Dear Friends of SJV:
It is December, and despite the darkness of these long nights, the coming light of Advent has dawned upon us. Now in my 15th Advent in seminary, I can affirm that this is the best time of year. It is a beautiful gift to be enveloped in a community of such contemplative prayer, as we anticipate with expectant hope the coming of Jesus.
I read this line from the eminent theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar, and thought it summarized well what we are attempting to do here at the seminary:
“How difficult for God the education of his chosen ones, particularly his priests! He must endow them richly, so that they will become storehouses for their communities. At the same time, he must make them poor as beggars, so that they will refer everything to him, even in the face of their most lively and personal effectiveness. They are to be rich only for others; they must possess without knowing it or heeding it; and they must also know what riches are without seeking them for themselves. Humility involves paradoxes that are much stranger than we normally think.”
Please continue to pray for our men, that they become living paradoxes, radiating the beauty of Christ’s love of the Father. And know of our prayers for a blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas!
Fr. John
The Early Eucharistic Epiclesis: Ancient Meaning(s) and Methodological Considerations
Dear friends,
Although the changes in the curriculum altered my normal teaching hours for this year, I have been able to continue my work for the seminary as the Benedict XVI Chair of Liturgical Studies. Recently, I wrote book reviews on two important works: Bouyer’s Liturgical Piety and Fr. Hofer’s The Power of Patristic Preaching. I was also able to see the publication of the Spanish translation of The Art of Preaching.
But lately, my mind has been mainly grappling with questions about the Eucharistic epiclesis. For several years I have reflected on the recent liturgical reforms regarding the epiclesis, their motivations, and the original meaning of this ancient practice. Although I had written a few pages about this before, the topic has been present lately as part of a bigger project on Truth and Liturgy I have slowly began to work on. Because of this, I found a appealing occasion to test some of these thoughts at the recent Oxford Patristics Conference, in early August.
This is always an impressive conference, with several hundred scholars coming from all over the world. Although the quality and orientation of the presentations can be quite uneven, it is a fascinating experience of exchanging ideas, seeing friends you only see every few years, and meeting and collaborating with people from different backgrounds but common interests. Of course, the setting cannot be more conducive to elicit stimulating conversations! This time I stayed at Magdalen College, where C.S. Lewis was a fellow, so the walks and talks around those Medieval halls and paths were a great bonus.
My paper was titled The Early Eucharistic Epiclesis: Ancient Meaning(s) and Methodological Considerations. It was well received, and I hope to publish it as an article in the next months. In the meantime, I continue to be grateful to the seminary for the opportunity to search for and deepen in the truth of our faith, hoping to offer some contribution to these discussions.
In Christ,
Fr. Daniel Cardo
Assistant Professor | Pope Benedict XVI Chair of Liturgical Studies
Parish Life
What am I up to in the Parish?
As a newly ordained priest, my foremost priority is to live out the priesthood among the people. My first goal is to cultivate a deep friendship with the Lord through prayer, celebrating daily Mass, and participating in and hearing confessions. I start each day with a Holy Hour, as Jesus asked the apostles to stay with Him for one hour before His arrest (Matthew 26:40-41). I believe He desires priests to spend an hour with Him before engaging in their priestly duties and meeting people, so they “may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:42).
Preparing for the daily homily is also crucial. While every Mass is the same, the homily varies. Preparing the homily not only helps me discern what God wishes to reveal but also enhances my scriptural knowledge. As a priest, a mediator between God and the faithful, I understand my duty to explain God’s Word to people. I can’t help others understand God’s Word without spending time praying, listening, and reflecting on it. Therefore, careful preparation of the daily homily is essential.
Hearing confession is equally important. Confession is a sacrament that reconciles the faithful with the Lord, granting forgiveness and the necessary graces to resist temptation and the devil’s enticements. Through confession, people experience God’s love and mercy, enabling them to return to Him and live in peace and happiness. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a gift from God, allowing sinners to return to Him and the Church. This gift cannot be given if a priest is unavailable in confessionals.
As a new parochial vicar at All Saints Catholic Parish, I am eager to share responsibilities and ministry with Monsignor Peter Quang Nguyen, a prayerful, wise, and experienced priest. My role is to assist the pastor in ministerial tasks while integrating into the parish community. I look forward to our weekly meetings with Monsignor, where I can learn about his expectations, vision, and the parish’s specific needs, and discuss how I can best support his leadership and the parish’s goals. Developing a good friendship with him, I will openly share my calendar and weekly schedule so he knows my activities and whereabouts.
Building strong relationships with the staff is also vital. If the staff is content, the parish ministry will thrive. I will humbly ask for guidance when needed and be available to support them to the best of my ability. Like a good shepherd who knows each sheep by name, I will strive to get to know parishioners by spending time greeting, meeting, and talking with them after Masses.
Intellectually, I am keen on deepening my understanding of Scriptures by reading commentaries. I also intend to explore Thomas Aquinas’s thoughts in my first year of priesthood by reading “Summa Theologica,” a work I have heard of but not yet studied. I enjoy learning new languages, and with a nursing home being completed at All Saints, I aim to enhance my knowledge of healthcare and medical aspects to better serve the residents. Additionally, since there is a H’mong community at All Saints with biweekly Sunday Masses, I plan to learn the H’mong dialects to serve them better in pastoral ministry.
In summary, for my first year of priesthood, deepening my relationship with the Lord, the perfect priest, is paramount. Spending time with the pastor, staff, and parishioners is also essential, as it will help me gain a vision of the parish, understand their lives, and meet their expectations. Learning new things will aid in my ministry and keep me updated with Church teachings, bringing people closer to God. I pray that God will bless these efforts and bring benefits to His people.
Fr. Quoc Bui
Archdiocese of Denver
