The week began with an escape to the beautiful Maria Taferl church just off of the Danube river. Theview was stunning, but what was inside was, of course, of infinitely greater worth. After praying in the Church, we all had a sensational meal at the Hotel Rose in town. We soon embarked for Melk Abbey, a nearby monastery. As we have been told, Melk is one of the greatest examples of Baroque architectural style in all of Europe, and right here in lower Austria!
Among our most recent travels was the day visit to the capital city of Vienna! We arrived and Father Brad LePage celebrated Mass for us in a Capuchin Franciscan which was followed by a walking tour of the city. There is so much history there, and so much beauty it is hard to process it all in just a day. We ate at the Augustinerkeller, which was the first experience I had ever had eating the famed Wienerschnitzel or breaded and fried veal cutlet. If you would like an idea of what it is, imagine you have an elephant ear from the county fair. Now take off the powdered sugar and stick some meat (veal, pork, or chicken) inside. It was delicious! What a great taste for such a funny name!
Afterw
ards, we were given free time to travel about the city. Many chose to visit palaces and the treasury where many wonderful relics are kept, such as one of the nails from the true cross. Street performers abounded as we continued our independent journeys through the heart of the city. My particular group followed Father Brad to a lovely little cafe, where we had some Viennese coffee and torte. Though the travels have taken a physical toll on many, people here are clearly in the highest of spirits, and ready for more!
The classes on campus, at least in my experience, are going to be hard to beat! From the excitement and passion of Professor Maria Wolter in “Philosophy of the Human Person”, to the quiet wisdom of Dr. Asci in “Christian Spirituality”, our faculty is overflowing with knowledge and enthusiasm. We are in very capable hands. A visiting professor, Dr. Javier Carreño,is teaching “Foundations of Ethics” and “Metaphysics”, and his calm, wise demeanor draws his students right into the beauty and truth that can be found in his courses. I was surprised in my Spanish class withProfessor Hornackova-Klapicova that we would speak almost exclusively in the language we were studying. It was a new concept to me, and though intimidating at first, I think it will serve to expand our abilities to a much greater degree that we have heretofore seen.
The faculty live around campus, and many have large families with young children who love the attention from the students. It is refreshing to see young boys and girls running around, throwing snow, laughing, getting piggy-back rides from students, and just enjoying life. In all fairness, the students love the children just as much as the children love the students.
The spiritual life here in Gaming is very much alive, as much as on campus in Steubenville. We plan to have our first Festival of Praise this Thursday. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has begun in our chapel Maria Thron. Mass is said everyday, with nearly universal attendance. Confession is also available to us. Gaming also provides some unique ways to see God's glory and love in ways we can't in Steubenville. First of all, the natural beauty of the landscape here is breathtaking. The size of the mountains on every side will humble you and make you realize just how small human beings are. It certainly did for me. Another great sign of God's grace is the love that the townspeople have for the students. Yes, we certainly stimulate their economy in a big way, but the way they treat us, regardless of our communication barrier, is that of respect and kindness. The simplicity of the life here is calming and provides a deep but satisfying joy. We have a solitude here from the outside world that I have not experienced before. We have been taken out of the fast-paced American rapids, and placed into the calm stream of the Austrian countryside.
It is truly good that we are here. This is a semester that will change many lives for the better. God has called each soul here individually for His purpose, and everyone here is where they belong. I would simply ask for your prayers for each of us as we embark on this journey. Of course, we are not alone, but our dear Lord holds our hand the whole way, bringing us closer to Him than we have ever been before. With so much more to come, and only one week having passed, it is difficult to know what to expect, but I can say without a doubt that we can expect good things to come: very good things indeed.
No comments:
Post a Comment