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).

The Parable of the Beach: Ora et Labora

Ah yes, our summer vacation in America is quickly coming to a close. But, as it says in Ecclesiastes, there is a time and season for everything. No Complaints!

Last night as the sun passed its apogee in the blue vault of heaven and was making its descent back into the earth, my wife and I were preparing dinner. The kitchen became unbearably warm. Rather than wallow miserably in the muggy weather, we headed over to Bush Lake, only about a 20 minute walk from the in-laws home here in Bloomington, Minnesota.

I ran ahead and swam first and then watched our youngest son Dominic play in the sand as my wife Niki took her turn swimming in the lake.

As I sat refreshed from my swim, watching Dominic and beholding the setting sun, my soul drifted off to contemplate the Lord in all of this outdoor splendor. The following insight struck me as I sat there on the sand, an insight that I believe would benefit many of the Study Abroad students during their study abroad semester in Gaming.

Here it is:

The setting sun was an image for me of our Lord Jesus, especially our Lord in the most holy and blessed sacrament of the Eucharist. Just sitting there on the beach, the sun affected me: it lifted my spirits; it tanned my skin; it filled me joy. Similarly, sitting in front of our Lord, receptively in prayer and adoration allows Jesus to lift our spirits, to "tan" our soul with his image and likeness, and to fill us with joy and comfort.

The house was an image for me of the world. Often we need to leave our spot sitting under the sun to go into the home or to work in the world. We needed to "cook dinner" or do some other worldly chore. Swimming too had an allegorical meaning: the significance of leisure, play, sport, and conversation. As we were wearied by our hot kitchen we needed to refresh ourselves not only with the sun but also by swimming in the water. Out there in the lake, we would switch strokes, play in the water, and exercise to our heart's content. So, we find our selves back full circle to Ecclesiastes: there is a time and season for everything.

There is a time for work -- in a hot kitchen

There is a time for leisure, play, and fun -- as in the lake

And ...

There is a time for prayer and adoration -- like sitting in the sun.

All three are so important for a full and happy life, especially for the study abroad student who has so many things to do and accomplish and can easily become out of balance to his detriment. One must build work (homework), leisure with friends and travel (play), and also prayer and adoration into one's day. The Benedictines got it right: Ora et Labora, good old work and prayer, you need them both.

If you ever find yourself exhausted or your rhythm out of sync, perhaps its time for a visit to the beach. For two thousand years ago, God told his parables about fields, pearls, wineskins, and baking bread. Two thousand years later, he can speak to us through sun, water, sand, and even a hot kitchen!

St. Frances de Sales advice for Gaming

Many of the Gaming study abroad students will take Professor Asci's course on Western Christian Spirituality where they will read St. Frances de Sales (1567 - 1622) seminal work on lay spirituality and wisdom in his devotional classic Introduction to the Devout Life.

This French saint, a master of savoir-faire, practiced the art of what St. Paul called the ability "to become all things to all people," adapting himself to the different temperments and individual natures of each person.

In fact, it is said that as a University student at the University of Padua, he vowed never to avoid a conversation with anyone, no matter how unpleasant or dull a person was: "I shall never despise anyone, not altogether avoid him, the more so in that it would give the impression of being proud, haughty, severe, arrogant, critical."

Like any great classic, this book provides perennial wisdom not only for adult lay persons but also for young students, especially students who are studying abroad and representing not only themselves, but more so they are giving face to America, to Franciscan University, and to Catholicism.

Let's get some advice from this great saint:

"Nothing is ever gained by harshness."

"To be too reserved and to refuse to take part in conversation looks like alck of confidence in others and some sort of disdain."

"If people visit you of if you are called out into society for some just reason, go as one sent by God and visit your neighbor with a benevolent heart and a good intention."

"be careful never to let an indecent word leave your lips."

"It is a sort of contempt of those you associate with to frequent their company in unbecoming attire."

If it were up to me, I believe I would make St. Francis de Sales, a co-patron with St. Francis of Assisi, of Franciscan University or at least the Study Abroad program in Gaming.

Forgiveness and the hand that never leaves

Austria has traditionally been thought of as the "crossroads of Europe" and indeed it is. So when the study abroad students come out to Austria, not only are they immersed in Austrian culture, but also the history, politics, traditions, culture, and ideas from all over Europe.

Moreover, each semester the students not only travel in Europe, but they also venture to other parts of Eastern Europe and former Soviet bloc countries. For example, each semester the students have the opportunity to participate on the school sponsored trip to Poland where they visit, the former Pope John Paul II's hometown, the concentration camps of Auschwitz, the famous Marian Shrine of Czestochowa, the city of Krakow, and the Shrine of Divine Mercy. On this pilgrimage, students have the opportunity to ponder and even touch, taste, and feel the life and work of the former Pope John Paul the Great.

In my readings about the life of John Paul II, I have always been fascinated by the story of his miraculous survival from the assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Agca who short John Paul at 5 PM on May 13, 1981.

Why this time and date? 5 PM and May 13 seem insignificant when isolated, but if we travel to the other side of Europe, the puzzle becomes a little clearer. For this is the exact moment and day on which three shepherd children had first reported seeing the Virgin Mary in Fatima in 1917.

