Prayer Cards Mailed...

The prayer cards have finally been printed, and I have mailed them to all who have requested them.  Thank you for praying for me!

For those who have not yet sent me your address and would like to receive some of the prayer cards, please send me an email!

First Anniversary of My Mother Becoming Catholic

December 29, 2008 marks the first anniversary of my mother becoming Roman Catholic.  She (along with Sacred Heart's organist, Michael Wimberly) was conditionally baptized and then confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dunn, NC.  This was the first Confirmation in the Extraordinary Form in the Diocese of Raleigh in forty years.  I was very blessed to become my mother's Godfather and Confirmation Sponsor.

It gave me great joy that she chose the confirmation name "Bernadette."  Please pray for her!  Here are the photos from one year ago:

Recanting heresy, and making the Profession of Faith:

At the door of the Church signifying her entrance into the Faith:

Conditional Baptism:

"Bernadette, I sign thee with the sign of the Cross, and I confirm thee with the chrism of salvation; in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

"Confirm, O Lord, what Thou has wrought in us, from Thy holy temple which is in Jerusalem. Alleluia."

The priest then strikes each candidate on the cheek, symbolizing that the Christian is now a soldier for Christ and must endure the suffering and persecution which will come from conflict with the world.  The candidate kneels, their right foot resting on the right foot of their Confirmation Sponsor, while the sponsor places his right hand on the candidate's right shoulder.  This symbolizes the duties of the Confirmation Sponsor to support the new Catholic in their faith:

Novena For a Successful Surgery

The Marian apparitions to Saint Bernadette occurred four years after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.  On February 11, 1858, fourteen year old Bernadette Soubirous saw a beautiful lady at a rocky outcrop called Massabielle, about a half mile outside the town of Lourdes, France.  The lady was near a wild rose bush and surrounded by a brilliant light and a golden cloud, smiling, with her arms extended towards Bernadette.

When Bernadette finished praying the rosary, the apparition beckoned to her, but Bernadette did not move.  The lady smiled at her before disappearing.  Bernadette later described how the lady was clothed in a brilliant and unearthly white robe, with a blue girdle around her waist and a white veil on her head.

This was the beginning of eighteen apparitions which occurred during the spring and early summer of 1858.  When Bernadette asked the lady's name, she replied: "I am the Immaculate Conception."  The Blessed Virgin Mary instructed Bernadette to dig in the dirt, and when she did, a stream began to flow.  This stream continues to flow to this day.  Hundreds of miraculous healings have been attributed to these waters, and the sick continue to flock to this holy shrine every day.

Bernadette entered a convent in Nevers, France where she suffered from many painful illnesses before dying at a young age.  As Our Lady told her at the grotto: "I can not promise you happiness in this life, but only in the next."  When Saint Bernadette's body was exhumed, it was found to be free of corruption, and to this day her body lies uncorrupt in the chapel of her convent in Nevers.

I have always had a deep love for Saint Bernadette.  I first visited Lourdes in 2005 while I was studying French for a month at a university in Paris.  While in Lourdes, I had a very special spiritual experience which assured me of my vocation to the Catholic priesthood.  The next weekend, I visited Nevers to pray at the tomb of Saint Bernadette.  It was not until after this pilgrimage that I learned of Fr. Thomas Frederick Price's deep devotion and "spiritual marriage" to Saint Bernadette, and I learned that he also had a very moving experience at the Lourdes grotto which assured him of his vocation.  His heart is buried next to St. Bernadette's body in Nevers.  

I plan to visit Lourdes and Nevers again next Spring.

If you are able, I ask you to please join me in praying the following Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes, as there are 10 days until my surgery on January 7, 2009.  Even if started late and completed after my surgery, the prayers would still be efficacious!  Thank you!

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

(To be prayed for 9 consecutive days)

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted,

You know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings.  Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.  By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporeal.

I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests.  Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

Servant of God Father Thomas Frederick Price, pray for us.  Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.)

"What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me" (Matthew 25:45).

Matthew 25 teaches that whatever we do for the "least" in society, we do for Christ Himself.  Likewise, whatever we do not do for the least, we do not do for Christ.  "Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'  And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life" (Matthew 25: 44-46).

This teaching is very simple: we show charity and love for Christ by loving those who are "rejected" by society.  "Charity is a Divine virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God" (Baltimore Catechism No. 3, Q. 467).  If we ignore the least, we ignore Christ Himself.  Let us always remember that Christ was also cursed by society, and He was not "popular."

