Busy days of Fall

I know it has been a long time since the Gaming blog has been updates. I offer no excuses except that life has been busier than usual. Back to back we have had Parent's week, the Board of Trustees, and this weekend, the Poland pilgrimage. Next week is the highlight of the semester -- the 10 day pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi.

With all of these crazy events going on, many of the staff, faculty, and students have just stopped to take in the fall beauty here in Gaming. Perhaps you can live it vicariously through us:

Students attend Beatification of St Thérèse's Parents

With the students returning from their 10 day break, there are stories and tales from all parts of the European continent. This is by no means unusual, and faculty and staff look forward to hearing about all the mishaps and blessings which the students encounter.

This semester, about 10% of the student population (mid teens) attended the beatification ceremony of St Thérèse's parents in Lisieux France.

The beatification process was quickened when wast July, Pope Benedict formally approved the miracle cure of a young Milanese child, Pietro Schillero, through the couple's intercession.

Below is an article entitled, St. Thérèse's Parents Beatified on World Mission Sunday
The Pope said the couple "proclaimed the Gospel of Christ through their exemplary married life. They lived their faith ardently and transmitted it to their family and all around them."

POMPEII, Italy (Zenit) - Benedict XVI said the second couple to be beatified in the history of the Church proclaimed the Gospel through living an "exemplary" married life.

Louis Martin and Marie-Zélie Guérin, the parents of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, were beatified today in Lisieux, France, by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, retired prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes.

Before praying the Angelus today during his one-day trip to the shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, the Pope noted that the beatification fell on the same date as World Mission Sunday. Pius XI, he explained, declared St. Thérèse "patroness of the missions."

The Pontiff said the two parents "proclaimed the Gospel of Christ through their exemplary married life. They lived their faith ardently and transmitted it to their family and all around them."

"Through their prayer and their evangelical witness," he added, "St. Thérèse’s parents accompanied and shared the journey of their daughter, who was called by the Lord to unconditionally consecrate herself to him within the walls of Carmel."

1st duty

"It was there, in the obscurity of the cloister, that St. Thérèse realized her vocation “to be love in the heart of the Church,'" he added, quoting from the saint's autobiography.

"Prayer," affirmed Benedict XVI, "is the first missionary duty of each one of us. It is first of all through prayer that the way for the Gospel is prepared; it is through prayer that hearts are opened to the mystery of God and that souls are disposed to receive his Word of salvation."

"With the beatification of the Martins in mind," he continued, "I would like to recall another intention that is close to my heart: the family, whose role is fundamental in nurturing in their children a universal spirit, open and responsive to the world and its problems, and in forming vocations to missionary life."

The Pope then asked for prayers for the 4th World Meeting of the Families, which will take place in Mexico City in January.

Call by Fr. Corapi for Rosary Novena

Being abroad during an election year can be both exciting and frustrating at times. It is exciting because it is easier to withdraw from all the noise and bickering of the parties but at the same time renter the political scene through news and other media outlets. It is also frustrating in the fact that one feels less powerful or less able to influence the election process and results.

Fr. Corapi has given us all, both at home and abroad, a way to influence and impact this election through the Rosary Novena.

Details are below:


A Call for a Rosary NovenaBy Fr. John Corapiwww.fathercorapi.com

Among the most important titles we have in the Catholic Church for the Blessed Virgin Mary are OurLady of Victory and Our Lady of the Rosary. These titles can be traced back to one of the most decisivetimes in the history of the world and Christendom. The Battle of Lepanto took place on October 7 (dateof feast of Our Lady of Rosary), 1571. This proved to be the most crucial battle for the Christian forcesagainst the radical Muslim navy of Turkey. Pope Pius V led a procession around St. Peter's Square inVatican City praying the Rosary. He showed true pastoral leadership in recognizing the danger posed toChristendom by the radical Muslim forces, and in using the means necessary to defeat it. Spiritualbattles require spiritual weapons, and this more than anything was a battle that had its origins in thespiritual order―a true battle between good and evil.Today we have a similar spiritual battle in progress―a battle between the forces of good and evil, lightand darkness, truth and lies, life and death. If we do not soon stop the genocide of abortion in theUnited States, we shall run the course of all those that prove by their actions that they are enemies ofGod―total collapse, economic, social, and national. The moral demise of a nation results in the ultimatedemise of a nation. God is not a disinterested spectator to the affairs of man. Life begins at conception.This is an unalterable formal teaching of the Catholic Church. If you do not accept this you are a hereticin plain English. A single abortion is homicide. The more than 48,000,000 abortions since Roe v. Wade inthe United States constitute genocide by definition. The group singled out for death―unwanted, unbornchildren.No other issue, not all other issues taken together, can constitute a proportionate reason forvoting for candidates that intend to preserve and defend this holocaust of innocent humanlife that is abortion.I strongly urge every one of you to make a Novena and pray the Rosary to Our Lady of Victorybetween October 27th and Election Day, November 4th. Pray that God's will be done and themost innocent and utterly vulnerable of our brothers and sisters will be protected from thisbarbaric and grossly sinful blight on society that is abortion. No woman, and no man, has theright to choose to murder an innocent human being.May God grant us the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and counsel to form our conscience inaccordance with authentic Catholic teaching, and then vote that well‐formed Catholic conscience.Please copy, email, link and distribute this article freely.

