for all of us, especially for those who have political responsibilities in Europe today!

- Pope John Paul II

from his homily at the Beatification

3 October 2004

O God, who didst call thy servant Blessed Charles of Austria to an earthly throne that he might advance thy heavenly kingdom, and didst give him zeal for thy Church and love for thy people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate him this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Paul of the Cross

Born in 1694, St. Paul founded the Passionists in 1720 and gave himself to preaching the Gospel and bringing others into a life of holiness through the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died at the age of eighty-one. 

O Lord Jesus Christ, who for the preaching of the mystery of the Cross, didst endue thy blessed confessor Saint Paul with singular gifts of charity, and didst likewise through him cause a new household of servants to flourish in thy Church: We beseech thee, that at his intercession we may learn so steadfastly to remember thy passion in this our life on earth, that we may be found worthy to attain to the benefits of the same in heaven; who livest and reignest with the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

St. Luke

How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation.

Almighty God, who didst inspire thy servant St. Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of thy Son: Graciously continue in thy Church the like love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of thy Name; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Remember that October 16th?

Thirty-two years ago...

Open House at the Academy!

On Sunday morning after the 9:00 a.m. Mass, we will have an Open House and Grandparents Day at The Atonement Academy.  We'll be welcoming the families of prospective students, as well as families of our present students.  In fact, you don't even have to have a student enrolled -- if you'd like to look around the school, talk to administrators or teachers, and stop by the library for some refreshments, come along!

Pentecost XXI

Almighty and everlasting God, who in Christ hast revealed thy glory among the nations: Preserve the works of thy mercy, that thy Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of thy Name; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Theresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) as a Young Woman (detail) by François Gerard (1827)

O God, who by the Holy Spirit didst move St. Teresa of Avila to manifest to thy Church the way of perfection: Grant us, we beseech thee, to be nourished by her excellent teaching, and enkindle within us a lively and unquenchable longing for true holiness; through Jesus Christ, the joy of loving hearts, who with thee and the same Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Most Rev. Gustavo Garcia-Siller

From the Office of Communication, Archdiocese of San Antonio:

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSp.S, 53, as the 6th Archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. He will succeed Archbishop José H. Gomez, who was named in April 2010 to be the successor to Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles upon his retirement in early 2011. The Vatican made Archbishop-designate García-Siller’s appointment official this morning (10/14/2010), at 5 a.m. Central Time.

His installation as Archbishop of San Antonio is scheduled for November 23, 2010. When he received the news of his appointment the Archbishop-designate said, “I felt a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people of the Archdiocese. I felt real happiness and joy tempered by a deep awareness of the great responsibility I had been asked to embrace. From the moment I said yes, I felt, in faith, a deep affection for the people of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.”

Introducing the Archbishop-designate, during a news conference at the archdiocesan Pastoral Center, Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Oscar Cantú said: “I am delighted that the Holy Father sends us a shepherd who knows deeply the Good Shepherd; one who is passionate about his love for Jesus Christ, about his love for the Church, and about his love for his sheep.”

Archbishop-designate Gustavo García-Siller was born in San Luis Potosí S.L.P., Mexico, to Gustavo García Suarez and Maria Cristina Siller de Garcia. He is the eldest of 15 children. His brother, Eugene, is also a priest.

The Archbishop-designate joined the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit in Mexico City in 1973 and was ordained a priest in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1984. Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., the Archbishop of Chicago, ordained him an Auxiliary Bishop of the Chicago Archdiocese in 2003. Archbishop-Designate García-Siller has held several leadership positions in his religious order, including four years as Superior of the Holy Spirit Missionaries’ vicariate that then included the United States and Canada. He was elected the order’s Provincial in 2003.

His 26 years of priestly service has taken many forms, including ministering to communities with varied cultural backgrounds. While in California he served in Fresno and at three parishes in the Los Angeles area. He also worked in Oregon for three years. The Archbishop-designate has taught at the high school level and at the Institute for Philosophy in Guadalajara. For 13 years he was responsible for the formation of younger members of his religious order. As Auxiliary Bishop, he served as Cardinal George’s liaison to the Hispanic community, and was assigned to Vicariate V, which covers the south side of Chicago and its southwest suburbs. This area includes 79 culturally diverse parishes. In his vicariate, Mass is celebrated in 12 languages, including English, Spanish, Polish, Cantonese, Slovak, Mandarin, Croatian, Latin, Indonesian, Italian and Lithuanian. The Archbishop-designate can celebrate Mass and preach in English, Spanish and Polish.