Last night, I had the chance to experience this teaching of Christ first-hand.  As a side note, of course no one is "lower" and more vulnerable than an unborn baby, and we must do everything in our power to end the evil of abortion.  We must especially be conscious of the unborn when casting our votes for public office, but there are also many other "least ones" who are in desperate need of our prayers and support.  I do not wish to take any attention away from the need to fight abortion, as over 47,000,000 of the "least" have been murdered in the womb in the United States since Roe v. Wade.  Through this post, I only wish to share my touching experience with a suffering man who is in need of our prayers.

I spent Friday evening with two good friends: Jamie, and Father Kevin Cusick (author of Meeting Christ in the Liturgy and The Liguori Society).  The three of us went out for a nice Italian dinner in downtown Norfolk, and on the way back to our car we were approached by a homeless man asking for help.  Usually (and sadly), I often pay no attention to the homeless, assuming that they must be drug addicts seeking drug money.  While I planned on ignoring this man, Jamie stopped to talk with him.  The man, Darryl, had tears in his eyes, and instead of asking for money, he asked if we would be willing to buy him food because he was very hungry.  Since Darryl was "banned" from all of the downtown restaurants, Father Cusick and I walked into one of the local bars to buy him a hamburger.  Jamie waited outside and spoke with Darryl until his food was ready.

Darryl recounted his story to Jamie: he was raised by church-going parents, but became addicted to alcohol.  He went to prison for 18 months, and was released in late November 2008.  The prison gave him $25 and sent him on his way.  He had no help seeking rehabilitation or getting a job.  For the past month, he has lived under a bridge in Norfolk, Virginia as he looks for work.  He wanders the streets begging for food.

When Father Cusick and I returned with his food, Father realized that Darryl was suffering tremendously.  Of course, there are no prayers more powerful than those of the suffering, because they are more closely united to Jesus and His Cross.  Father Cusick told Darryl that I have a brain tumor and asked him to pray for me.  Immediately, Darryl's demeanor changed.  He looked at me in a very loving way, and he took my hands and began to pray for me.  He told me: "I also have a 'sickness.'  God is in charge of everything, and everything will work out for us according to His plan."  It is amazing how God often speaks through the "least."  Darryl promised to pray for me every day, and I immediately returned this promise.  Please offer a prayer for him.

Father Cusick ministered to Darryl, telling him that God can free us of any addiction, and that there are people who love him and are willing to help him.  Father Cusick blessed him and challenged him to renounce all sinful habits he may have with the help of Christ.  Afterwards, we parted ways, but we are currently seeking local charity organizations to help him through his addiction.  He seemed to have a very good heart.

I do not write this post to seek any "praise" for buying food for a hungry man.  Indeed, my first instinct was to ignore him.  If it weren't for Jamie and Father Cusick, I would not have been inclined to help this man.  I was not willing to give food to the "least."  In the words of the Gospel, I "gave the stranger no welcome."  Thankfully, this experience made the Gospel come alive, and helped me to realize the value of every human being, and that I am not doing enough.

Living in America, it is very difficult to understand true poverty.  Many people throughout the world (and in our own country) don't know where they are going to find their next meal.  Many are unable to clothe and feed their children.  I (along with most Americans) have everything I need, so poverty is often irrelevant.  Are our lives and "troubles" really that bad compared to the troubles of others?  Can't we all do more to help the "least" among us, or will we (myself included) continue to ignore them as I initially tried to ignore Darryl last night?  Would we have also ignored Christ Himself if we lived two thousand years ago?  Would we have been among the majority of society cheering for His crucifixion?

When we reflect on poverty in the world, I think it is also fitting to examine our own spiritual lives.  Americans have access to every worldly item available.  We spend our lives seeking happiness in all of the wrong places - be it material goods, electronics, or worldly pleasures.  We worry about having the most up-to-date gadgets rather than worrying about the state of our souls, and I am probably one of the worst offenders.  Perhaps this is the greatest blessing of the Catholic poor in Third World Countries - the Faith is their most valued possession.  Sometimes it is all they have.

In this Christmas season - a joyful season which is often corrupted by shopping and desiring material goods, let us try to reflect on the greatest gift we can possibly possess and give to others: the Catholic Faith which comes to us from the Apostles.

