Prayer and Reflection from The Union of Catholic Apostolate

Introductory Prayer
“Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will speak out your praise.
Sacrifice gives you no pleasure,
were I to offer holocaust, you would not have it.
My sacrifice is this broken spirit,
you will not scorn this crushed and broken heart.” Psalm 51.

Reflection
In this the ninth mediation in “God, the Infinite Love’, St. Vincent Pallotti invites us to meditate on the gift of free will with which God has endowed us. The meditation begins in a tone of awe, Vincent expresses his wonder at receiving this gift, he marvels at the goodness and generosity of God, it almost seems as if he cannot believe nor conceive that God has been so magnanimous in endowing the person with this faculty. Let us listen to him:

“Oh my God, my Father, infinite love and mercy of my soul, You, moved by your infinite love and mercy, deigned to create me in your image and likeness and also to grant me the gift of free will. Throughout my life I will employ it…so that I may strengthen my soul in its very intimate nature, since it was created by you…”

The points that St. Vincent underlines in this meditation are few but precise:
1. God has created me in his image and likeness;
2. God has given me the gift of free will and I can choose to use it in order to perfect myself in becoming progressively more like him;
3. This is not limited to earthly life, God wants me to become like him in his eternal glory of the kingdom of the Father; he wants me to be blessed like him, rich as him, like him in everything;
4. Who could ever understand these merciful desires of God?
5. However, he also recognizes and confesses his lack of correspondence with this gift of free will.

He goes on to further develop the third point by making a reference to the first Letter of St. John, chap. 3,1-3, written when John was already an old man and which reveals a beatific vision of eternal life: “My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is.”

This is the beatific vision, our destiny is to be in the presence of God, seeing him as he is, and in this state to be transformed in perfect likeness of him. A heartening and inspiring vision: “You want me to be blessed like you, rich as you, like you in everything;”. St. Vincent is moved to say: “My God, my Father, my love, my infinite mercy, you know that I will never be able to understand that infinite mercy and love with which you have created me in your own likeness and granted me the gift of free will…”.

St. John adds a further verse to the text already quoted, “Everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ”. St. Vincent follows this direction with a profound and heart-felt recognition of his ingratitude, unworthiness, lack of correspondence with, and even abuse of, the gifts of God. With the gift of free will God has conferred on us a great dignity, the person is the only being in this universe endowed with this faculty. In exercising free will the person determines his or her own choices, does what he or she thinks best, this gift enables one to examine all the options, to explore all the roads, to risk experimenting, and even to make mistakes and to leave the path chosen if one wishes.

While the gift of free will confers a dignity on us at the same time it carries with it a responsibility. We are often very aware that not all our choices are the best ones, they are not all opportune or the best ones for us and for others. In this meditation the truth that we have been created for freedom is reaffirmed, the freedom of the children of God as St. Paul terms it, however, we do not always choose the path that leads us to greater freedom for a variety of reasons, we sometimes make choices that close us in on ourselves, which create a prison within us and around us.

In the Gospel Jesus offers us a very clear example of the dilemma which we are faced with in using our free will: “He was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, ‘Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not kill; you must not commit adultery; you must not steal; you must not bring false witness; you must not defraud; honour your father and mother.’ And he said to him, ‘Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days’. Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything your own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.” (Mk. 10,17-22).

Gaudium et spes, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church of Vatican II, in article 17 deals with the “the importance of human freedom”. “Only in freedom can a human being direct himself toward goodness. Our contemporaries make much of this freedom and pursue it eagerly; and rightly to be sure. Often however they foster it perversely as a license for doing whatever pleases them, even if it is evil. For its part, authentic freedom is an exceptional sign of the divine image within a human being. For God has willed that a human being remain "under the control of his own decisions," so that he can seek his Creator spontaneously, and come freely to utter and blissful perfection through loyalty to him. Hence a human being's dignity demands that he act according to a knowing and free choice that is personally motivated and prompted from within, not under blind internal impulse nor by mere external pressure… he pursues his goal in a spontaneous choice of what is good, and since a human being's freedom has been damaged by sin, only by the aid of God's grace can he bring such a relationship with God into full flower.”

