Young Men, Join the Norbertines

Medical Update

Good news came from my last visit to Johns Hopkins. After reviewing my MRI scans, the group of oncologists, surgeons, and radiologists agreed that the tumor is stable and has not grown since December (since the end of the novena to the Immaculate Conception, perhaps?). I am to continue the current treatment (daily oral chemotherapy) in hopes that it will keep the tumor at bay for many years.

I have already long outlived the prognosis for this incurable tumor, and I thank the great medical staff at Johns Hopkins, as well as all who have been praying for me!

"The single greatest need in the world today is the practice of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament." - Fr. John Hardon

Bishop DiLorenzo Blesses New St. Benedict (FSSP) Chapel in Chesapeake, Virginia

On Saturday, March 5, 2011, Bishop Francis DiLorenzo of the Diocese of Richmond blessed the new Saint Benedict (FSSP) Chapel in Chesapeake, Virginia in the Extraordinary Form. This project began many years ago to accommodate the growing number of faithful in the area who are attached to the traditional rites.

Following the blessing of the chapel, Fr. Neal Nichols, FSSP (Chaplain) offered the first Solemn High Mass in the chapel, assisted by Fr. Eric Flood, FSSP (North American Superior of the FSSP) as Deacon, and Fr. Peter Byrne, FSSP (Assistant Chaplain) as Subdeacon.

The facade of the new building:

The beautiful interior, with opportunities for future additions:

Bishop DiLorenzo (left) admires the beautiful altar:

The St. Benedict's "Knights of the Altar" prepare to lead the procession to the cornerstone:

The Bishop blesses the cornerstone, then blesses the exterior of the building in procession:

Hundreds of faithful fill the new chapel:

Bishop DiLorenzo blesses the interior of the new chapel, followed by the chanting of the Litany of the Saints. Upon reaching the Saint in whose name the chapel is being dedicated (Saint Benedict), the Saint is invoked three times:

Following the blessing, the altar is adorned and a Solemn High Mass is offered in the chapel for the first time:

A photo of one half of the attending priests and seminarians from the Dioceses of Richmond, Arlington, Portland, and Raleigh. Also present were local Benedictine Brothers and Priests, and seminarians from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter:

Deo Gratias for a wonderful day long awaited by many in the Diocese of Richmond.

Photos taken by Fr. Cusick of "A Priest Life." Final photo taken by Steve Neill of the Catholic Virginian.

Blessing and first Mass at the New Saint Benedict Chapel, Chesapeake, Virginia

I attended the blessing of the new chapel of Saint Benedict (an apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter) in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Saturday. I assisted at Holy Mass here from 2006-2009 while I was stationed on ships in Norfolk, VA. Here is a photo of Father Neal Nichols, FSSP, celebrating the first Solemn High Mass in the newly dedicated church. He is assisted by Father Eric Flood, FSSP, and Father Peter Byrne, FSSP. You can see more photos the of the church, the blessing and first Mass by visiting Father Cusick's blog A Priest Life.

I have a new Goddaughter!

Baby Catherine was baptized in the Extraordinary Form on February 27.

Part I: In the Narthex (or outside) of the Church:

The priest (wearing a violet stole), sponsors, and the catechumen stand outside of the church, symbolizing that at this point, the candidate is not a member of the Church. The Godparents/Sponsors respond for the child:

Priest: "Catherine, what do you ask of the Church of God?"
Sponsor: "Faith."
Priest: "What does Faith offer you?"
Sponsor: "Life everlasting."
Priest: "If then you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments. 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.'"

The priest then breathes 3 times on the candidate in the form of a Cross, recalling the Spirit (breath, wind, "ruach") of God.

Priest: "Go forth from her, unclean spirit, and give place to the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete"

The priest now makes the Sign of the Cross with his thumb on the candidate's forehead and breast.

Priest: "Receive the Sign of the Cross both upon your forehead + and also upon your heart +; take to you the faith of the heavenly precepts; and so order your life as to be, from henceforth, the temple of God. Let us pray: Mercifully hear our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and by Thy perpetual assistance keep this Thine elect, Catherine, signed with the sign of the Lord's cross, so that, preserving this first experience of the greatness of Thy glory, she may deserve, by keeping Thy commandments, to attain to the glory of regeneration. Through Christ our Lord."

Sponsor: "Amen."

The priest places his hand on the candidate's head:

Priest: "Let us pray: Almighty, everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, look graciously down upon this Thy servant, Catherine, whom Thou hast graciously called unto the beginnings of the faith; drive out from her all blindness of heart; break all the toils of Satan wherewith she was held: open unto her, O Lord, the gate of Thy loving kindness, that, being impressed with the sign of Thy wisdom, she may be free from the foulness of all wicked desires, and in the sweet odor of Thy precepts may joyfully serve Thee in Thy Church, and grow in grace from day to day. Through the same Christ our Lord, Amen."

The priest then puts a little blessed salt in the candidate's mouth. Salt is the symbol of that wisdom which gives a relish for the sweetness of divine nourishment; preserves, by the teaching of the Gospel, from the corruption of sin, and prevents evil passions from growing in men's souls.

Priest: "Catherine, Receive the salt of wisdom; let it be to thee a token of mercy unto everlasting life. May it make your way easy to eternal life."

Sponsor: "Amen."
Priest: "Peace be with you."
Sponsor: "And with your spirit."
Priest: "Let us pray: O God of our fathers, O God the Author of all truth, vouchsafe, we humbly beseech Thee, to look graciously down upon this Thy servant, Catherine, and as she tastes this first nutriment of salt, suffer her no longer to hunger for want of heavenly food, to the end that she may be always fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, always serving Thy name. Lead her, O Lord, we beseech Thee, to the laver of the new regeneration, that, together with Thy faithful, he may deserve to attain the everlasting rewards of Thy promises. Through Christ our Lord."
Sponsor: "Amen."