Thanks to Fr. Ferguson

My thanks to Fr. Robert Ferguson, FSSP for having "Pray for Philip Gerard Johnson" engraved on the bottom of one of his chalices.  This ensures a special remembrance when he offers the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.  Fr. Ferguson has been a family friend for many years, and he offered thirty consecutive Masses for me when he learned of my brain tumor.  Please keep this priest of God and his intentions in your prayers!

Sacrament of Matrimony in the Extraordinary Form

On December 13, 2008 I was blessed to serve at the altar while my brother and sister-in-law were joined together in Holy Matrimony.  This was the first Traditional Latin Nuptial Mass to be celebrated in the Cathedral of Raleigh, North Carolina in almost forty years.  Please keep them both in your prayers!  The celebrant was Fr. Paul Parkerson of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dunn, NC.  The following pictures are from the Mass, along with the corresponding text from this beautiful rite.

"By the authority of the Church I ratify and bless the bond of marriage you have contracted.  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen"

Priest: "Bless, O Lord, this ring, which we are blessing in your name, so that she who wears it, keeping faith with her husband in unbroken loyalty, may ever remain at peace with you according to your will, and may live with him always in mutual love.  Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Groom: "With this ring I thee wed and I plight unto thee my troth."

The priest faces the altar and prays: "We beg you, Lord, to look on these your servants, and graciously to uphold the institution of marriage established by You for the continuation of the human race, so that they who have been joined together by Your authority may remain faithful together by Your help.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen."

The priest dons the maniple and begins Mass.  The maniple dates back to at least the 6th Century, and a priest originally used it to wipe away perspiration on his face.  By the 9th Century, it was a universal custom and tradition throughout Europe.  The maniple is only worn during Holy Mass, so it is removed for the sermon, wedding rites, and other ceremonies that do not constitute part of the Mass.  The maniple symbolizes the cares and sorrows of this earthly life which should be borne with patience.

The Prayers at the Foot of the Altar: "I will go unto the altar of God; To God, who gives joy to my youth" (Psalm 42).

The Holy Gospel: "...What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder" (Matt. 19:6).

The Elevation of the Host:

The Elevation of the Chalice:

After the Our Father, the priest faces the newlywed couple and prays: "...O God, you consecrated the union of marriage, making it a sign so profound as to prefigure in the marriage covenant the mystery of Christ and the Church.  May this yoke that she is taking on herself be one of love and peace.  May she be faithful and chaste, and may she always imitate the holy women: may she be the beloved of her husband, as was Rachel; wise, as was Rebecca; long-lived and loyal, as was Sara....  May she be grave in her modesty, honorable in her chastity, learned in the teachings of heaven.  May she be rich in children, may she prove worthy and blameless, and may she attain in the end to the peace of the blessed, the kingdom of heaven...."

The newlywed couple receives Holy Communion:

The Ablutions after Communion:

Before the priest blesses the people, he turns to the couple and prays: "May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob be with you, and may he fulfill in you his blessing, so that you may see your children's children to the third and fourth generation and afterward possess everlasting and boundless life."

The couple then honors the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Prayer cards are here!

Dear Friends,

You may remember a recent post about Fr. Thomas Frederick Price - the priest who converted my great-great grandmother in the late 1800's.  His Cause for Canonization was scheduled to open in October, but was delayed for administrative reasons.

I have a great devotion to Fr. Price.  He is a wonderful example of what the priesthood really is - complete sacrifice with no desires to be praised or thanked.  Fr. Price rarely saw the fruits of his labor, but the fruits were plentiful.  I would not have been raised in the Catholic Church if Fr. Price had not knocked on my great-great grandmother's door in Wilmington, NC in the late 1890's, and now I am his spiritual son hoping to follow in his footsteps.  He preached the Faith not knowing if his efforts would be efficacious.  To me, this is the point of the priesthood - serving God and fighting for souls with every moment of your life even if you do not see the immediate spiritual results.  One never knows (at least not in this short life) when hearing one confession, offering one Mass, or facilitating one conversion will help the Church, many souls, or just one soul.

Bishop Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina has kindly given his Imprimatur for a prayer card asking Fr. Price's intercession for my healing.  I have posted the card at the bottom of this blog entry.  Please email me (my email address is on my "complete profile" page to the right) if you would like me to mail you some of these prayer cards.  I would appreciate them being passed out to your "prayer warrior" friends who may be willing to pray for me through the intercession of this holy priest of God!

