Prayer Request!

Hey guys. I have a big favor. My parents are in some serious need of prayer so if you see this if you could just say a quick prayer for them that would be great. 

Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.

St. Anne, Pray for us. 

St. Rita, Pray for us. 

St. Jude, Pray for us. 

First Day of Class!!

Alright guys here goes nothing. Today is my first day of class and I am a little giddy. I am very excited to be here and to be starting this new chapter in my life. Each day I am thankful that God has given me this opportunity to continue to discern his will for my life. I have already been to adoration, Morning Prayer and Breakfast. I have two classes today and the only thing really of my schedule is Schola (Choir) at 5:30 Mass at 6:00 followed by dinner. I do however want to meet with the academic dean about taking another class. Even if it is a college class. I wish to make the most out of my time and want to continue my education in anyway that may help me in the future. Please keep me in your prayers.  

Whew!!

Guys let me tell you seminary life is crazy, and I have not even started classes yet. Our orientation has been jammed packed not only with information but with Mass and prayer and more prayer and reflection. I love it, even though it took me a few days to get used to being so busy now that I have gotten as much in the routine of things that you can get into in the first 4 or so days I am loving it. 

All the guys are really nice. We have a huge entering class. We have about 20 I think but out of those I think there are only about 10-12 actual pre-theology folks but they are all great. I think that I am really going to like it here even though I know that it is going to take a lot of prayer and study and everything else to get through. 

Everything has also been much nicer than what I expected it to be from the rooms to the food to the people. I guess it was good to come in with little expectations then you are always pleasantly surprised. I have rearranged my room this morning and still do not know if I am a fan or not but as soon as I decide I will post a couple of pictures. If you are just dying to see what it looks like check out the photo album links on the side of the page. 

Classes start tomorrow here is my schedule:

Ancient and Medieval Philosophy MWF 9:30-10:20

Latin MW 3:00-4:15

Logic TR 8:30-9:45

Catholic Faith and Thought 10:00-11:15

At first I was a little sad I wasn't taking more classes but considering the fact that I am going to be getting used to a whole new lifestyle and schedule I am kinda glad that I am only taking 13 hours. 

Also a weight watchers update. I am still doing it. I guess you can say. This week I have had good days and bad days. I am going to try and go to a meeting tomorrow to weigh in. I do not think that it will be a problem or at least I hope not. As soon as I meet with my formation advisor I am going to let him know. I do not think that there will be any problem or at least I hope not. 

Anyway please continue to pray for me and all other guys that are in seminary as well as for an increase in vocation. I will as always keep you all in my prayers. 

I Made It!

Yeah. I am here at Latrobe, at St. Vincent's and I am unpacked and have already when to Wal-Mart and picked up a few more things so I am at least ready for whatever else they may throw at me. 

First impression is that I think that I am really going to like it. I like where I am living the small town seems nice and having such a large church right out your window is also very nice. My room is much larger than what I expected it to be. (I will post pictures soon). Needless to say I wish I had brought more I have two large bookcases and I do not have very much to put on them. Oh well I am assuming that I will get it soon. 

I put my class schedule in my iCal along with my Liturgical Schedule and it is crazy. Some days I am busy from 5:30am to 10pm at night. Other days are not so bad but when you first look at it, it seems pretty intimidating. I think I am going to love it. It was so nice that even though move in time was not until 1pm today they let us move in early because we came from GA. It was a very long 12 hour drive. Thank goodness that Tri another new seminarian was with me and we were abel to trade off driving and keep each other company. 

I hope to post more soon. I am going to try and get pictures up as well as let you guys know my class schedule just so you know.

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane (Car)

and I don't know when I'll be back again (actually yes I do, it will probably be Christmas). So I guess this song really didn't apply but oh well it is fun just the same. I am leaving in the next hour to head up to Latrobe. I am very excited. I am waiting on the other seminarian to get here so we can head out. Please pray for a safe journey and an easy transition away from my family and into seminary life.

I hope my computer will be up and running by Wednesday afternoon so I will let you all know who it was then. I hope to take pictures as we travel so I may have some of those to share.

What Ever It Takes!!