God Bless You,

Fr. John Corapi www.fathercorapi.com

Keynote Address: Mark Inglis speaks at the Kartause

Mark Inglis is the first and only double amputee to ever summit Mount Everest, and he was here at the Kartause to speak to the student body on October 1st. Mr. Inglis is also a formidable wine-maker and consultant, founding trustee to several charitable trusts, created of his own high performance fuel called Peak Fuel and an internationally renowned speaker.

We were lucky enough (or call it providence) to have him here. What first appeared to be insurmountable obstacles disappeared rapidly to make it seem like it was just "Meant to be."

Mark first spoke to the many children at the Kartause in a special afternoon session where he took off and passed around one of his legs for all to see. The kids were thrilled to have him all to themselves.

Later that evening, Mark addressed a jammed audience of nearly 200 faculty, staff, students, and guests. He ended to a standing ovation. I think little else needs to be said for how well it was taken.

Mark encouraged the students to dream big, to be able to take healthy criticism so as to improve, and to push themselves to the limit so that they can surprise themselves (and others) just how far they can go.

Mark also gave a powerful testimony of how his charitable trusts have gone to help countless people. He said, "helping Tellee (double amputee in Nepal) gain a pair of artificial legs meant more to him than summiting Mount Everest." He encouraged students to help others in their work and to give back to society.

Mark also touched on the idea of sustainability. He said that he often finds buildings which were donated or funded through charitable organizations just rot into the dirt. He said that our charities should seek to become trusts which just use the interest for their projects. In this way, the money supply never runs out and can continue on into perpetuity.

Overall, the evening was memorable to all. Special thanks to Professor Herrera for the pictures which I have been able to upload.

The Fall Kartause Crew!

Here is the crew for this semester! They are a lively bunch....in many ways!!

Also, for those who are interested, I entreat everyone who has not already signed this petition to the UN for the rights of the unborn children of the world, to do so. We need to show the world that life will not be defeated and that it is a sacred gift from God.

http://www.c-fam.org/publications/id.95/default.asp

Good luck to all on finals and as they prepare for the 10 day break!

Hiking the Grossglockner: the Highest Mountain in Austria!

Last weekend, I satisfied a recent obsession to hike the highest mountain in Austria, the Grossglockner, or the "high Bell" mountain. I hiked with Alumnus, Fr. Avram Brown, Theology professor, Robert Cassidy, and the female RD, Katie Hess.  

It was a spectacular trip with perfect weather: blue skies, moderate temps, a dusting of snow on the hilltops and rugged conditions.  

The Grossglockner summit is right about at 14,000 feet or about half the height of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest. 

We departed Gaming at 4:55 Am and it took us roughly 5 hours to arrive at the base of the mountain.  From here we began our trek up.  About hiking up another 5 hours we spent the night in the highest hut in Austria where we had to acclimatize due to the altitude.  We all felt dizzy and sick and found it hard to sleep.  Lucky for us, with Fr. Avram, we celebrated Mass in the hut overlooking the most stunning view of the mountains.  

Even without sleeping much in the hut, we departed again in the morning at 6:15 to begin our hike to the summit.  After climbing (literally) another 1.5 hours, we summited to our great relief!  From here we could see into Italy and it felt like we were on top of the world. 

After pictures and rejoicing at the summit, we headed back to our car where we celebrated Sunday liturgy in the woods before departing back to Gaming. 

All in all, it was a trip which we all will remember for a lifetime and probably one of my most memorable weekends of my life!