One of the best descriptions (in my opinion) of Fr. Price came many years after his death, from Cardinal William O'Connell (1859-1944) who had known Fr. Price since his youth and studied with him in the seminary.  John C. Murrett's The Tar Heel Apostle quotes Cardinal O'Connell from his Seventy Years Recollections: 

“Is it, knowing what I do, rashness on my part to say that Father Price was a saint of God?  And am I too daring a prophet to venture to hope that some day, to the glory of the American priesthood and the holy cause of Catholic missions, the name of Father Thomas Frederick Price will have a place in the calendar of the saints of God’s Holy Church?” (Murrett, Tar Heel Apostle, 244).

These prayer cards (the printed version is a little larger) are for private use in devotional prayer for my healing through the intercession of Servant of God, Fr. Thomas Frederick Price.

Religious Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK8Q57o1m3I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdUs8qu5EpA

Gaudete Sunday

On Sunday, December 14th, we celebrated the Third Sunday of Advent - commonly known as Gaudete Sunday. "Gaudete" in Latin means "Rejoice," and is drawn from the propers of the Mass which emphasize the act of rejoicing in the Lord. Traditionally, priests wear rose vestments, and a great history of this tradition is found on NewAdvent.org:

"The third Sunday of Advent, or Gaudete Sunday, so called from the first word of the Introit at Mass ("Gaudete," i.e. Rejoice). The season of Advent originated as a fast of forty days in preparation for Christmas.... St. Gregory the Great was the first to draw up an Office for the Advent season, and the Gregorian Sacramentary is the earliest to provide Masses for the Sundays of Advent.... Advent still preserved most of the characteristics of a penitential seasons which made it a kind of counterpart to Lent, the middle (or third) Sunday corresponding with Laetare or Mid-Lent Sunday. On it, as on Laetare Sunday, the organ and flowers, forbidden during the rest of the season, were permitted to be used; rose-colored vestments were allowed instead of purple; the deacon and subdeacon reassumed the dalmatic and tunicle at the chief Mass, and cardinals wore rose-color instead of purple.

All these distinguishing marks have continued in use, and are the present discipline of the Latin Church. Gaudete Sunday, therefore, makes a breaker like Laetare Sunday, about midway through a season which is otherwise of a penitential character, and signifies the nearness of the Lord's coming. The Epistle incites us to rejoicing, and bids us prepare to meet the coming Savior with prayers and supplication and thanksgiving, while the Gospel, the words of St. John the Baptist, warns us that the Lamb of God is even now in our midst, though we appear to know Him not. The spirit of the Office and Liturgy all through Advent is one of expectation and preparation for the Christmas feast as well as for the second coming of Christ, and the penitential exercises suitable to that spirit are thus on Gaudete Sunday suspended, as were, for a while in order to symbolize that joy and gladness in the Promised Redemption which should never be absent from the heart of the faithful."

Please enjoy these beautiful photos of Gaudete Sunday, a "break" in the penitential season of Advent, celebrated in the Extraordinary Form at my home parish of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dunn, NC. The pastor, Father Paul Parkerson, continued the tradition of wearing rose vestments for this "break," and he gave a touching sermon on the humility of St. John the Baptist.

Frequent Confession

Many years ago, I was blessed to attend a spiritual conference given by a priest of the Fathers of Mercy.  Please forgive me - I have forgotten his name.  More importantly, I remembered his poignant message regarding the Sacrament of Penance.  He commented: "One Summer I visited a nearby parish to hear confessions and offer the weekend Masses.  The parish had 3,000 registered members, and I heard a total of two confessions.  There were either many sacrilegious communions that weekend, or there are 3,000 Catholics ready for canonization."

Father's message draws attention to the necessity of all sacraments, but especially the Sacrament of Penance, in today's world.  For non-Catholic readers who may not be familiar with the Catholic Church's teachings, the sacraments were instituted by Christ, and they spread throughout the entire world through the evangelization of Christ's Apostles.  They continue to be administered today through the successors of the Apostles - Catholic bishops and priests.  It is no coincidence that both Eastern and Western Christians have believed in the same seven sacraments since the First Century - the Apostles passed on what Christ commanded them to teach.

