Passport to Europe: Milan, Italy
Here is a new video from my trip to Milan two weeks ago. I hope you enjoy!
First Days of Summer 2010
Hello everyone! I thought that as soon as exams were over everything would be quiet and I could relax for a couple days before going to my summer apostolate in Lourdes, France. However, I have been so busy that I have not even been able to hardly take a breath. It is important to note that busy does not mean that I have not enjoyed myself.
The Most Reverent Eusebius Beltran, archbishop of Oklahoma City, has been in Rome for a few days enjoying a vacation with some of his classmates. I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet Archbishop Beltran for an afternoon last weekend. We had a great conversation, lunch, and a walk through Piazza Navona, Piazza Eustachio, and Campo dei Fiori. He has been a great shepherd of the Church of Oklahoma City and it was a great opportunity for me to hear about his journey to priesthood and to the episcopacy.
This week was also the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. It is on this day every year that new archbishops from all over the world come to Rome to receive the pallium, a symbol of their responsibility in the form of a wool “yoke.” The night before the Papal Mass, I went to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls to attend Papal Vespers with the Holy Father. Brandon, Fr. Ed, and I were sitting in the middle of the Basilica and were asked to move towards the front with all of the priests and seminarians. We ended up getting great seats and were only a couple feet away as Pope Benedict processed down the central aisle. Normally, the Sistine Choir doesn’t sound that great, but they were perfect and it ended up being a wonderful celebration with the Holy Father.
Celebrating the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
After the Pallium Mass, the North American College hosted a reception for the three new archbishops from the United States. I helped welcome the pilgrimage groups, the archbishops, and I also greeted the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. I was also able to spend a few minutes with Archbishop Beltran and one of his classmates from Atlanta.
This morning I saw Fr. Ed off as he continues his European pilgrimage and then I went to Mass at Santa Maria in Traspontina, a quick pre-France haircut, and a cappuccino at my favorite coffee bar.
Nothing brats the Lives of the Saints and a cappuccino to kick the day off in Rome!
This afternoon I will start packing and doing last minute preparations before the two-week experience in Lourdes. I am still not sure if I will take my computer, so it may be a while before I return to the “grid”. Please keep me in your prayers as I assist the pilgrims at Lourdes for the next couple weeks.
Snow in Rome
For the first time in 24 years, snow has fallen in the Eternal City of Rome. There were early reports yesterday that we may see some snow, but I think everyone was shocked to find how much snow has fallen this morning. At the North American College, it has been snowing for most of the morning. A few of the seminarians were down in St. Peter’s Square having a snowball fight and I saw several others making massive snowmen on the Campo Sportivo. What a beautiful sight! I was beginning to think I wouldn’t see any snow this year!
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- St. Peter’s Basilica is veiled by the first snow fall in Rome in 24 years.
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- A pine tree on the grounds of the North American College is weighted down by snow.
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- A seminarian makes a “snow angel” on the Campo Sportivo.
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- Brandon Macadaeg enjoys the view of snow covered Rome from the Sixth Floor Terrace.
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- The Pantheon and many other Roman churches and buildings are covered in snow.
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- St. Peter’s Basilica after the “Great Snow of 2010.” (Can I copyright this phrase?)
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- The North American College’s Cortile and Chapel are covered in snow with St. Peter’s Basilica in the background.
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- Damian Jellett, Diocese of Wagga Wagga in Australia.
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- Brandon Macadaeg, Diocese of Oakland in California
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- Jason Doke, Diocese of Jefferson City in Missouri
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- John Norman, Archdiocese of Omaha in Nebraska
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- Me! Brian Buettner, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
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- A HUGE snowflake approaches Damian (ignore my finger in the photo, haha).
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- The newest member of the NAC Martyr’s soccer team, Frosty, Diocese of Rome.
Alumni Weekend in Rome
The Holy Father address a private audience of faculty, bishops, alumni, and seminarians of the North American College.
Today was the best day of my life! While that may sound like a stretch, let me explain. To mark the 150th Anniversary of the Founding of the Pontifical North American College, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI invited the faculty, bishops, alumni, and seminarians to a private papal audience. All of us, seminarians, realized that there were so many people that were going to be present that it would be very unlikely that we would have a chance to meet the Holy Father. However, just being able to be in such close proximity to the Roman Pontiff had created a buzz of energy throughout the college in the last few weeks as the Alumni Reunion drew closer.
