PAZ & Friends – Page 9

American Babylon: Notes of a Christian Exile, the latest by Richard John Neuhaus

I am still saddened by the death of Father Richard John Neuhaus. Many are. I pray for him regularly at Mass and while saying the rosary and I find myself wondering what he’d say about this or that today. First Things arrived the other day and I shelved it temporarily because I’ve got other things to read first (what, I am not going to drop everything to read FT???); I look forward with eagerness to read to First Things

One of the last gifts he gave to us is the forthcoming book, American Babylon: Notes of a Christian Exile. It’s not a book from the grave as it was in production long before RJN got ill and died. I am looking forward to it as I have looked forward to everything RJN wrote for publication or said in the public forum.

Available from Amazon. A Google preview of American Babylon.

Product description

Christians are by their nature a people out of place. Their true home is with God; in civic life, they are alien citizens “in but not of the world.” In American Babylon, eminent theologian Richard John Neuhaus examines the particular truth of that ambiguity for Catholics in America today.

Neuhaus addresses the essential quandaries of Catholic life–assessing how Catholics can keep their heads above water in the sea of immorality that confronts them in the world, how they can be patriotic even though their true country is not in this world, and how they might reconcile their duties as citizens with their commitment to God. Deeply learned, frequently combative, and always eloquent, American Babylon is Neuhaus’s magnum opus–and will be essential reading for all Christians.

Let me recommend to you the Richard John Neuhaus Online Archive, a well stocked blog of materials by or on Father Richard.

Sister Jeanne Marie Vonder Haar, ASCJ

Today is a red letter day in history with the birthday of Sister Jeanne Marie Vonder Haar, an Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a dear friend.

Like many of the Apostles I know, Sister Jeanne Marie lives the order’s motto: the Love of Christ Urges us…. A striking example of this is Sister Jeanne Marie’s dedication (for decades) to the formation of young people in the obedience of elementary education. The companionship she shares was also striking today at a funeral of the father of one of the Apostles: nearly 75 of the sisters were present offer their sympathies and prayerful solidarity to Sister Barbara Matazaro and family. (Sr. Jeanne Marie is in the centerof the photo).

Robert F. Taft, SJ: priest, scholar & friend at 77

On January 9th Archimandrite Robert F. Taft, SJ celebrated his 77th birthday. May God grant him abundant blessings in the coming year.

Father Taft is the reason I am interested in the Eastern Churches and the study of the sacred Liturgy. He’s a former professor of mine and continues to be a friend.

BTW, he’s delivering the Schmemann Lecture at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary on January 30th at 7:30 pm. For more info see the website.

Richard John Neuhaus, priest: Now with the Lord

Before 10 a.m. this morning Father Richard John Neuhaus, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York, died. Jody Bottom made the announcement on the First Things website.

Neuhaus’ death comes nearly a month after our dear friend’s death, Avery Cardinal Dulles.

May the Good Shepherd be merciful and forgive his sins and receive him into the New Jerusalem where Lazarus is poor no longer.

May Father Neuhaus’ memory be eternal!

Stepping up the prayer for RJN

The National Review Online is reporting this afternoon that Father Richard John Neuhaus received the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick at the hand of Father George Rutler last night. Read the story here. I mentioned this matter a few days ago.

Father Neuhaus is the famed Editor-in-Chief of First Things and the head of the Institute on Religion and Public Life.

Kindly say a prayer for him.

Prayer request for Father Richard John Neuhaus

May I ask you to hold in your Masses and prayers Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York and the Editor-in-Chief of First Things.

Fr. Neuhaus is in the hospital in New York. Over Thanksgiving, he was diagnosed with a serious cancer. The long-term prognosis for this particular cancer is not good, but it is not hopeless, either, and there is a possibility that it will respond to the recommended out-patient chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, over Christmas, he was taken dangerously ill with what seems to be a systemic infection that has left him very weak. Entering the hospital the day after Christmas, he was sedated to lower an elevated heart rate and treatment was begun for the infection. Over the last few days, he has shown some signs of improvement, and there is a reasonable expectation that he will recover from this present illness–sufficiently, we hope, that he will be able to begin the chemotherapy for the cancer.

Fr. Neuhaus is not able at the moment to receive visitors or speak on the telephone or answer his mail, and he has requested that no flowers, candy, or other get-well presents be sent–just your prayers for his quick recovery.

Father Chrysogonus Waddell, RIP

Fr Chrysogonus Waddell entered into the joy of the Lord on this solemnity
of Christ the King. Born in 1930 to parents serving in the military and stationed in the Philippines, he joined the community of the Abbey of Gethsemani on August 2, 1950.

His ordination to the priesthood took place on May 31, 1958. Blessed with many talents and an exuberant spirit, Fr Chrysogonus returned the gifts generously and tirelessly. His musical compositions are known and played throughout the world.

His scholarly contributions are highly renowned and acclaimed. Humble and faithful, humorous and devout, he sought the face of the Lord with zeal and tenacity. May his song in heaven be jubilant and eternal!

A Kentucky obit.

Mom’s 66th birthday!

Yep! Mom is 66 today! I was able to come to New Haven for dinner with the family to properly celebrate with Mom. God’s blessings. A few recent pics.

(Here’s 3 of 4 us.)

(Here’s Mom and me.)

(Here’s me with Aunt Gloria.)

(Mom, Lauren and Aunt Gloria on a recent trip to Rome.)

And tomorrow is the 42nd wedding anniversary of my parents. May God grant many years!

Fr. Frank C. Quinn, O.P.

Early this morning Father Frank Quinn, O.P. died after struggling with health issues these
last few years. Father Quinn was a Dominican priest of the Province of Saint Albert the Great, a professor of Liturgical Theology and a former teacher of mine. In your charity remember Father Quinn in prayer.

O God, Thou didst raise Thy servant, Frank C. Quinn, to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ, according to the Order of Melchisedech, giving him the sublime power to offer the Eternal Sacrifice, to bring the Body and Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ down upon the altar, and to absolve the sins of men in Thine own Holy Name. We beseech Thee to reward his faithfulness and to forget his faults, admitting him speedily into Thy Holy Presence, there to enjoy forever the recompense of his labors. This we ask through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

May his memory be eternal.

Remember, Lord, Father Joseph Linck

Remember, Lord, those who have died … especially the Reverend Father Joseph Charles Linck, whom today you have called to you from this life …”

Today, in Trumbull, Connecticut, the Church mourned the passing of Father Joseph
Linck, 43, who succumbed to cancer last week. The Most Reverend William Lori, Bishop of Bridgeport, celebrated the Sacrifice of the Mass with the Order of Christian Burial for Father Linck. About 125 priests concelebrated the Mass.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Linck and for the Diocese of Bridgeport. In your charity, please keep his parents and friends in prayer. Father Linck was a very kind man, talented and a man of the Church; from personal experience I can say he was a man of good humor and compassion for human nature. This summer, two young-ish priests died, Linck and Fitzpatrick, both good friends. So, a prayer for vocations would be good, too.

May his memory be eternal.