This is a quote from a movie that I watched tonight. Lion for Lambs with Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, and Meryl Streep was a good movie that I had heard mixed reviews from. The main point that I got form the movie is that we spend so much time doing other stuff and being ok with it that we really are removed from society. It gets to a point when you have to ask yourself what is the point. It made fun of how celebrities make the news with the simplest of things such as fights, new babies, drugs, or divorce and we consider that late breaking news when something major is happening in say another county and it may be just a small blurb at the bottom of the screen. 

The first thing this made me think of was the War that is going on in Georgia with Russia, and how hard it has been for me to really find news stories about it (on my regular news source) yet celebrities dying are  getting articles that are very easy to find. What kind of society have we become. How comfortable do we get in life where nothing else really matters. Most people just want to leave out the 80 years with the nice house, car, and wife and kids and as long as things are not directly affecting them then to hell with it all. 

After thinking about that for a few minutes I remembered a time when I was very active in politics, wanted to keep up with everything that was going on, I even one summer volunteered for a local campaign, and with this election I started out the same way but honestly I didn't even vote in the primaries. The first election I have missed since I turned 18. I just honestly didn't think that my one vote made a difference. What is funny is that now I probably have stronger conviction about what I thing is right, wrong, and just now that I did then but I have chosen not to do anything about it. Just let me stand by leave my life and whatever just happens. Well I am going to try and take a more active role from here on out. Which puts me in a weird position since I am a seminarian and the church is very clear on staying out of politics, and not that I am going to tell people what to vote but at the same time I need to support those who support the ideologies of me and the church. 

After going though that thought process it made me think of religion, which is nothing new as most things lately I have been turning back to religion but honestly when we look at politics and not doing anything and just living out life the Church is the same aspect. People look at the church and they just want to get their sacraments (if even that) and just live out their normal life, people do not take the initiative to get involved and really discover their faith. Just as someone can live their who lives in the US and never care about anything else in the world. Someone can be Catholic and never care about anything and never abide by the Church's teachings. What a difference would out world be if we chose to do both. Become active in out church find out what she teaches and why and then go out into the political realm and live out those values, or vote for those who live out their values. How many people say they care about the poor but have never been to a soup kitchen? How many people talk about being anti-abortion but when the conversation comes up at work they chose to say nothing? (Understanding that not everyone can.)

Maybe I am just tired but I am so tired of people just being. Stand up and take action. I remember I wrote a response to a letter in the paper one time that was very upset with a Vatican Statement that they took to meaning that Catholics were right and everyone else was wrong, and I asked the writer if he thought that the church that he went to was the "right" one. Because if he thought that if some others one were better why was he there and we he no defend his own faith by saying that he was "right." If you are going to believe in something believe it. I guess I for a large part of my life of been like this, not always but I think it is in my personality. When I do something I go all out. When I believe something I believe it and when I don't I don't. Not that I never have gray areas but you get what I am saying.  You know I have a lot more respect for people who believe what they say, even if I think it is wrong. It is those people that I find it very easy to talk to about our differences and then walk away knowing that even though we will never agree there is a better understanding between us. I often feel that those who are less sure are more apt to argue because they keep trying to find fault in you. 

Anyway I really liked the movie. Not the best that I had seen but really makes you think. Especially with the new election coming up I feel that we all should be looking at all the issues and paying attention to what people are saying more than that of trying to find pictures of the kids that some celebrity just had. By the way even though I have not seen pictures of Brad Pitt's and Angelina Jolie's kids I did hear that they were paid 14 million dollars by People to get pictures of the kids (which I also read that they donated) (I really respect what they are doing as far as with their kids and money) but come on people this is crazy. 

Anyway I guess that was my rant. Sorry for those of you who did not want to hear it. 

It's Amazing!

I know we read for the betterment of ourselves, but I how often I find that I read and like so many times it goes in one eye and out and other and while it is entertaining I get to real lasting value from it. Well I have been reading "The Lamb's Supper" by Scott Hahn and this morning I looked at Mass in an entirely different way. The ideas he presents are so much different that what I have previously encountered. He makes the case that we are in Heaven during the mass and we are worshiping in union with the Angels and Saints. Even though I have always thought of it as worshiping with the Angles and Saints his book presents so many different ideas the Mass was brilliant for me this morning. I will admit I get more out of Mass some days more than others but today the homily wasn't really moving and music wasn't great but I got so much out of it. 

