Tag: Franciscan

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Holy Peace


I took this picture as I was walking up the trail to Holy Peace Chapel at Mt. Irenaeus this morning. It was a beautiful morning and one of the nicest of the summer. Today’s readings were very meaningful for me. Psalm 63 was read after the first reading and it really embodied how I’ve been feeling lately. I almost walked out of Mass after I got there as I felt a bit low and troubled.

O God, you are my God– for you I long! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, Like a land parched, lifeless, and without water. So I look to you in the sanctuary to see your power and glory.
For your love is better than life; my lips offer you worship! I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling on your name. My soul shall savor the rich banquet of praise, with joyous lips my mouth shall honor you! When I think of you upon my bed, through the night watches I will recall That you indeed are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me.
But those who seek my life will come to ruin; they shall go down to the depths of the earth! They shall be handed over to the sword and become the prey of jackals! But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by the Lord shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be shut!

I stayed at Mass and this Psalm along with the blog about Paradox of Peace that came from the Merton Institute a couple of weeks ago stayed with me. After Mass and brunch I stopped and visited some Franciscan friends and then I drove north to Abbey of the Genesee. I spent Vespers and Compline with the community. I visited the store and bought Thomas Merton’s, “The Way of Chuang Tzu,” along with fruit cake and some Monks brownies for my friends. Between Vespers and Compline I went to the chapel and sat in silence inviting the presence of the Holy Spirit and seeking answers. Just before Compline while looking at one of Merton’s books in the store Brother Jerome approached and asked if I’d like to talk. I came here seeking answers today and the improbable coincidence of an invitation to talk by a monk I’d never visited with before floored me. I’m going back tomorrow and sit with Brother Jerome. Maybe his counsel is that voice of God that I’ve been seeking.

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Chapel Picture

SBU chapel

This is a picture I took with my Motorola RazR when I was in the St. Bonaventure University Chapel last night for the Feast of St. Bonaventure. Although a picture can’t really capture my own emotions, it can convey a sense of what we experienced last night. I was lovely and a moment that I’ll cherish. I felt so blessed to be in the company of so many other Franciscans.

As we closed the Mass last night all voices were raised singing.

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

Oh Praise Him! Oh Praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Feast of St. Bonaventure

This afternoon I had agreed to drive down to St. Bonaventure University and help a Franciscan friend with a computer I had donated to him. I had configured this Dell Inspiron equipped with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic with Star Office. Fr. Bob Struzynski, OFM is a very bright man and a wonderful person, but computers are a little scary for him. I had moved his files to this new machine about three months ago, but he continued to have problems editing his previous Microsoft Word files. It turned out that Microsoft Word Viewer which had come with the computer had been set as the default application for opening word processing documents. I had originally setup the computer to use Star Office Writer as the default. Somehow that changed. I was able to solve his problem rather quickly and to help him set up an Amazon Simple Storage account so that he could work both at the University and at his home at Mt. Irenaeus.

Working together we got the Amazon S3 account setup. I also downloaded and configured Jungledisk which is a great program. He needs a bit more training but this is a great way to work with the same group of files on two separate computers. Toward the end of our time together Fr. Bob mentioned that he had to leave soon for Mass. I asked where the Mass was and he said in the University Chapel. I had forgotten that today was the Feast of St. Bonaventure and since the University is celebrating its sesqui-centennial this is more special than other years.

After a short walk from University Ministries we arrived at the Chapel and it was nearly full of Franciscan friars, nuns, a lovely choir and some townspeople like me. Tears filled my eyes as I listened to the lovely bell choir that invited us at the beginning of the worship. Gratitude to both Fr. Bob and the Franciscan Friars filled my heart as I looked and listened. This was truly something I hadn’t dreamed of earlier in the day. The Mass was lovely but I really enjoyed the choir and musicians. Franciscans are joyful and this is just what I needed today.