Agca's bullet missed John Paul's main abdominal artery by 1/10 an inch! Later Agca remarked that he was a good shot, he aimed true, and had his escape planned impeccably, and yet in the end, all was thwarted. What happened?

JPII said: "One hand fired the shot, and another guided the bullet." The other hand he said was the Virgin of Fatima, or Mother of Christ.

After the bullet was extracted from his body, he had it sent to Fatima where it was placed in the crown of Mary, the mother of God. Every semester, students go and pray in front of this statue where they recall God's Divine Providence, his tender loving hand, and the importance of forgiveness.

Ah yes, that fearful word, forgiveness.

JPII, in an example to the entire world, visited Agca in prison where he told him that he had forgiven him from his heart.

Many years later, in 2005 when he was hospitalized for difficult breathing JPII received many letters and notes. One was from Agca who wrote from the Rebibbia Prison wishing him good health and a quick recovery. Furthermore, when JPII died, one of the first requests to attend his funeral came from Agca. Naturally the prison officials turned him down, but it still a touching and moving story nonetheless.

As so you contemplate John Paul II (The Great), remember this story of forgiveness and of love, and of Divine Providence, it is good for us all to remember the hand and heart that never leaves you or any one of his beloved children.

Ladies and Gentlemen Please

Whenever we return to the States for our much awaited summer vacation, an extended respite at the in-laws is certainly a must and usually the first stop on our USA Tour.   My wife Niki is the oldest in a family of 8 children (their family license plate is Gr8Kids), so you can readily imagine that dinnertime is quite the kerfuffle.  Despite this enjoyable organized chaos, Grandma and Grandpa are careful to remind our two boys Ari and Dominic that " Only Ladies and Gentlemen at my table." Indeed, we are thankful for their encouragement. 

This idea of "ladies and gentlemen" is not a  a shibboleth of the Victorian Age  applicable only to children, but a virtue relevant for all ages and in all times and places.  It is indeed a civilizing force in all nations.  Amidst the too often confirmed stereotype of the "Ugly American," I too try to encourage "Ladies and Gentleman" in the 160+ students who attend the Franciscan University's Study abroad program in Gaming, Austria. 

John Henry Cardinal Newman (the most famous English convert to Catholicism), undoubtedly has the best and most famous definition ever formulated even if it is from an age which is past:

I invite you to read this passage slowly and often as it often acts as a sort of examination of conscience....it is one of my staples for RA (Resident Assistant) training.  

"It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain. This description is both refined and, as far as it goes, accurate. He is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him; and he concurs with their movements rather than takes the initiative himself. His benefits may be considered as parallel to what are called comforts or conveniences in arrangements of a personal nature: like an easy chair or a good fire, which do their part in dispelling cold and fatigue, though nature provides both means of rest and animal heat without them. The true gentleman in like manner carefully avoids whatever may cause a jar or a jolt in the minds of those with whom he is cast; — all clashing of opinion, or collision of feeling, all restraint, or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; his great concern being to make every one at their ease and at home. He has his eyes on all his company; he is tender towards the bashful, gentle towards the distant, and merciful towards the absurd; he can recollect to whom he is speaking; he guards against unseasonable allusions, or topics which may irritate; he is seldom prominent in conversation, and never wearisome. He makes light of favours while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is conferring. He never speaks of himself except when compelled, never defends himself by a mere retort, he has no ears for slander or gossip, is scrupulous in imputing motives to those who interfere with him, and interprets every thing for the best. He is never mean or little in his disputes, never takes unfair advantage, never mistakes personalities or sharp sayings for arguments, or insinuates evil which he dare not say out. From a long-sighted prudence, he observes the maxim of the ancient sage, that we should ever conduct ourselves towards our enemy as if he were one day to be our friend. He has too much good sense to be affronted at insults, he is too well employed to remember injuries, and too indolent to bear malice. He is patient, forbearing, and resigned, on philosophical principles; he submits to pain, because it is inevitable, to bereavement, because it is irreparable, and to death, because it is his destiny.  If he engages in controversy of any kind, his disciplined intellect preserves him from the blundering discourtesy of better, perhaps, but less educated minds; who, like blunt weapons, tear and hack instead of cutting clean, who mistake the point in argument, waste their strength on trifles, misconceive their adversary, and leave the question more involved than they find it. He may be right or wrong in his opinion, but he is too clear-headed to be unjust; he is as simple as he is forcible, and as brief as he is decisive. Nowhere shall we find greater candor, consideration, indulgence: he throws himself into the minds of his opponents, he accounts for their mistakes. He knows the weakness of human reason as well as its strength, its province and its limits.
If he be an unbeliever, he will be too profound and large-minded to ridicule religion or to act against it; he is too wise to be a dogmatist or fanatic in his infidelity. He respects piety and devotion; he even supports institutions as venerable, beautiful, or useful, to which he does not assent; he honors the ministers of religion, and it contents him to decline its mysteries without assailing or denouncing them. He is a friend of religious toleration, and that, not only because his philosophy has taught him to look on all forms of faith with an impartial eye, but also from the gentleness and effeminacy of feeling, which is the attendant on civilization.[From The Idea of a University, 1852]