It was funny because when I got to work someone asked me how Mass was and I responded with "Amazing as Usual." Knowing that I am a convert he asked me how was the sermon. I told him that the homily was a small part of the service and about how we are there to worship Christ present in both word and in flesh in the Eucharist, and the homily wasn't the highlight of the service. 

Anyway just wanted to share. I will reflect more on the book once I am finished. Hope all had a great day. 

I Know That It Is Coming

I leave in less than nine days. I still do not think that it has hit me yet. I still do not think the reality of everything has hit me yet. Even though I know that this is a very small step in the process this is so huge for me. Even though I have spent so much time thinking and reflecting and know that this is where God wants me to be at this point in my life something I think to myself, "Ernie what are you thinking?" I have only been Catholic for two years. Never been away from home and always done what I wanted without much input from anyone else. In a little more than two weeks my life is going to be changed. Not only will my daily routine be changed, I will be in school again and I will be further from my family that I have ever been. Not that I am not extremely excited. How many times have a prayed or God to just get me there without all the red tape and here I go and now I am it does not even seem that it is happening. I just know that soon it is going to hit me. 

Another thing is I am still not sure all family knows what is going on. Of course not my immediate family but my extended family. We just don't talk about things that often. I told one of my aunts that I was moving to PA in the next two weeks and she was like where are you visiting and I had to explain that I was moving. Then she was like why? Then I had to explain and she was like I had no idea. No that I am keeping it from anyone I guess she just didn't know. I just wonder how many people I interact with on a daily basis have no idea. Not that it matters but sometimes you just wonder. 

I did go though all my clothes last night. I had a lot to take to Good Will. Considering all the weight I have lost. It has made it easy to decide what to take with me and what not. If it fits it goes. I have also opened and closed checking accounts as well went and got an oil change and all that good stuff. Today I also went and bought some more dress socks as well as some twin size sheets. I am not really going to buy a lot because anything I need I know that I can buy it there. 

Anyway Mass tomorrow. I am excited. I have had some many things going on this week as I try to tie up all lose ends here before I move I have not had time for daily mass or the time to pray as I would like. Even though I am still doing five hours of the Divine Office there are other devotionals I would like to be doing and just not having the time for. I do start a rosary each night as I start to fall asleep. I was told in RCIA that they tell children that if they start a rosary at night the angles will finish it for them. It is always nice to have that image in my head as I start to sleep each night. 

Alright guys that is all for now. Please continue to pray for an increase in vocations as well as for all those in seminary. Peace and rest assured you all are in my prayers daily.

Funny

I had not intended to really post today, but while I was reading other blogs I came upon this joke at Ironic Catholic, and just had to share. 

The lights go out in the church as the priests are about to celebrate the Divine Office.

~The Carthusians (silently) go out in search of candles.
~The Franciscans sit and pray for a miracle.
~The Benedictans don't care, because they can say the whole thing by heart.
~The Redemptorists go to the Jesuits for help.
~The Jesuits think that this must be an exception, and that they must not have to celebrate the 

   Divine Office in this case. 

~The Dominicans decide that the time is ripe for a discourse upon the nature of light.
~The diocesan priest goes and changes the light bulb.

Hope everyone gets a kick out of it. 

Oil Change

You know as sad as it sound I really enjoy getting my oil changed. I get it changed at Akins Ford in Athens and inside they have a super nice waiting area with computers (yes I am blogging from the Ford place) and free sodas. Of course they also usually find a small thing wrong with my car each time I get the oil changed. Which I guess is fine considering I get free oil change, as well as free tire rotations and balance. So I rarely spend a lot of money. This will be my last oil change before I go to PA. Yesterday I also called and got roadside assistance added for my car. The last thing I want to do is to break down somewhere between here and PA with no one around to help me.

Been doing a lot of swimming and reading lately. I finished one of Scott Hahn's books last night and started another one. I love the way that he writes. If everyone were to write theology like he did I think that we be all that I ever read. Of course I also love how he always throws in parts of his conversion experience in there.

