What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

I am a bit behind in online things today, which was mostly spent doing errands and various time wasting tasks. Then I wound up in the library for some reading and, instead, had a little impromptu nap.

"But Father! But Father!", you are no doubt saying in puzzlement. "With all these wonderful things around you and getting to read authors like Ambrose and Augustine all day, how could you fall asleep?"

Here’s the deal. Last night I was privileged to meet (after an earlier meeting) with a couple great fellows and we had a long chat. It lasted until about 1 a.m. So, with an early morning, I wound up pretty tired today.

Then, I found a really interesting paragraph:

(9.29) ... O man, it is not permitted you to know the heights of wisdom, and so it is written for you, "Be not high-minded , but fear." (Rom 11:20) Why do you wish to search with care into something which is not advantageous for you to know, nor is it given to you to be acquainted with it? Paul heard certain secrets of wisdom which he was forbidden to make known to others, and so he was caught up into paradise, caught up end to the third heaven, to hear things which he was not able to hear when he was on earth. (Cf 2 Cor 12:2-4) If it was not permitted you to know the counsels of your emperor on earth, and do you wish to know God’s counsel? It is not permitted you to search out with too much curiosity what takes place on earth, and do you seek out with too much curiosity what is done above heaven? Why do you hold discussion over wisdom’s origin? Man does not know its way, nor has perfect wisdom been found among men. It was not in Moses nor in Aaron nor in Joshua the son of Nun, it was not in David himself who says, "The uncertain and hidden things of your wisdom you have made manifest to me," (Ps 50 (51):8) because he also said in a later passage, "I became like a brute beast in your presence." (Ps 72 (73):22 (23)) O man, it is beyond you to know the depth of wisdom; it is sufficient for you that you believe. "For if you do not believe, neither will you understand." (Is. 7.9)

St. Ambrose of Milan, De interpellatione Job et David.

This woke me up, alright.

It is nice to get together with folk from back home, especially if they are in Rome for the first time.  I had the pleasure of meeting with a group from my home parish of St. Agnes in St. Paul (MN).  This was a pilgrimage group of highschool students who are considering a vocation to the priesthood. 

Before their departure, they had met with the Archbishop, who gave them his blessing.  They came with the pastor of the parish, who organized the whole trip, and some parents as chaperons and group leaders.  In addition to time in Rome the went to Assisi and down to San Giovanni Rotondo to visit the tomb of Padre Pio.  They were able to be very close to the Holy Father during the Wednesday audience as well. 

It was a great group of fellows, to be sure.  The photo below shows them with their pastor and a couple of seminarians from St. Agnes parish who are studying in Rome and living at the North American College.  Yes, seminarians from St. Agnes.  That parish continues to provide several vocations a year.

Sometimes we can get a little down when looking at certain sectors of the Church’s life.  This, however, was very encouraging.

Here is the group ready to invade the ice-cream shop after devouring large quantities of pizza and plates of spaghetti.