It is finished!

Final exams are over, and I feel very confident in high marks across the board. Some classes are already determined and the grades published and the last ones I should hear about in the next few days. We studied long and hard until the end here, also preparing for the Seminarian Scholarship Dinner, to be held tomorrow night here at St. Clement's in Boston.

I also concluded my meetings with the psychiatrist/psychological counselor, and spiritual director for the year, preparing for the summer with both. We have a massive Spring Cleaning operation slated for next week before we all take off, and everyone at the house is gearing up for summer work and assignments. The main project at St. Clement's is to re-roof the church, a continuation of work that was begun last summer on other parts of the property.

As for me, I will be returning home until the last Saturday of August. While home, I will be working doing odd jobs in several areas including web design and development, IT support, and academic tutoring. I am open to coach children on violin and viola and provide training for others on any of the above areas - spread the word and refer to my main website: www.pnguyen.net on which I have posted my resume suitable for seeking summer employment at this time. It contains complete contact information for others to reach me.

It has been a truly phenomenal year, and it has been a great blessing to have such a welcoming and vibrant community of Oblates here in Boston, the militant support of prayer warriors here, at home, and everywhere, and maintained contact with family and close friends as I embark on this new journey of seeking to do the Lord's will particularly through preparing for priestly ministry. Many thanks to all of the academic personnel and everyone who has contributed to my vocation and formation through your prayers, sacrifices, and (even silent) approbation of this path.

I am also grateful for the sisterly support of Sr. Teresa, who celebrates her first birthday in religious life today. Happy Birthday!

Finally, on this feast of Our Lady of Fatima, who first appeared to Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco on this day in 1917 in Portugal, let us charge forth with great vigor bringing the whole world to:
Love the Immaculata!

And let us say with Venerable Fr. Pio Bruno Lanteri, whose 252nd birthday we celebrated yesterday:
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca

Mothers' Day

I would like to open this post with the alternative prayer for today, the third Sunday of Easter:

Father in heaven, author of all truth,
a people once in darkness has listened to your Word
and followed your Son as he rose from the tomb.
Hear the prayer of this newborn people
and strengthen your Church to answer your call.
May we rise and come forth into the light of day
to stand in your presence until eternity dawns.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

This is such a beautiful prayer! When the church provides alternative prayers for Sundays or other feast days, they are taken from more colorful texts and are generally older. Both are valid, though, so we should be careful not to be caught up in chasing appearances.

But here is an "appearance" worth looking at - these flowers opened up over the last few days and are such a timely gift for Mothers' Day:

On this Mothers' day, it is also important for us to remember our heavenly mother, given to us by Christ on the Cross, His own Mother Mary. Many people have posted on Facebook the words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego, comforting him over his uncle's worsening health:

My child, my littlest one, listen to my words
and allow them to penetrate your heart.
Allow nothing to afflict you or cause you anguish.
Let nothing disturb your heart.
Am I not here, I who am your Mother?
Are you not in my shadow and under my protection?
Am I not the source of your life?
Are you not in the folds of my mantle,
in the crossing of my arms?

These words also came to me this morning as I wanted to post something for Mothers' Day, and I later discovered so many people with the same inspiration. At Evening Prayer today, I also felt inspired to post Mary's song of praise, the Magnificat, which is part of Evening Prayer each day:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day, all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise He made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.

Pray for us, Most Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!
(Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genitrix, ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi!)

Love the Immaculata!
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca

Springtime in Boston!

Enjoy these photos of the beautiful flowers and new growth around Boston - just last week things were still pretty gray and dead-looking... what a change!

Springtime in Boston (2011)

Love the Immaculata!
Mariam cogita, Mariam invoca