Last night I had to work at the restaurant. I am trying to work as much as I can before I leave for school. I knew I was coming up to Athens today to meet with some friends and get my oil changed and so during my Mid-day prayers I asked for good business last night so I would be able to fill my gas tank as well as pay for my dinner tonight. When I got to the restaurant I told them that I had prayed. We were slammed last night. For like 4 hours straight people kept coming in non-stop. God answered my prayers in a big way and it was such a good witness just for something so "stupid" but it is amazing how God works. Before I left the restaurant I had different people telling me to pray for them.

I also have a friend who is in real need of prayer at the moment. So if you would keep her in your prayers. She is having a hard time at work and at home and really just needs to be remembered in our prayers.

Until Next Time,

Pax

Back to Normal

Breathe. It has been nice to have a breather the past few days. I have managed to clean my room as well as let live get back to as normal as it can be considering I am leaving in two weeks. If nothing else my room is clean and I have had some time to to start working on my To Do list. Which I feels gets longer and longer each day. 

Oh well. With all my extra time I am getting to read a lot. Not as much as I did no the retreat but I am still getting a lot done. It seems that when I go to read I lay on my bed and I have been catching some extra ZZZZs. Anyway spent tonight reorganizing my computer as far as all my files. There are so many things that I got rid of it was really nice. I even condensed a bunch of stuff and have a few new folders called St. Vincent's and Archdiocese of Atlanta. I have still not gotten my contacts updated but I am saving that for another day. 

Until then guys. I hope all is well for all of you. oh and just to let you know I did not have a gain on Monday. I actually lost another 1.8 pounds. 

A Whirl Wind

I got back from my retreat on Friday. I had to work that night. Saturday I went and did some shopping bought some pants, shoes, and a few other things. Worked that night. Went to church this morning and then to work and then helped cook dinner for my family. Tomorrow I have Weight Watchers in the morning (which I think I am going to gain) and then taking my kid sister to buy books for her first semester in college. My room looks like someone has come in a threw everything in the floor. It is a disaster. My room has never looked this bad. Needless to say tomorrow afternoon will be spent in cleaning. 

I have discovered Redbox at Walmart. All I have to say is three movies in three days for only $3.21 What a Deal!!!

Just Had to Share

I just had to share this picture. this was taken in Australia. Points to anyone who can guess what is going on here, and remember this is two seminarians. 

What an Awesome Retreat!!

Got back from retreat today. All I can say is that I loved it. I mean to be able to be in community and have daily prayer as well as being able to gather to hear different conferences and to be with others who all share the same ideals as you is great. My Dad asked me when I got home was I ready to come home and I told him honestly that I could have stayed another week and it would not have bothered me. I enjoy praying in community and having that opportunity. I also loved being away from everything. I liked not having my computer and just using that time to pray, reflect and get a good bit of reading in. I finished two books and started a third is less that 5 full days. The time we find when we don't have a computer sitting in front of us. This retreat has made me really excited about the fall. I cannot wait to get to seminary. 

In other news, I just watched Vantage Point. A movie I had been wanting to see but people had told me that they did not like it so I did not go see it in the theaters but I did red it at the RedBox today for only a dollar and I loved it. It really shows how everyone has a different view of the same story. That was also one of the things we talked about this week. How people see us. They may not see the actions in completion or know the background so it is always best to try and do nothing that seemly puts you in a compromising situation. 

I am ready to get out of my current environment. I believe we  can develop certain habits in certain locations that by moving will help give us that boost. Like me I wish I did not use a computer so much. This past week was wonderful. Today I get home and it was like I spent 5 hours straight on the computer and I got absolutely nothing accomplished. Caught up on some news and the blogs I read and that was about it. I checked my email but did not write any. I do all my finances online and convince myself that I always need to be double checking them as well as checking all my bills. Now I may be being a little hard on myself because I really don't have a bunch of other stuff to do but at the same time I hope when I go back to school I can break myself from mindless computer usage. 

Please keep all seminarians in your prayers as well as an increase in all Holy Vocations (including married and single vocations).