The sacraments are outward signs instituted by Christ to give grace.  A sign is something that stands for something else.  Just as a flag represents a country and serves as an outward sign for that country, each sacrament is an outward sign for something spiritual, but the sacraments actually cause what they signify.  For example, baptism is signified by an external washing with water, but it causes the soul to be washed from original sin (and personal sin, if the sacrament is received later in life).

Each of the sacraments gives two types of grace: sanctifying and sacramental grace.  Sanctifying grace is a permanent gift from the Holy Spirit to our souls, helping to make us holy and pleasing to God.  Sacramental grace is a special grace for achieving the purpose of the sacrament.  In a way, it is "specific" to the sacrament itself, and our reasons for seeking the sacrament.  The sacramental grace of Confirmation helps us to remain true to the Catholic Faith which has been passed on to us by the Apostles.  The sacramental grace after confessing uncharity helps us to be more charitable in the future, etc.

On many occasions, Our Lord Jesus Christ exercised the power to forgive sins (Luke 7:47; Mark 2:5).  Many Jews accused Him of blasphemy (Mark 2:7), but He clearly stated that "The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on Earth" (Mark 2: 10-12).  He gave His Apostles (and therefore all future bishops and priests who maintain an unbroken succession from these Apostles) the power to forgive sins on the night of His resurrection: "Receive ye the Holy Spirit, whose sins you shall forgive are forgiven them...." (Jn 20:23).

In addition to this Scriptural evidence, the early Church Fathers promoted the Sacrament of Confession.  A few of many examples:

St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan (Tier, 340-397), On the Holy Spirit, Bk. 3, Ch 18, ML 16, 808:
"Sins are forgiven through the Holy Ghost. Certainly, but men lend him their ministry. . . . They forgive sin, not in their own name, but in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."

St. Jerome (Stridon, 345-419), Letters, No. 14, ML 22, 352:
"Far be it to censure the successors of the apostles, who with holy words consecrate the body of Christ, and who make us Christians. Having the keys of the kingdom of heaven, they judge men to some extent before the day of judgment, and guard the chastity of the Bride of Christ."

The ecumenical councils of the Church also proclaim the truth of this sacrament:

The Council of Constance (1414 - 1418): 
"A Christian has the obligation, over and above heartfelt contrition, of confessing to a priest."

The Council of Florence (1438-1445):
"The fourth sacrament is penance."

The Council of Trent (1545 - 1563):
"But our Lord instituted the sacrament of penance notably on the occasion when after his resurrection, he breathed upon his disciples saying: 'Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained' (John 20:22). The universal agreement of the Father has always understood that by such a striking action and by clear words the power of remitting and of retaining sins, and of reconciling the faithful who have fallen after baptism was communicated to the apostles and to their legitimate successors; ... Therefore this holy council accepts and approves the true meaning of these words of our Lord and condemns the false interpretation of ... those words."

 

There are two types of sins: mortal sins and venial sins.  Mortal sins (when committed knowingly, voluntarily, and will full consent) are grievous offenses  against God, and they destroy our life of sanctifying grace.  All of these types of sins must be confessed, as a soul can not be saved without repenting of mortal sin.  Venial sins are less grievous, and while we are not obligated to confess these types of sins, it is beneficial to do so in order to receive the sacramental grace in order to live holier lives.  The reception of absolution for venial sins helps prevent relapse into sin.

Pope Pius XII commented: "It is true that venial sins may be expiated in many ways that are to be highly commended, but to ensure more rapid progress day by day in the practice of virtue we want the pious practice of frequent Confession which was introduced into the Church by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be earnestly advocated.  By it, genuine self-knowledge is increased, Christian humility grows, bad habits are corrected, spiritual neglect and tepidity are resisted, the conscience is purified, the will strengthened, a salutary self-control is attained, and grace is increased in virtue of the sacrament itself."

While the Second Vatican Council is often blamed for bringing about too much "innovation," the Council's teaching on frequent confession is wonderful, even if it was widely ignored: "Frequent and reverent recourse to this sacrament, even when only venial sin is in question, is of great value. Frequent confession is not mere ritual repetition, nor is it merely a psychological exercise. Rather is it a constant effort to bring to perfection the grace of our Baptism so that as we carry about in our bodies the death of Jesus Christ who died, the life that Jesus Christ lives may be more and more manifested in us. In such confessions penitents, while indeed confessing venial sins, should be mainly concerned with becoming more deeply conformed to Christ, and more submissive to the voice of the Spirit."

