What I learned in Salzburg / Munich?

Yesterday, Fr. Ron Mohnickey, T.O.R., encouraged the students to not only travel to the glorious and historically abundant cities of Europe, but also to think and reflect on their experience upon their return.

He asked them, what did you learn?

Perhaps the answer would go something like this:

I learned that....

1. Salzburg has a unique history being an independent principality of the Holy Roman Empire. This unique history includes being governed by a Prince-Archbishop, a singular combination of religious and political power. Sometimes the power was abused or the church laws spurned, as with Prince-Archbishop Wolf-Dietrich and his mistress which he had 15 children with. In following the history of the rise and fall of power, I have come to understand that humility is one of the greatest attributes which man can possess. Humility in the face of God, the church, and with one's fellow neighbor.


2. Europeans have a tender devotion towards their dead, beautifying their tombs and often keeping them attached to their churches. It has caused me to reflect on my attitude towards the faithful departed.


3. European cities are strewed with bells. This was often to remind them of their internal freedom and that the gift of life is truly a gift. Its to remind them that they are dust and unto dust they shall return. It causes me to reflect that as Americans we have an uncanny fear of death. It has caused me to savor life more and appreciate his graces in a new way. I'm more grateful now.


4. The tradition of the beer hall in Europe is quintessentially human, inviting deep and real relationships to form and for life to be celebrated.


5. In Munich, the statue of our Lady stands in the center square, reminding all who pass that her power is in her goodness and her greatness lies in service. It is Mary who really gives us a model for servant Leadership.


6. In contemplating Pope Benedict's time in Munich, I realized in a deep way that life without beauty is no life at all and that for Benedict, truth is beauty and beauty is truth.


7. I have begun to touch what a truly Catholic culture is: a kaleidoscope with God at the very heart and center. Other attributes include a deep appreciation for food and fellowship, a deep sense of one's history and customs, of habits of the heart (mores), an embracing of language, art, music, and dress, and a sense of one's roots, a way of life and of convictions that form one and teach one "how to be" in the world.


8. Living through Nazism, Pope Benedict knows that evil exists; that it is banal, and that is always flourishes without God. This allowed him to realize that Love makes the world beautiful. This is a key to his priesthood.


9. On the way home, we went swimming in the Mondsee, a crystal-clear alpine lake. We swam and played in the water with childlike hearts. I have come to learn that all of God's creation is good and brings us closer to him whether it be water, beer, churches, music, food, Mass, or even just talking and sharing. What matters is where our heart is centered and who is number one.

Preparation for Gaming: The Right Disposition

Picture is by Francois Lemoyne (1737) entitled Time Saving Truth from Falsehood and Envy.

As with most things in life we learn, students know this truth but often forget it: that truth remains both ever ancient and ever new. That wisdom is always relevant and applicable.

The old Socratic adage and imperative: "Know Thyself" remains relevant even thousands of years later in societies far removed from Athens where it was first coined and promulgated. In fact, it is an integral part of the study abroad program here in Gaming, Austria.

How so?

More often then not, students who come to Gaming are searching. What are they searching for?

They are searching for truth, beauty, and goodness. They are searching to know themselves, to discover their gifts, to discern their purpose in life. In short, they are searching for God, even if they don't know it. As all men do, they are searching for happiness, meaning, and joy.

In this exploration to know thyself and to know God, Cardinal Newman offers some crucial advice for a successful search.

In one of his sermons he proclaims: "That Truth, which St. Paul preached, addresses itself to our spiritual nature: it will be rightly understood, valued, accepted, by none but lovers of the truth, virtue, purity, humility, and peace. Wisdom will be justified to her children."

In other words, for wisdom to reveal herself, one must have the proper internal disposition. One must love Cardinal Newman says again, "truth, virtue, purity, humility, and peace." Only when one's heart is in the right place can one be truly receptive to God's truth and his path for your life.

Moreover, Newman says elsewhere that "earnestness is necessary for gaining religious truth." One must be striving to put our will aside and know all that is good, true, and beautiful. Never does he say we must be perfect, but he does say we must be earnest in trying.

St. Augustine, in his Confessions says the same thing in another way: "The nub of the problem was to reject my own will and to desire yours." Augustine knew that too often we want to cling to our own notions, our own desires: it becomes all about me. However, when we desire God, all of a sudden it is like looking through binoculars: one can see things that were hidden from the eyes. One gains a power of sight to see, discern, understand, and to know truth, to know God, and to experience true joy. The blurry path becomes clearer not through our own efforts but through grace.

As students prepare to come to Gaming and absorb all that the Study Abroad experience has to offer, it is vital to remember that their quest to tackle Socrates' "Know thyself" and their desire to know God, will only bear fruit if their internal or spiritual disposition is in the right place. The first step to know thyself is to ask with Newman, "Am I earnest in my pursuit? Do I love truth, virtue, purity, humility, and peace?" If not, there is no better place to start than here.

"The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day (Prov. iv.18).