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Lamb of God

Today I took some time apart, an afternoon away from it all and spent quiet time in the sanctuary of Abbey of the Genesee. It had been over a month since my last visit and I was thirsty to hear the stillness of the Abbey chapel. This past week I started reading a new book that I picked up at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center. It’s Richard Rohr’s latest, “Things Hidden, Scripture as Spirituality.” It’s been awhile since I’ve read any book. Richard’s books have all been great reads. Tonight following my return I mowed the lawn, drove to the Olean Airport, took a swim and then ate a Monk’s Brownie. While eating the brownie I decided to read the RSS feed from Jim Wallis’ “God’s Politics,” a blog that I’ve been looking at lately. One of the stories led me to a story about Jesus for President and this litany.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Akc_7O9A9-I]

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St. Francis Springs

This morning Brother Joe and I will drive from Mt. Irenaeus to St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, North Carolina. We’re going to a Peace and Justice Retreat sponsored by Holy Name Province of the Franciscan Friars. We were there a couple of years ago and though I’ve given up hope of any real or lasting peace in this world or this country in particular I will enjoy the trip, Brother Joe’s company and the stillness of this lovely center.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjgtb9591NI]

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Bunny fluff

Today I awoke to a covering of white stuff that Fr. Bob at the Mountain called “bunny fluff.” Bob said that any snow that falls after April 1st is referred to as bunny fluff. It works for me. My ride over to Mass this morning was typical as I made my way down the Ischua Valley towards Olean, New York and then east on Route 446 to the Village of Cuba and then on Interstate 86 to Friendship, New York and then to Nile and Route 1 to Mt. Irenaeus. It’s a route I know well. The further south and east I got the less of the bunny fluff I saw. Continue reading “Bunny fluff”

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Learning something new

I just learned how to use Animoto to create a video. This short video came from some pictures I’ve taken recently at Mt. Irenaeus. I hope you like them and that you’ll give Animoto a try. It’s a very neat Web 2.x application. Follow this link to the video. Animoto.com

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Road to Emmaus

I found myself on the road once again to Mt. Irenaeus. I’ve been a regular at the Mountain for over eight years now. It’s as much my home as the one I live in most of the time and the friars are as much my brothers as anyone in my family. This morning was one of those lovely spring mornings. The sky was a deep blue and not a cloud to be seen. Brother Sun was brilliant and his rays were warming the air temperature to nearly fifty degrees at 10:45 am as I made my way along Route 275 and then onto Allegany County Route 1. There were a couple of drivers behind me who were in a bit more of a hurry than I. I pulled off on the shoulder and let them pass. I continued to poke along at a leisurely 45 mph and then turned onto Hydetown Road where I slowed even further. Continue reading “Road to Emmaus”

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Glory to God in the highest

This morning was beautiful, a radiant spring sun filled my heart with gladness as I drove through the crisp clear mid-twenty degree day toward Mass at Mt. Irenaeus. Upon arriving at the Mountain I noticed a number of vehicles parked in the driveway. I had a bit of trouble finding a parking spot, but soon did and then into the house to bring my offering of orange juice and a dozen eggs for brunch. On my way into the house I met a lovely young lady from the State University of New York at Buffalo who was part of the inter-collegiate weekend that had been held at Mt. Irenaeus. Normally, the Franciscan Retreat Center here is home to local villagers and St. Bonaventure University students, but today that circle included students from University at Buffalo, SUNY College at Fredonia, Alfred University, Nazareth College, SUNY Geneseo and St. Bonaventure University. There were about three dozen of these young men and women. Continue reading “Glory to God in the highest”

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Gerry Straub

Gerry Straub stopped by today and left a comment. I’m flattered. Gerry’s got a blog, that I’ve added to my blogroll. You might enjoy looking at. I own one of Gerry’s films, “No Room at the Inn.” I purchased it at St. Francis Inn where I spent some time last summer. I hope to return again this year. You might enjoy visiting Gerry’s other site, The San Damiano Foundation, where his work is displayed.