While we're at it...

Oh, what the hey... since I'm posting video...

Ireland Video...

Just got the opportunity to upload a video I put together over the summer from the Ireland trips of '04, '05, & '07. For those who were on these trips it will bring back some good memories...

First Friday of the Semester Back at the Gunpowder River...

The first Friday of the semester signals my return to the Gunpowder River just North of Baltimore for a day of fishing. This has become the tradition over the past two years, since we most often do not have classes or other obligations on Fridays. After a summer of exploring new waters (mostly in East Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia) it was nice to return to familiar waters: the river where I have really learned how to fish. Had a good day, with about 9-10 fish caught, the highlight being a nice 12" brown trout.

The beautiful Gunpowder River:

Opening Mass for the New School Year...

Today was the opening Mass for the new school year here at CUA, which took place over at the Shrine (and was broadcast on EWTN). Another good turnout on the part of students and faculty. I Concelebrated with about 50 or so fellow priest-students and faculty members. The university posted some pics. Here you go...

Another full shrine:


The faculty procession:


The undergrads were there in good numbers:


Can you pick out yours truly?

A commentary on the new translation and the reform of the liturgy...

I recently caught a post over at the blog "The New Liturgical Movement" of a piece written by Fr. George Rutler in the journal "First Things" on the new translation of the Roman Missal (Ordinary Form). In it he comments not so much on the new translation, but rather on the subject of "ad Orientem" for the celebration of the Mass (of the priest and congregation both "facing the East" in one common direction).
This conversation is usually always met with resistance on the part of some, who like to refer to the issue as the priest "turning his back to the people." I think Fr. Rutler does a good job, however, of noting how the whole issue of "ad Orientem" constitutes not a rejection of the community and the community's participation in the Mass (as some fear), but rather a uniting of the priest and congregation in one common posture, physically embodying the common journey of the community to the East, associated from ancient times with the second coming. It seems to me that this was precisely the point of Pope Benedict (then Cardinal Ratzinger) in his advocacy for the position in his various writings (notably his book "The Feast of Faith" and "The Spirit of the Liturgy"). Additionally, the turning of the priest in the same direction as the people can tend to lessen the undue attention that can be drawn to the celebrant such that a truly negative form of "clericalism" arises, making the celebration of the Mass more focused on the priest than on his proper role: acting "in persona Christi" - as Christ who leads to the Father. Fr. Rutlege is of the opinion (as am I) that the new translation, while no doubt important, is not really the heart of the issue like the posture of the celebrant for Mass is. Anyway, I was compelled to post a link of it HERE. Check it out.

"Ordinary Form:"


"Extraordinary Form:"

Back to DC...

Made the trip back to DC this past Wednesday. Can't believe that it is my final year for JCL studies. Like last year, my sister Katie joined me for the drive and is spending a few days visiting here before the semester kicks off. Spent yesterday at the Smithsonian and the Nationals baseball game. Today we went to Harper's Ferry, WV. Here's some pics:

Eastbound on I-64:


The Freer Gallery at the Smithsonian:


The Nats Game (they beat the Cardinals in extra innings):


Harper's Ferry, WV (the view from the railroad bridge overlooking the confluence of the Shenandoah River with the Potomac River):


The Federal Armory in Harper's Ferry (which abolitionist John Brown attacked in the 1850's):

Last Sunday's Solemn High Mass...

Here's a short video of last Sunday's Solemn High Mass for the Assumption. It's hard to believe, but it had been fifteen years since our last Solemn High Mass at St. Martin's (Christmas 1995). Everything went very well, thanks to the commitment and hard work of the many participants. Enjoy...

Solemn High Mass...

Our final rehearsal for the upcoming Solemn High Mass for the Assumption was last night at St. Martin's. I'm amazed how well things have come together since our first rehearsal a couple weeks ago. Credit goes to all the servers and those involved with the Mass: they have spent a great deal of time studying rubrics, and to the choir who is preparing a very special Mass setting. I'm looking forward to Sunday at 12:30. If you are in the area, do come!

The South Holston River in Tennessee...

Another summer adventure to the East Tennessee - Southwest Virginia area. This time with a group of the guys. We fished the South Holston River just outside of Bristol. Monday we hired a guide, which was a good idea: it served not only as a great introduction to the river (where to access, flies to use, etc.), but also because the river rises dramatically at mid-day everyday, and having a guide meant having a drift boat for the afternoon high water. The fishing was prolific. It is estimated that the river contains between 5,000 - 6,000 trout per mile, predominantly wild, and averaging in the 12"-14" range! The majority of our fish were representative of those estimates, with a few going beyond that. In addition to the great fishing, the camaraderie was great with the guys, and the accommodations were nice (imagine a rustic cabin with a blue-ribbon trout stream passing not 100 yards from your front door...). All-in-all a fine week spent on the water...

A Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form in Louisville...