Today began with a Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica celebrated by His Eminence John Cardinal Foley. I was very blessed to be able to serve the Mass by wearing a humeral veil and holding Cardinal Foley’s miter when he was not using it. It was a very simple job but as I sat in my chair beneath the Holy Spirit window, the reality of what was happening around me took my breath away. Immediately, everything around me took on a richer color, and the massiveness of the Basilica overwhelmed me. Here I was, a first year seminarian for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, holding the miter of a Prince of the Catholic Church. Every moment seemed to freeze for me to take it all in.
Later in the morning, all of the seminarians, faculty, and alumni gathered at the front entrance of the seminary and we made our way through St. Peter’s Square and then we were quickly guided by the Swiss Guard to the Loggia, the area above the main doors of St. Peter’s Basilica. This large hall is situated between five large, windowed balconies that overlook the Square. The other side of the hall has matching windows that overlook the interior of the Basilica. I was able to get a seat next to the aisle and about six rows from the front. It was exciting to be surrounded by seminarian friends as we anticipated the private audience with the Holy Father. No one knew what time the Pope would arrive, so we all took a seat, made small talk with each other, and frequently glanced towards the entrances of the hall. After waiting for about ninety minutes, all of the lights turned on and we could all hear the faint gasp as we all took in the fact that we were about to see Christ’s vicar on Earth, the Pope.
As the curtains at the end of the hall were pulled back, the Holy Father raised his hands, and we responded with a loud applause. However, I quickly realized that the Pope was taking a long time to make it down the first part of the aisle. As soon as I received a clear view, I saw that the Holy Father was shaking hands with the North American College guests on the far side of the aisle. I thought to myself, “Wow! I might actually get to meet the Pope!” I kept waiting for him to cross the aisle to our side, but he just kept shaking hands on the other side.
One of the seminarians whispered to me that it looked like the Holy Father was going to stay on that side of the aisle and was going to leave the hall by coming to our side of the aisle. I cannot explain what was going through my mind, but I turned to my friend Joseph and said, “Joe, I think we are actually going to meet the Holy Father!” He responded with a huge smile and shook his head in agreement. What a moment!
The procession slowly made its way towards the front and the Holy Father made his way to his chair. This was followed by a speech given by the rector of the Pontifical North American College, Monsignor James Checchio, and then we sang “Ad Multos Annos.”
Then the Holy Father addressed us (see the previous blog for the text of the speech). It was such a surreal moment to know that I was so close to the Holy Father and that I may get to meet him. In what seemed like seconds and hours, at the same time, the Holy Father finished his address, took a picture with the bishops and cardinals in attendance and then made his way toward the aisle as we all erupted again into applause. As Pope Benedict approached me, I noticed that he was looking straight at me and was smiling. He shook a few other hands and then it was my turn. I shook his hand and told him that I was praying for him and I also thanked him for his priesthood. He smiled and shook his head and then I kissed his ring. It felt like I spoke to him for a full minute, but in reality it was very quick. As he moved on to my other seminarian brothers, I turned back towards Joseph and we were both just beaming with joy. I turned back towards the Holy Father just in time to see my friends, Brandon and Alan, shake hands with the Pope. We all continued clapping until the Holy Father finished greeting us!
After the Pope left the Loggia, we slowly made our way through the Vatican and back to main bronze doors to the Papal Palace. My walk back to the North American College was through sheets of rain, but I hardly noticed. As I walked by the hundreds of tourists and pilgrims coming to see the beautiful Basilica of St. Peter, I was reminded that our Catholic faith, nourished by the blood of the martyrs, is something tangible. Just as Jesus Christ called St. Peter to become the foundation stone of the Church, St. Peter’s successor continues to strengthen the Church by drawing all of us closer to Jesus Christ. Today was the best day of my life because, even though it was only a moment, I encountered Jesus Christ’s vicar on Earth, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI!
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- The NAC House Cassock is composed of a black cassock with blue buttons and a red fascia.
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- Brandon, Peter, and I served the Alumni Mass celebrated by His Eminence John Cardinal Foley at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica.
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- The Holy Father greets the seminarians of the North American College.
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- Pope Benedict addresses the seminarians, faculty, and alumni of the North American College.
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- This is the balcony that the Holy Father walks out onto after being elected Pope.
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- His Excellency Timothy Dolan was a rector of the North American College and is now the Archbishop of New York.
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- These steps lead up to the Papal Apartment and the rest of the Papal Palace.
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- Seminarians, Faculty, and Alumni of the North American College applaud as Pope Benedict XVI enters the Loggia.
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- His Excellency Anthony Taylor was a priest from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma until he was named Bishop of Little Rock by Pope Benedict XVI.