Fr. Vincent reflected frequently on this faculty, we can see, for instance, that it was a theme during his annual retreat in November 1841: “November 15th: Meditation 2 (1) Man created in the image and likeness of God. (2) Man is endowed with the gift of free will in order that he profit from it in perfecting himself as an image of God. (3) Man must perfect himself since he is an image of God in order to be like unto God in glory. My God, I have never lived in accordance with the end for which you created me. My God, I have never truly obtained the salvation of souls redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ as I should have done. My Jesus, with your holy life destroy all that I have done which has been bad in so far as I did not live in accordance with the end for which I was created: and with the perfection and holiness of your life perfect my life, my soul and that of all people. God my mercy Jesus my mercy Mary, most holy, mercy”.” (OOCC X, 661-2). Point for reflection: 1. Do I cultivate my freedom? In what way? 2. Do I use my freedom to spontaneously seek my creator? 3. What criterion/a determine my choices? 4. In what way do I recognize that my freedom is limited and even badly used in the circumstances of daily living? St. Vincent ends each meditation in “God the Infinite Love” with a ‘Pious Offering’ which is always the same: “Eternal Father, in union with the most sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, I offer you the most precious Blood of the Immaculate Lamb, our divine Redeemer, in thanksgiving, as if you had already granted all the graces I have requested for me and for all, now and always.” St. Vincent regrets and repents of his failings in the light of the infinite goodness and mercy of God, however he is not demoralized by these failings, he has found a way to overcome them, by uniting his prayers of contrition to the sacred hearts of Jesus and Mary and by uniting himself with their offering of the blood of Jesus to the Father. Identifying himself with the prayers of the hearts of Jesus and Mary, Vincent affirms that “I firmly believe, rather I am certain” that God will grant him the graces requested. And in this way he advances on the road of holiness.

REGISTRATION FOR NEW CLASS OF COMPANIONING THE DYING OPEN

Companioning the Dying is a spiritually-based program which connects volunteers with persons in their last stage of life. The year-long program seeks men and women who have been seasoned by losses and others who feel called to deepen their own spirituality by walking with those who would otherwise have no one to accompany them on their final journey.

The program includes education, placement, mentoring, a three-day residential retreat, and on-going at-home work. Current participants represent a diversity of religious affiliations and are placed with such agencies and hospices as the Jeanne Jugan Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor and Joseph’s House in Washington; Sacred Heart Home in Hyattsville; Montgomery Hospice and Holy Cross Hospice, both of which serve patients throughout the area. Some companion family or friends are members of their faith community.

The program offers basic skills and contemplative practices that will assist participants in confident and compassionate companioning of the dying along with the integration of this experience into their own spirituality. Those who have had previous experience in companioning the dying find that the program deepens their understanding of what this work is about and assists them in re-claiming their own spiritual heart in the midst of what they are doing. Some choose the program as an impetus for dealing with their own mortality.

Participants are expected to dedicate 20 hours a month over the 12-month period, which begins in September. Applications are due by July 1. Cost for the program, including the retreat, is $500; some financial assistance is available. Brochures, applications and further information are available from Sister Rose Mary Dougherty, SSND (301-585-8350), Sister Amy Hoey, RSM (301-578-1989), or by contacting ctditcl@gmail.com.

Notes from the Registrar

Financial Aid - Stafford Loans/ Important The new federal law, just signed by the President, affects Federal Stafford Loans. These and other similar loans will no longer be provided through commerical lenders, but rather directly through the US Department of Education. For those students who have previously applied for Stafford Loans through WTU, this will mean a new way of processing. The Director of Financial Aid is reviewing what is required for our student processing. Further information will be pubished through articles in the "ePistle". You can also obtain information about this from the applicable USDofED website http://www.direct.ed.gov/pubs/gradplusentrcounselguide.pdf.

Financial Aid Office notes: The earlier announcement regarding the Knights of Columbus scholarships must be corrected, as follows: Anyone who is studying for the priesthood (diocese or religious institute) may apply for one of the scholarships. Preference is given to an applicant who is or whose father is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Application forms can be obtained from Deacon Merella, Director of Financial Aid.