August 15, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, will see the first Solemn High Mass to take place in Louisville in quite a number of years. Yours truly, along with two other archdiocesan clerics, will be serving as celebrant, deacon, and subdeacon, respectively. I have served as both M.C. and subdeacon before, and am familiar with the Solemn High, so am comfortable with it. I need to help the other two (deacon and subdeacon), as well as the other ministers (thurifer, acolytes, M.C., etc...) to learn their parts, however. Knowing that many of you who frequent this blog are well versed in the Extraordinary Form, I have a question: is anyone out there familiar with any helpful resources they could recommend that could be used by those learning the Solemn High (and the Extraordinary Form in general) for the first time? I'm familiar with the Fortescue and O'Connor books on rubrics, and find them helpful. What I'm looking for is perhaps any audio-visual resources (maybe even posted on the web), or any resources you may have used in teaching/learning the Solemn High/E.F. Any help would be appreciated. And if you are in the area on the 15th, join us for what will be the first Solemn High in years in our area at St. Martin's.

Whitetop Laurel Creek

A summer trip: a few days camping and fishing the Whitetop Laurel Creek just outside Damascus, VA along the Virginia Creeper and Appalachian Trails...

Otter Creek...

More Fishing Pics...

Some more - somewhat random - pics from Otter Creek. Less than 45 minutes away from downtown Louisville, it's been a nice retreat for me this summer. I spent some time exploring the upper stretches of the creek recently, focusing on the two or so miles of creek designated as "special trout water." Check it out...

Just below "The Pump House" where the military has set-up a pumping station to move water from the creek up to the military installation. It's the upstream boundary of the special trout section of the creek:


Some nice water - with several deep holes - a bit further downstream from the pump house:


Sunset over the creek. Evenings are a great time to be on the water:


Here's a few shots from the recent great weather we've had. Low temps and low humidity make for great time on the water. Here's a few shots from the area of the creek known as "Twin Bridges." It's normally off-limits but I recently gained permission to access the area. A buddy of mine and I fished this stretch last week, and were probably the only fishermen to hit this water for some time. Check it out:

Summer Camping/Fishing Trip...

The Whitetop Laurel Creek begins in the mountains of southwestern Virginia and flows down to the small town of Damascus. Along the way it is joined by a number of other streams and eventually ends up in the Holston River. I drove from Louisville to Damascus early this week to get in a few days of fishing... and to take "Sacerdos 1" on her maiden camping trip. I must say that the fishing, as well as the overnight camping were excellent. The scenery in the mountains was beautiful, and the truck proved to be a suitable home. The mountains have received more than their share of rain this year, and the river was up and rusty in color. With a storm the day I got there, and one overnight, the river was on the rise. This didn't keep me from catching about a half-dozen wild rainbow trout in the 12" range. The wild fish always seem to have the brightest colors and the most fight in them. The rainbows lived up to their reputation of being fantastic jumpers when caught, leaping out of the water. Another notable thing about the trip was the tremendous access that the stream enjoys. The "Virginia Creeper" trail (a former railroad right-of-way that was converted into a 30+ mile biking/hiking trail) parallels the river for quite a while and provides some great access for fishermen. The Appalachian Trail also utilizes part of this right-of-way as well, before it disappears into the rhododendron of the mountains. Here's some pics:

One of the many existing trestles spanning the creek on the "Virginia Creeper Trail:"


A beautiful wild rainbow trout:


"Sacerdos 1" on her maiden voyage:


A storm blew-in overnight, but the truck kept me high and dry:


The Appalachian Trail crosses the Virginia Creeper Trail along the creek:


Another view of the creek:

My Summer, in a Nutshell...

Besides spending my weekdays at the Tribunal, where I have set up my "Summer Thesis Writing Camp" (kind of like summer camp for canonists...), I have recently come upon a fishing hole here in Kentucky. If you've seen this blog then you know that I have taken up (lock, stock, and barrel) the leisure activity of fly fishing. One of the real bright spots of my time in Washington, DC (other than studying canon law of course...) has been my Fridays up fishing at the Gunpowder River in Maryland. It's a beautiful place (my "mental health getaway" during the school year). Sadly, I have been without such a place here at home. That was until this week. At the recommendation of a fly fisher here in the area I checked out Otter Creek, which runs through the Fort Knox military base, just south of Louisville. It's not quite the Gunpowder, but it has fish, and is a reasonably beautiful little stream. And, its only a 30 minute drive! After jumping through the hoops to get a fishing permit from the Army, I drove down Tuesday and spent the day exploring the new stream. While the largest fish I landed was only about 6-8", I caught a good number of them (I'm guessing a dozen or so) and the stream was quite serene. Take a look for yourself:







Here's my "Base Camp" at the Louisville Tribunal:



P.S. - What a great thing it was... applying for the fishing permit at Ft. Knox, they go over the map of the base to let you know where you are permitted to go and where you are not. A position on the map was marked in yellow and I was advised that permission to enter the area was never granted. The reason... UNEXPLODED ORDINANCE! Yeah, I'll be staying out of there.