Recognizing that he has spent little time in Texas, the Archbishop-designate said, “I plan to do a lot of listening, dialoguing and to be personally involved with the people as a way to connect with them and understand the needs of the Archdiocese.”

Archbishop-designate Garcia-Siller holds a Masters degree in psychology from the ITESO, a Jesuit University in Guadalajara, Mexico. He also has earned a Masters in Theology and a Masters in Divinity from St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California and received his Masters in Philosophy from Instituto de Filosofia, Guadalajara, Mexico. He also served as special director and teacher in seminaries in Fresno, Los Angeles, and Mount Angel, Oregon. Much of his work involved conducting retreats and spiritual direction.

On a national level, Archbishop-designate García-Siller currently serves on a number of committees for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB): The Cultural Diversity Committee on Hispanic Affairs, African American Affairs, Committee on Hispanics and the Liturgy, and served as Chair of Region 7 of the USCCB, which includes Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. He had also served on the Committee on Consecrated Life.

 

New archbishop to be announced

Apparently the announcement of the new Archbishop of San Antonio is imminent.  The never-wrong "Whispers in the Loggia" has the rumors here.

There'll be more soon, I'm sure.  Check back with Whispers regularly.

The Crusader Times

You can read the latest edition of the Academy's newsletter, The Crusader Times, by going here.

Papal Coat of Arms

Christopher Columbus

"The Dream of Christopher Columbus" by Salvador Dali

The great explorer, Christopher Columbus, was urged on in his adventure by his deep and authentic Catholic faith.  For the truth about this inspiring and inspired man, go here.

Pictures from Life Chain

Last week our parish took part in the annual Life Chain -- a public and prayerful witness to the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception.  Here are some pictures:

Our parishioners, as far as the eye can see...

(below) Some of our young Crusaders...

Blessed John Henry Newman

October 9th is the commemoration of Blessed John Henry Newman, and is the anniversary of his reception into the Catholic Church in 1845.

Almighty God, who didst bestow on thy Priest Blessed John Henry Newman the grace to follow thy kindly light and to find peace in thy Church; grant, we beseech thee, that through his intercession and example, we may be led out of shadows and images into the fulness of thy truth; through thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end.  Amen.

Becoming One...

The West Doors at Our Lady of the Atonement Church

Our parish will be hosting a gathering for those in the United States who plan to become part of the Ordinariate when it’s established. We’ll be getting together from the afternoon of November 16th through the morning of November 18th for a time of prayer, mutual encouragement, and the opportunity to get to know one another better. We’re going to become one family soon, and our paths up to this point have been fairly diverse. It would be good for the various groups to work towards becoming one group.

Three of the Anglican bishops will be here – Archbishop Louis Falk, Bishop David Moyer, and Bishop Louis Campese (all of the Anglican Church in America). I’ve already heard from several Anglican clergy, as well as from our own Anglican Use clergy. Our gathering will be open not only to clergy, but to interested laity as well.

As we get closer to the establishment of the Ordinariate for this country, I think it’s important that we take time to get to know one another, and especially to spend some time praying with each other. That’s the main purpose of this meeting. The time will be organized, but there won’t be a heavy agenda. There is some financial help available for those who would really like to be here, but who are in serious need of assistance for travel expenses. The event itself will be hosted by our parish, so there won’t be any cost to participants other than travel and lodging.

It’s important that the various groups begin to become one.  I hope this event will help.

The bell has rung!

That's a picture of me ringing the bell at Guadalupe Catholic Radio, which you're allowed to do if the goal is met.  We did it!

Thanks to everyone who called in during my hour on the air, not only did we meet the goal of $5,000 which was set for the hour, but the staff asked me to stay for another 45 minutes to see if we could raise another $7,000, which had a matching gift going with it -- in other words, the gift would match whatever we raised, dollar for dollar.  We did it with about a minute to spare! 

So... in my hour an a half on the air we raised a total of $19,000!

Victory through the Rosary...

We commemorate Our Lady of the Rosary, also known as Our Lady of Victory, because of a very important event which took place on October 7, 1571. For some time the Muslims had attempted to conquer Europe, not only for political reasons, but also in an attempt to destroy the Church and impose Islam throughout the known world.