I will end with a reflection from Fr. John Hardon on the value of frequent confession.  Fr. Hardon identifies eight spiritual benefits from receiving this sacrament frequently: Self-Knowledge is increased, bad habits (vices acquired by the repetition of bad actions) are corrected, our consciences are purified (in order to think and see clearly), our will is strengthened to be courageous, we gain more self-control over our emotions and desires, and we therefore become more sinless, more conformed to the Will of the Holy Spirit, and more conformed to the Holy Will of Jesus Christ.

In this season of Advent, a season of repentance before celebrating the birth of Our Lord, may we also become more conscious of our faults, and the infinite mercy of God available through the sacraments.  The more frequently we confess our sins, the more grace we receive.  In spite of our numerous sins, God loves us unconditionally with an infinite amount of love that only He can give.

If it has "been a while" since your last confession, this is the perfect season to make a change in your spiritual life.  Go see a priest, and be amazed at the great mercy of God.

Surgery date...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I will be undergoing brain surgery for a "needle biopsy" on January 7th, 2009.  A description of the procedure from WebMD: "The exact location of the tumor in the brain is determined stereotactically, that is, by using MRI scan while the head is held still in a frame.  A small hole is then made in the skull and a needle guided through the hole to the tumor.  The needle collects the biopsy and is removed."  The photo to the left shows what the surgeon sees.  Computer imaging is used to ensure the needle is inserted properly.

This surgery is quite risky, so I am thankful that I have the chance to make a General Confession and receive Last Rites before the surgery.  God is good, even in our suffering and trials.

I have chosen Dr. Dennis Rivet as my Neurosurgeon after visiting many different medical centers.  Providentially, Dr. Rivet was the very first Neurosurgeon to look at my case.  When I returned to Virginia from my Persian Gulf deployment, I proceeded immediately to Portsmouth Naval Hospital (near my residence in Virginia Beach).  I had no appointment, and although Dr. Rivet had a full day of scheduled appointments, he insisted upon seeing me, and he spent over an hour with me discussing my condition.  He is very caring and sincere.  He assured me that his "ego is not involved" and suggested that I seek other opinions, so I did.  

I went to Richmond, Bethesda, and Durham in order to meet with Neurosurgeons, all of which had different opinions, but I feel most comfortable with Dr. Rivet.  In fact, it turns out that we both graduated from the Naval Academy (although he graduated 15 years before me), and we both had the same professor who tried to fail us in Freshman Chemistry.  I barely passed with a C; he earned an A.

Please pray for me as I prepare for this surgery.

Still, small voice

Could Our Lord be calling you to such a life?

Functional MRI results and surgery date...

On November 21st I underwent a functional MRI at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina.  This test "mapped out" the location of specific brain functions to see how much of my brain could be surgically removed if necessary.  The test measured blood flow to specific parts of my brain while I spoke, moved my hands, and conducted simple calculations.  While many of my important brain functions have "adapted" around the tumor and shifted to other parts of the brain, some very important functions lie right in the middle of the tumor.  The doctor is quite certain that I would experience weakness and possibly paralysis on the right side of my body were he to remove the tumor - even just a partial removal.  He is not willing to attempt such a surgery while all of my functions are currently normal, and because my type of tumor does not have "clear borders" and can not be completely removed.

I will be undergoing brain surgery for a biopsy on January 7th, 2009.  Please keep me in your prayers.  The surgery involves the doctor drilling a hole in my skull, and then using a long needle to extract small portions of the tumor.  There is a risk of bleeding in the brain which can cause fatal strokes, so I will remain in the hospital for a few days in order to undergo frequent CAT scans.  If there is bleeding or a blood clot in the brain, I will have to undergo immediate open brain surgery in order to remove it.

These tumor samples can be examined in order to tell the type of cancer and how fast it is growing.  The examination can also tell whether or not radiation and chemotherapy can be effective as treatment in the future.  There are no plans to begin chemotherapy or radiation unless the tumor worsens.  I will continue to have frequent MRI scans in order to track growth of the tumor.  

In the meantime, I am experimenting with a raw fruit and vegetable diet which has been known to shrink tumors and strengthen the immune system in order to naturally fight cancer calls.

Please keep me in your prayers!  I continue to pray for all who are praying for me!  Ave crux, spes unica!