International Students: If you have a Student (F1) visa as a student here at WTU, you are required to have your I-20 form endorsed by the Registrar every year you are student at WTU. Should you travel outside the US while a student without this endorsement, you will not be able to re-enter the US. You will be stopped at US Customs for failure to have your I-20 properly endorsed. Bring your I-20 to the Registrar as soon as possible for the endorsement.

Summer and Fall Registration: The schedules for summer and fall 2010 registrations are now posted on the website http://www.wtu.edu/academics/schedules.htm. The Registration form is also linked on this same webpage. Forms can be submitted to the Registrar beginning April 6. Please note also that most courses are now awarded three (3) credits and the supervised ministry courses are now reduced to four (4) credits./

Supervised Ministry Registration: Students taking supervised ministry courses are reminded that the applicable course number must be included on your registration form. The Fall registration will now be for the entire course, no longer a split registration in fall and spring as has been past practice. Also there will no longer be a separate registration for the theological reflection seminar. The schedule shows the day/time for the applicable seminar.

Semester Class Schedule Structure: Because of the change in course credits and therefore the time length of classes, all classes will now be offered only in one session, rather than some having a split-session occurring twice a week. May save a bit on student's transportation costs.

Academic Advice/Registration: The change in credits may or may not have some impact on a student's degree or certificate program depending upon a student' academic progress. This may also impact registration planning. When obtaining your advisor's registration signature, students should reconfirm their course planning against degree requirements. Keep in mind that students currently enrolled are bound by program requirements at time of initial enrollment, not the new requirements posted on the website. The Regisrar maintains the official set of requirements for each student and can confirm for any student the applicable requirements for graduation.

Semester Booklist: In the past, a composite textbook list was posted on the website. Last semester, the practice began of using BlackBoard to announce the books required for each course. Students will be able to access the list for their course using Blackboard features. Students will be given access to the course site in sufficient time to obtain books from web sources or bookstores.

MDIV Preaching I/II Schedule: This coming fall/spring semesters are a transition for the regular MDIV preaching classes. The new MDIV schema provides that Preaching I is to be taken in the Spring semester of the Year II before taking Preaching II in the Fall semester of Year III. To accommodate some MDIV students graduating in May 2011, Preaching I is being offered in Fall 2010 as well as Spring 2011. In Fall 2011, only Preaching II will be offered.

Graduation Singers Needed

Graduation is quickly approaching for some of our fellow classmates. As our biggest academic celebration of the year, this calls for festive music! Would you please consider contributing your time and talents to this endeavor?

Here are the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions:

When is Graduation?
Graduation is on Friday, May 7.

What graduation events will have music?
There are two events with music. We're especially looking for as many singers as possible for the second event.

1. Graduation Mass - 11:00 a.m. in the WTU Chapel
We will sing three simple preludes as people will gather. We'll celebrate daily mass, but with as much music as you typically find at a Sunday mass. Looking for a few cantors and instrumentalists, and then as many people as want to sing in the choir. We will not rehearse this music much, as the assembly will sing almost everything with us.

2. Graduation Ceremony - 2:30 p.m. at Trinity University Chapel, Michigan Avenue NE We will be singing three gorgeously-arranged hymns with brass quintet. To have a good balance, we need FORTY singers! (That's a lot of people! Please invite everyone you know to join us! Let Rich Andre know if you need to call upon his arm-twisting skills to get your friends to sing with us.)

Can I sing at the graduation ceremony even if I'm graduating?
Yes! We have arranged the processional song so that you can process and still get in place in time to sing. You'll be able to sing the responsorial hymn with us, but we will not expect you to sing the recessional hymn. Please consider singing with us: it will add to the community-building atmosphere for which we pride ourselves at WTU!

Can I sing at the graduation ceremony even if I'm on the faculty?
Yes! You will probably still be processing during the first two verses of the processional, but you should be in place in time to join us on the final two verses. You will be able to sing the responsorial hymn and the entire recessional hymn with us. Please consider singing with us: it will add to the community-building atmosphere for which we pride ourselves at WTU!

