December Rain

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Almost five months since arrival.  It's December and we're only midway through the semester.  That's weird.  

Along with the new translation of the Roman Missal, the liturgical season of Advent has begun and there is much anticipation that accompanies it. Roman rite Catholics throughout the world enter into a spiritual waiting for the Lord's coming celebrated in the Christmas season. (This includes a renewed practice of patience in prayer and trust in the Lord)

Here in Rome, that anticipation is accompanied by the waiting for the unveiling of this years nativity scene in St. Peter's square. The above picture shows its veiled construction that will continue until its opening on Dec. 24th. There is also a huge Christmas tree put up in the square that has arrived and still lays in the bed a semi-truck. From what I've heard of years past, the whole display is something to look forward to.

In the meantime, we will take on a weekend retreat to prayerfully begin the season of Advent and reflect on how we will orient ourselves to the mystery of the birth of Christ, Emmanuel, God-among-us. It is no simple thought to reflect on how the reality of Christ's presence among us, so emphatically anticipated in the Old Testament, is now made really and truly present to us in the Eucharist.

Backing up a week, to end our Thanksgiving weekend festivities, we had the annual Spaghetti Bowl flag-football game. It consisted of the first year seminarians (the "New Men") versus the "Old Men," a little bit of american tradition and manly competition to finish off a weekend of gratitude. Also good way to make us feel a little bit more at home and part of a good community as our fourth month in Rome came to an end.

The game also highlighted one of the important aspects of seminary life and formation: fraternity. Now I'm not talking about the college "frat house" type of fraternity. I'm talking about the classic idea of fraternitas, that is, the familial community in which the individuals build each other up in the practice of virtues and the striving for the Truth.

It is in the spirit of fraternitas that each person is called to encourage others to transcend their own wants and desires in service for the community for the sake of the love of God.