Part II: Admission into the Church Building

The priest makes the Sign of the Cross three times over the candidate and says:

"I exorcize thee, unclean spirit, in the name of the Father + and of the Son, + and of the Holy + Spirit, that thou goest out and depart from this servant of God, Catherine, For He commands Thee, accursed one, Who walked upon the sea, and stretched out His right hand to Peter about to sink. Therefore, accursed devil, acknowledge thy sentence, and give honor to the living and true God: give honor to Jesus Christ His Son, and to the Holy Spirit; and depart from this servant of God, Catherine, because God and our Lord Jesus Christ hath vouchsafed to call her to His holy grace and benediction and to the font of Baptism."

The priest again makes the Sign of the Cross on the candidate's forehead.

Priest: "And this sign of the holy Cross, which we make upon her forehead, do thou, accursed devil, never dare to violate."

For the final time, the priest lays his hand on the candidate's head:

Priest: "Let us pray: O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, Author of light and truth, I implore Thine everlasting and most just goodness upon this Thy servant Catherine, that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to enlighten him her with the light of Thy wisdom: cleanse her and sanctify her, give unto her true knowledge; that, being made worthy of the grace of Thy Baptism, she may hold firm hope, right counsel and holy doctrine. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

The priest lays the end of his stole on the candidate as a symbol of his priestly authority, and admits him into the church building, which is the symbol of the Church of Christ:

Priest: "Catherine, enter thou into the temple of God, that thou mayest have part with Christ unto life everlasting.

Sponsor: "Amen."

On behalf of the child, the Sponsors recite the Creed and Our Father.

Part III: In the Nave of the Church

Priest: "I exorcize thee, every unclean spirit, in the name of God the Father + Almighty, in the name of Jesus + Christ, His Son, our Lord and Judge, and in the power of the Holy + Spirit, that thou be depart from this creature of God, Catherine, which our Lord hath deigned to call unto His holy temple, that it may be made the temple of the living God, and that the Holy Spirit may dwell therein. Through the same Christ our Lord, who shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire."

The priest takes a little spittle and touches the ears and nostrils of the candidate with it. This rite comes from Mark 7:33-35, when Jesus healed the deaf-mute: "And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears: and spitting, he touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he groaned and said to him: 'Ephpheta,' which is, 'Be thou opened.' And immediately his ears were opened and the string of his tongue was loosed and he spoke right."

Priest: "Ephpheta, that is to say, Be opened, for an odour of sweetness. Be thou, devil, begone; for the judgement of God shall draw near."

The sponsors then answer for the child:

Priest: "Catherine, do you renounce Satan?"
Sponsor: "I do renounce him."
Priest: "And all of his works?"

Sponsor: "I do renounce him."
Priest: "And all his pomps?"
Sponsor: "I do renounce him."

The priest annoints the candidate with the oil of catechumens on the heart and between the shoulders in the form of a Cross, saying:

Priest: "I annoint you + with the oil of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, that you may have everlasting life."

Part IV: At the Font

The priest removes his violet stole and puts on a white one. The sponsors confirm belief in the Creed.

At the font:

Priest: "Catherine, will you be baptized?"
Sponsor: "I will."

The priest pours water over the head of the candidate three times, once after each mention of the Divine Persons. As he pours the water, the priest says these words:

Priest: "I baptize you in the name of the Father + and of the Son + and of the Holy + Spirit."

The child is then anointed a second time, this time with Sacred Chrism. This tradition comes from the early Church when Confirmation was administered immediately after baptism (as it is still practiced among Eastern Catholics). While Baptism and Confirmation are two distinct Sacraments, the Catechism of the Council of Trent sums up their interconnectedness very well: "In Baptism man is enlisted into the service, in Confirmation he is equipped for battle; at the baptismal font the Holy Ghost imparts fullness to accomplish innocence, but in Confirmation he ministers perfection to grace." The Catechism of Trent continues: "It is peculiar to Confirmation first to perfect the grace of Baptism. For those who have been made Christians by Baptism still have in some sort the tenderness and softness, as it were, of new-born infants, and afterwards become, by means of the Sacrament of chrism, stronger to resist all the assaults of the world."

In the Roman Church, this second anointing with Sacred Chrism remains as symbolic of the child's future reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation. If Baptism is conferred on an adult, there is only one post-baptismal anointing, that of Confirmation.

Father anoints Catherine a second time:

Priest: "May the Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath regenerated thee by water and the Holy Spirit, and who hath given thee the remission of all thy sins, may He Himself + anoint thee with the Chrism of Salvation, in the same Christ Jesus our Lord, unto life eternal."

Priest: "Peace be with you."
Sponsor: "And with your spirit."

This priest takes a white linen cloth -- symbolizing the purity of a soul cleansed from all sin, and places it on the head of the candidate.

Priest: "Receive this white garment, which mayest thou carry without stain before the judgment seat of our Lord Jesus Christ, that thou mayest have life everlasting."

The priest gives the sponsor a lighted candle: "Receive this burning light, and keep thy Baptism so as to be without blame: keep the commandments of God, that when the Lord shall come to the nuptials, thou mayest meet Him together with all the Saints in the heavenly court, and mayest have eternal life and live for ever and ever."

Priest: "Catherine, go in peace and the Lord be with you. Amen."

Sponsor: "Amen."