But how will I learn the music?
Rehearsal CDs and binders will be available by mid-April. In addition, there will be a number of rehearsal opportunities.

When are rehersals?
We have scheduled many rehearsal times -- several before the crush of finals -- but you are not expected to come to all of them. Come to as many as you can. The rehearsals are tentatively scheduled for the following dates/times:

Monday, April 12 -- 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Monday, April 19 -- 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Monday, April 26 -- 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Monday, May 3 -- 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 6 -- 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

If you can't make many of these times, that's OK. Let Rich know your availability at other times by following this link to a Doodle poll: http://www.doodle.com/phwdiunektqi5kzv
Instructions on how to complete the poll:
1. Click on "Your Name," and write your name.
2. Indicate all the times you can make with GREEN (convenient) or YELLOW (possible, but not convenient).
3. Click on "Save" at the bottom right of the page.
4. If you need to edit your entry, go back to the page and select "Edit an Entry."
Rich will be back in touch with you about when other rehearsals will be scheduled.

GREAT! How do I sign up?
If you're ready to commit yourself to this endeavor -- or if you have questions before making a commitment -- please send an e-mail to Rich Andre at music@wtu.edu or rrandre@hotmail.com. Thanks for your consideration. We realize that everyone is very busy at this time of year, but we will all be enriched by your participation!
Many, many blessings as the school year wraps up!
Sincerely,
Rich

WTU Students in the News

Michael Castrilli: His presentation entitled "Integrating a School's Spirituality in the Classroom and Beyond" addresses the challenge of many Catholic schools to embed spirituality or charism across disciplines, receive buy-in from faculty and staff, and engage the students to participate.
Michael will present an integration model he developed and will explore innovative ways to incorporate spirituality across disciplines and infuse the values of the charism across the larger school community.

Daniel P. Horan, OFM ('10 MA, '12 MDiv)

Dan traveled to England this weekend to deliver an academic paper titled, "Sparks of Haecceitas: A Scotist Reading of Thomas Merton," at the 8th General Meeting and Conference of the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland in Oakham, UK on 9-11 April 2010.

"How Original was Scotus on the Incarnation? Reconsidering the History of the Absolute Predestination of Christ in Light of Robert Grosseteste," an article published in the early view content section of the Heythrop Journal website, which allows subscribers to read the full text of articles in advance of the print version. This article will appear in the print version of the journal later this year. To view the abstract and other information click here.

"Il Poverello and Los Pobres: Reading The Sacred Exchange in Light of South American Poverty,” The Cord 60 (January/March 2010): 16-31.

"Thomas Merton’s Vernacular Franciscan Theology,” The Merton Journal 16 (Advent 2009): 26-36. [A British Journal; Also featured in the same issue was an article by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury].

"Revisiting the Incarnation: Why the ‘Franciscan Thesis’ is not so Franciscan and Why it Does not Really Matter,” The Cord 59 (October/December 2009): 371-390.

WTU Faculty in the News

Fr. Leopold Glueckert, O.Carm, has written a book review for The Catholic Historical Review. The book review on "The Plays of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: “Pious Recreations.” translated by Susan Conroy and David J. Dwyer appears in the April 2010 issue, Volume XCVI, No. 2.

Dr. Larry LeNoir,is in the news for creating a 6part DVD series on building fraternal life for the OFM, Conventual community. The Conventuals will start using this for chapter meetings in September. He has also worked on the Mantle of Elijah project to train diocesan priests to mentor the newly ordained. Using this Harvard Business School model, Dr. LeNoir will be teh Keynote speaker for the Diocese of Boise, Idaho's Continuing Education for the Recently Ordained.

Fr. Jim Wallace, CSsR,will serve on the jury of the Washington DC Signis Film Festival for Humanitarian Films from April 15th-25th. He will also be presenting workshops in the Diocese of Providence and Rochester. This summer he will be teaching a course, "Preaching from teh Heart" at the Aquinas Institute.