Fr. Donald Hayden, O.SS.T.

I just received word of the death of Father Donald Hayden, O.SS.T. before concelebrating Holy Mass with the PNAC community this Sunday morning. I was terribly saddened. Father Donald was my associate for a time several years ago and I always found Father Donald to be a wonderful housemate...kind, thoughtful, spirited, very positive in nature...a real joy with whom to live. It is my earnest prayer that he rest in peace until the day when Christ calls us all to Himself. Requiescant in pace.

Ora et Labora

What a truly wonderful day at the abbey of Monte Cassino, the site where both St. Benedict and St. Scholastica are buried! We celebrated Holy Mass next to their tombs...more on that in another post. The photos above include 1) the decorated spot behind the main altar in the abbey basilica marking the tomb (below the altar) containing both St. Benedict and St. Scholastica; 2) the Blessed Sacrament chapel in the abbey basilica; 3) view from the entrance to the abbey basilica; 4) the steps leading to the abbey basilica; and 5) the entrance to the abbey itself (note the window above the large door...it was St. Benedict's very own cell, now a chapel).

As most of you know from history, the Monte Cassino abbey was destroyed 3 times during its history; the latest and most devastating attack by the Allied Forces during WWII. They mistakenly thought the Germans were occupying it and using it to defend the valley below. The Allied Forces bombed the abbey destroying almost everything you see in these pictures except St. Benedict's cell and a few other parts. The abbey was totally rebuilt (as faithful as possible to what had existed there before) in sixteen years upon the completion of WWII.

Castel Sant'Angelo at Night

A beautiful view of Castel Sant'Angelo from a PNAC balcony at night. For a better nighttime view, click here.

Staying Busy!

We have almost finished our first full week of the sabbatical. How time flies! Before leaving for Rome, I was asked by many, "Father, what will you do the whole time?" Well, by way of illustration let me tell you what we've done and what we will be doing next week.

Tomorrow morning we finish our first week-long theological presentation given by Father John Fuellenbach, SVD. His topic has been "Following the Lord," an examination of Jesus' requirements of discipleship (primarily taken from St. Mark's gospel). Saturday morning we're going to Monte Cassino for the day where we will celebrate Holy Mass at the tomb of St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism.

Next week, our theological presentations include "Eastern Christianity" by Father Bernard J. O'Connor from the Vatican Congregation for the Oriental Churches; "Vatican II Commentary" by Father Wojciech Giertych, OP, Theologian of the Papal Household; "Christian Art & Architecture" by Liz Lev of Duquesne and John Cabot Universities; and "Orientation to Catholic Rome" by Msgr. Daniel Mueggenborg, Vice Rector for Administration of the Pontifical North American College.

Next week we will also tour the SCAVI below Saint Peter's Basilica and do a tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. We will end the week with a day at Casa Santa Maria where many U.S. priests live while pursuing graduate degrees in various theological disciplines. Our day at Casa Santa Maria will include a visit to the tombs of St. Monica and St. Philip Neri (sometimes referred to as "the second Apostle of Rome") which are near the Casa Santa Maria. We will also tour both the Gregorian University and Biblicum, also near the Casa.

So, as you can see, we stay busy!

The Roman Colosseum

Obviously, these are photos of the quite famous Colosseum here in Rome. It is truly amazing what human beings were able to accomplish without heavy earth-moving equipment, computers, or iPhones!! Imagine?!

Saturday's Tour of the Forum and Colosseum

A few photos from our walking tour of the Forum and the Colosseum this morning. These are from the Forum itself.

Holy Mass at the Confessio

Today we celebrated Holy Mass near the tomb of St. Peter and right next to the tomb of Pope John Paul II in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica (actually the first floor of the first basilica built by the Emperor Constantine who legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire). I didn't take any photos...much too unseemly in such a sacred place, I felt. But to celebrate Holy Mass so near the Prince of the Apostles (the Rock on whom Jesus built our church) and his 264th successor was quite something indeed!! No doubt the experience will always be one of the highlights of my priesthood!