PathToHoliness

Our bishop, Most Rev. Gregory L. Parkes, is a very tall man! I got the chance to meet him on Friday night at the conclusion of a triduum for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at St. Mary Catholic Church. Bishop Parkes was installed as the Fifth Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee on June 5, 2012.

The feast day we celebrated on Saturday has held a special meaning to me since it was the conclusion of the first time I made my total consecration to Jesus Christ through Mary, according to St. Louis de Montfort. It is a most excellent devotion which I have practiced every year since. In 34 days it’s almost like a kind of personal retreat since it includes daily meditations and prayers. I highly recommend it.

Hello from Savannah, GA. I’ve been behind on posting from different cities and churches.

Today I got to attend Mass at Most Blessed Sacrament in Savannah, GA. The convention I’m attending actually had a late start planned. I wish more would do this.

Attending Mass is the highlight and most important part of my day and is a real Path to Holiness. I highly recommend it.

Another point from The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva is this one in the first chapter.

One of the points that struck me when I first read this was “bearing and conversation.” This said to me that living out my faith does not mean putting on a robe and sandals or having a large cross hanging from my neck. Not that there is necessarily anything wrong with that. However, most of us living in the world and not in an order don’t need to dress out of the ordinary. Some people need to wear a uniform for work for example. By ordinary I do not mean like a lot of the inappropriate clothing that is so common today.

No, we need to wear our faith by our actions, by the words we use. Can you imagine if no one used profanity, shared pornographic images or jokes or talked bad about someone else? What if everyone did their job without complaining? What if we helped each other instead of thinking only of ourselves and ignoring those around us in need? It would be a very different world.

We’re called to this and even if no one else lives their faith, we should. People will notice. They may make fun of us. But we’ll make them think and we’ll be an example for them.

I admit it’s not always easy. A very simple but tough thing for me was getting in the habit of making a sign of the cross and saying a blessing at a public meal, either by myself in an airport or at a convention banquet. I have had strangers come up to me and thank me for doing it though. Talk about some positive affirmation. Let’s all give it a try.

I’ve been trying for years to figure out what my “voice” is on Path to Holiness. My first reason for creating it was to help promote the spirituality of Opus Dei which has had such a profound impact on my life. I still want to do that but I also want to do more than that. So here’s my first shot at a way I might use this mechanism to accomplish what I feel called to do.

This is a part of the first point in The Way, by St. Josemaria Escriva. You can find his and his books are not expensive .

When I first read The Way and especially this first point, I mediated on it and what it meant to me. I realized that it’s not enough to just say my prayers and go to Mass. I am called to do more. Not to do miraculous things, no. But to change my life so that just my example will have a positive impact on everyone I meet. I need to not just have my faith but I must live it and that means getting off my butt and doing something even if it’s just some little thing no one but God will know about.

I don’t know about you but I believe in the spiritual life. Our thoughts and actions have an impact on it. We can’t say that our actions don’t have an impact on others. Of course they do. A positive or negative thing I do impacts everyone.

So, here’s my start. I’ll write as often as I can and I welcome your feedback and comments.

I’m a day late but still wanted to say Happy Feast Day to Blessed Pope John Paul II.

I had the opportunity of a lifetime, in my opinion, to meet the Holy Father along with my family at the Vatican and will never forget it. He is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met and I credit him for helping me change my life. I know he did for many, many others.

So I look forward to many more feast days IL Papa!

I hope to be able to take some photos of the cross on Pensacola Beach where the first Mass was held in what is now the USA! This one was taken by my wife Cindy at sunset a couple days ago.

The 10-foot, cast concrete cross on Pensacola Beach commemorates the first Christian mass held in the United States. The Knights of Columbus first placed it on the north side of Fort Pickens Road in 1959 as part of the Quadra centennial celebration of Don Tristan de Luna’s landing in Pensacola, establishing America’s first European settlement. Some time later, the cross was moved to its current home on the south side of Fort Pickens Road.

The Cross has stood firm through many bouts with Mother Nature, including most recently Hurricane Ivan, which flattened most gulf-front dunes for several miles east and west. So far, there is no scientific explanation as to why the dune and the cross have been spared so many times. According to several residents, the answer will never come from science but instead can be found from within.

Here’s a photo inside of St. Eric’s Cathedral (or the Katolska Domkyrkan) in Stockholm, Sweden. I attended Mass there two weeks ago on a business trip to the annual International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress. I actually attended a Saturday evening Mass which was in English. They did not follow the new Mass prayers but it was very nice anyway.

This summer has been a non-stop back to back business travel adventure that started with our move to Florida from Missouri. Finally getting a break and none too soon IMO. Hopefully I can get back on a schedule to do some posts here. When you blog for a living on about 10 different ones it’s a little difficult to spend all the time and attention you’d like to your own very personal one.

Maybe I’ll find the time to write some of my thoughts on the extreme amount of political correctness BS that is permeating the media and social media these days as we get closer to the next Presidential election. It’s kind of at a fever pitch don’t you think?

Just in case you don’t have the St.

Josemaria App on your smart phone, here’s a chance to win a free one.

Thanks to EB Solutions, app developer, the St. Josemaria Institute is offering all of our subscribers the chance to win the highly-rated St. Josemaria App.