On that clear October morning a huge gathering of ships appeared in the Mediterranean Sea, near the Greek port of Lepanto -- 280 Turkish ships, and 212 Christian ships. For years the Muslims had been raiding Christian areas around the Mediterranean and had carried off thousands of Christians into slavery. In fact, all of the ships gathered on that morning were powered by rowers – and the Muslim ships had nearly 15,000 Christian slaves in chains, being forced to pull the oars to guide the ships into battle. The Catholic fleet was under the command of Don Juan of Austria, but the Catholic fleet was at a great disadvantage in its power and military ability. This was a battle that would decide the fate of the world – either the Turks would be victorious and the Church destroyed, or the Catholics would be victorious and would put down the Muslim threat.

Pope St. Pius V knew the importance of victory. He called upon all of Europe to pray the rosary, asking for the intercession of Our Lady, that God would grant a Catholic victory. Although it seemed hopeless, the people prayed. Don Juan guided his battleships into the middle of the Turkish fleet; meanwhile, many of the Christian slaves had managed to escape their chains and poured out of the holds of the Muslim ships, attacking the Turks and swinging their chains, throwing the Muslims overboard. The combination of the attack by the Catholic fleet and the uprising of the Christian slaves meant that there was a great victory by the Catholics fleet over the mighty Turkish fleet.

We know today that this victory was decisive. It prevented the Islamic invasion of Europe at that time, and it showed the Hand of God working through Our Lady. At the hour of victory, St. Pope Pius V, who was hundreds of miles away in his Papal residence, is said to have gotten up from a meeting, went over to a window, and through supernatural knowledge exclaimed, "The Christian fleet is victorious!" and he wept tears of thanksgiving to God.

This day has been remembered throughout the Church, first as Our Lady of Victory, and then as Our Lady of the Holy Rosary – remembering the victory God granted, and also remembering the means by which that victory was achieved – that it was an intervention by God through the prayers offered by praying the Rosary... perhaps something we might consider in our own generation.

O God, whose only-begotten Son, by his life, death, and resurrection, hath obtained for us the rewards of everlasting salvation: Grant, we beseech thee; that mindful of these mysteries, our devotion may ever bud forth as the rose, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and both follow the examples and attain to the benefits that thou dost show forth therein; through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Guadalupe Radio KJMA 89.7 FM

Thursday, October 7th is the day.  "What day?" you ask.  It's the day I'll be taking part in the radiothon at Guadalupe radio.

My fundraising hour is from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m.  I need you to call in and make a pledge.  You don't have to live in San Antonio.  You don't have to live in Texas.  All you need to do is call toll-free 1-800-476-3311.  I haven't had time to publicize this as I usually do, so I'm having to beg now for you to call in then.  I have a reputation to uphold as one of their great fundraisers of all time.  This is my pride speaking, but it's for a really great cause -- Catholic radio.

So... Thursday... 4 p.m. until 5 p.m.(Central)... 1-800-476-3311.   Let's get the Catholic Faith out there on the airwaves!

The good portion...

Jesus entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her."

- St. Luke 10:38 - The Gospel for the Day

The little poor man...

c. 1360, Giovanni da Milano

Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant unto thy people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of St. Francis of Assisi, we may for love of thee delight in thy whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sunday's schedule...

This Sunday's a bit full.

 

We have our usual four Masses at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 6 p.m.  I'll be preaching at all of them, but we also have Life Chain from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., when we stand along San Pedro Avenue on the northside of San Antonio to give a prayerful and public witness to the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception. 

Then it's a rush back to get to the church just in time for Solemn Evensong at 4:00 p.m., which is the inaugural event for the new Schola-in-residence, Musica Sacra, under the direction of Dr. Robert Finster -- a beautiful time of prayer with lots of glorious music.  There'll be a reception in the Pope John Paul II Library following Evensong, but I doubt I'll be able to do more than just stop by quickly, since it'll be pushing up again the evening Mass.  Just another day in the neighborhood...

Anyway, if you live in the San Antonio area, I hope to see you at one or more of these events.

The Guardian Angels

"The Guardian Angel" by Howard David Johnson

Angel of God, my Guardian dear,

to whom His love commits me here,

ever this day be at my side,

to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.



St. Thérèse of Lisieux

O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast said, Except ye become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven: Grant us, we beseech thee; in meekness and lowliness of heart to follow the footsteps of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, thy holy virgin, and so at last to come unto thine everlasting kingdom; where thou livest and reignest, with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

"Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love."

- The Little Way of St. Thérèse