The deadline to enter to win is September 16, 2012. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. The winners will be announced on September 23, 2012.

Let’s celebrate another venerable man, Bishop Alvaro del Portillo. He was the first Prelate of Opus Dei and a close friend of founder St. Josemaría Escrivá. Pope Benedict has signed a decree that recognizes his “heroic virtues.” According to Rome Reports:

This step is actually key, as his beatification process goes further. It means, that Benedict XVI recognizes that “Don Alvaro” exemplified Christian virtues in his life.

Now, those working on his cause for beatification, must present a documented miracle to the Vatican. If it’s approved by experts, theologians and of course the Pope, his beatification could follow. Alvaro del Portillo was born in Madrid, Spain in 1914. His mother was Mexican, his father was Spanish. He studied Civil Engineering, Philosophy and Theology.

It’s time for a Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen celebration!

Vatican City, June 28, 2012 — Today, Pope Benedict XVI promulgated the decree recognizing the heroic virtue of Archbishop Fulton John Sheen, who is now titled “the Venerable Servant of God.” This next significant step in the Cause for Archbishop Sheen’s beatification and canonization caps a process that began almost exactly 10 years ago when Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, of the Diocese of Peoria, IL, opened the official diocesan inquiry. This investigation yielded over 10,000 pages of testimony that were then scrutinized and summarized into two, 1,000-page volumes called the “Positio,” stating the “position” why Fulton Sheen should be a saint. After being presented to the Pope last May, these volumes underwent careful study by the team of theologians, bishops and cardinals who advise the Holy Father through the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints. Venerable Fulton’s cause for beatification continues as the Vatican canonically, medically, and theologically scrutinizes the alleged miraculous healing of a stillborn baby through Sheen’s intercession.

Here’s the information on the celebration Mass in Peoria, IL.

On Sunday, September 9, 2012, at 10:30 am Bishop Jenky will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving to honor Venerable Fulton Sheen in the Cathedral of Saint Mary, Peoria, IL — the same cathedral in which Venerable Fulton grew up, received his vocation to the priesthood and was ordained. You are invited to this historic celebration.

Click Here to make reservations for your pilgrimage to Peoria.

This Tuesday is the feast day of St. Josemaria Escriva. I’m traveling that day and hoping to be able to attend one of the Masses being held in his honor.

But in case you are able to then check out the St. Josemaria Feast Day Mass Locator. I’m going to try to make the afternoon Mass in Minneapolis.

You can find the prayer for the intercession of St. Josemaria Escriva here.

Here are pictures from two more Pensacola churches we’ve visited recently. This one is the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Pensacola.

Downtown is about a 25 minute or so drive depending on traffic. I attended a weekday early morning Mass here last week. I’d like to find the time to visit our Diocesan office and meet our new Bishop! I had thought of asking him for his suggestion of a new spiritual director but he’s so new I wonder if he’s actually met all the priests in our diocese. The pastor at St. Mary’s where we’ve been going to morning Mass most often suggested I meet with his new associate in July. We’ll see . . .

Another downtown church is the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel. I made it to a noon Mass here and love this church.

Canonically established in 1781, the parish of St. Michael the Archangel has served the Catholic congregation in Northwest Florida for over 230 years. In recognition of its historic significance, St. Michael Church was inaugurated as a basilica in 2012. It is our Mission to continue to celebrate the word of Christ through service in the historic and traditional warmth of a growing and diverse parish.

So this church was just named a Basilica this year! It is a minor basilica and was designated this January.

Say hello to our new Bishop, the Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes. I was out of town this week so I couldn’t attend the ordination/installation. Here’s some information though from the Diocese website.

Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes was ordained a bishop and installed as the fifth Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee in a solemn Mass at St. Paul Catholic Church in Pensacola on June 5, 2012. Bishop Parkes was ordained by Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, as the principal consecrator in the majestic Rite of Ordination of a Bishop. Bishop Felipe J. Estévez, Bishop of Saint Augustine, and Bishop John Noonan, Bishop of Orlando, were co-consecrators. All the concelebrating archbishops and bishops then followed suit, laying their hands upon the head of the new bishop in the gesture of ordination. Among those bishops consecrating Bishop Parkes were Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, emeritus of the diocese, and Bishop Martin D. Holley, auxiliary bishop of Washington, a native of our diocese.

Read the rest of this post…

The covered lanai by our pool has become my new relaxation location. This morning for morning prayer it is wonderful since it’s raining. That may not sound like relaxation but it is. In fact, you can listen to what it sounds like below.

We’ve got a tree surrounded back yard filled with frogs and birds to listen to also. So Cindy and I are finding that when it’s time to relax (anytime) this is our go to place. I’m working on an outdoor kitchen area too!

Here’s the sounds of this morning: Sound of Morning Rain

The big move is over. We’re now in Florida and still have a lot of boxes to unpack. We’re also still deciding on a parish to join. Cindy and I have been attending weekday and Sunday Masses at several nearby churches.

Last Sunday we attended Mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Cantonment, FL. This is a mission church and a very small one “out in the country.” It’s actually not far away at all. We’ve got about 5 churches within reasonable distance to choose from!

Besides selecting a parish to join I’m also seeking a new spiritual director. I’m hoping and praying for guidance on this. After seeing Fr. Bill in Missouri for many years I’ve got a feeling this will be a big change but who knows?