"MAKING MY LIST AND CHECKING IT TWICE:" What Mom and Dad will NOT Be Getting for Christmas!

The calls from my brother and sisters have been coming with the annual question of what we should get Mom and Dad for Christmas. We're not necessarily "going in" on something together, but we try our best not to duplicate gifts. And when it comes to Teresa, she's usually asking for ideas! Naturally, I do not share with my siblings the ideas that come to my mind. Rather, I covet these ideas, revelling in finding an answer to my annual dilemma of what do you get your parents who seem to have everything? Later this week, I'll begin to see if my ideas even exist out there -- and then again, can I afford them?!

That having been said, and knowing that my Mom will soon be reading this, I can't tell you here what Mom and Dad will receive this Christmas, but I can tell you what my parents will NOT be getting for Christmas -- those crazy "Listen Up" devices that you see in every third commercial on TV!

I suspect many of you use commercial time to get up and get something from the kitchen or make a phone call. If you're a Norbertine, you'll probably put the commercial on mute or at least soft-mute. Seeing certain commercials over and over, some I've come to enjoy -- others I despise. Such is the case of "Listen Up!" The elderly couple featured in the add should be the poster couple for "Divorce Court." The gentlemen in the ad certainly seems self-centered or out of touch of the needs of others around him -- he's a bit of a dolt! But then again, the wife seems even worse -- actually, she's down right nasty! She always seems to be complaining about something -- speaking down to him, basically telling him to get a life or better yet, just get lost!

Later in the commercial, she does crack a bit of a smile -- it's when she's at the mailbox stalking her neighbors, eavesdropping in on their own juicy gossip. Later in the commercial, we learn that this is the stuff she takes to church as she's either accelerating the volume or putting the preacher on mute! I live in fear that some day she'll show up at Old Saint Joe's -- that's when I'll join her husband in getting lost!

So listen up, "Listen Up:" You make people in your ads look foolish, nasty and mean! While I was slightly amused by the characters about 30 commercials ago, I'm now fed up with them! So "all I want for Christmas" this year is a universal remote control -- with the ability to get lost when Mr. & Mrs. Sunshine appear. That will be difficult considering the guy is also sporting a burgundy "Snuggy" in a different commercial -- and yes, he's watching TV and eating popcorn again! That's all he seems to do! Let's just pray his wife doesn't get too upset and get her hands on one of the colorful, "Aqua Globes!" Can you imagine what she could do with one of those babies?

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Rest In Peace, Wise and Faithful Steward!

WASHINGTON—The death of Cardinal Avery Dulles, SJ, "brings home to God a great theologian and a totally dedicated servant of the Church," Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said of the cardinal who died December 12 at Fordham University at the age of 90.

"His wise counsel will be missed; his personal witness to the pursuit of holiness of life as a priest, a Jesuit and a Cardinal of the Church will be remembered and will encourage the Church to remain ever faithful to her Lord and his mission," Cardinal George said."I am deeply saddened at the loss of a personal friend; but I rejoice in the hope that now he sees clearly what he explored so well in his studies on revelation, on grace and on the nature of the Church and the papal office. May he rest in peace."

Cardinal Dulles, who served as a professor of systematic theology at The Catholic University of America and later as the Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham, assisted the USCCB as a key contributor to the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue and to the committee on doctrine.

"For a generation of priests, scholars and faithful, Cardinal Avery Dulles has been a reliable and faithful interpreter of the Second Vatican Council. A number of his books have become classics in theological education, such as Models of the Church," said Father James Massa, executive director of the Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the USCCB and a student of Cardinal Dulles. "In some ways, his life bears comparison with another great cardinal-theologian, John Henry Newman, on whose birthday, 200 years later, Avery Dulles was created a cardinal of the Catholic Church." The first U.S. theologian and U.S. Jesuit to be elevated to the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Dulles was, at his own request, not consecrated a bishop, a rare distinction for a cardinal. Pope Benedict XVI met with Cardinal Dulles in a private audience on April 19, during the pope's pastoral visit to the United States, bringing together two leading Catholic theologians of the post-Vatican II era. "

USCCB: Office of Communications

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A Woman Clothed With the Sun

"O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church!, who from this place reveal your clemency and your pity to all those who ask for your protection, hear the prayer that we address to you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our sole Redeemer.

Mother of Mercy, Teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to you, who come to meet us sinners, we dedicate on this day all our being and all our love. We also dedicate to you our life, our work, our joys, our infirmities and our sorrows. Grant peace, justice and prosperity to our peoples; for we entrust to your care all that we have and all that we are, our Lady and Mother. We wish to be entirely yours and to walk with you along the way of complete faithfulness to Jesus Christ in His Church; hold us always with your loving hand.

Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, we pray to you for all the Bishops, that they may lead the faithful along paths of intense Christian life, of love and humble service of God and souls. Contemplate this immense harvest, and intercede with the Lord that He may instill a hunger for holiness in the whole people of God, and grant abundant vocations of priests and religious, strong in the faith and zealous dispensers of God’s mysteries.

Grant to our homes the grace of loving and respecting life in its beginnings, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God. Blessed Virgin Mary, protect our families, so that they may always be united, and bless the upbringing of our children.

Our hope, look upon us with compassion, teach us to go continually to Jesus and, if we fall, help us to rise again, to return to Him, by means of the confession of our faults and sins in the Sacrament of Penance, which gives peace to the soul.

We beg you to grant us a great love for all the holy Sacraments, which are, as it were, the signs that your Son left us on earth.

Thus, Most Holy Mother, with the peace of God in our conscience, with our hearts free from evil and hatred, we will be able to bring to all true joy and true peace, which come to us from your son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen."

His Holiness +John Paul II

Mexico, January 1979.

Visiting Her Basilica during his first foreign trip as Pope.

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Truly an Ecumenical Spirit!

"Here we are as in olden days,

'Green and Golden' days of yore.

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more!"

Knowing that the students would be leaving well in advance of Christmas -- even as I write this entry -- I decided to decorate the office a little early this year. After all, the students would want to know where to leave the gifts!!! As such, during the week of Thanksgiving, SNC students Justin Wrzesinski and Jordan Neeck began to mount the Green Bay Packer Christmas Bush! Not only did they help me purchase and transport the tree and decorations, but they were like Santa's elves assembling the tree and putting the lights on the bush!

I thought that I was topping the tree off - in a few different ways - by placing the final touches of ornaments on the tree -- all green and gold bulbs for two obvious reasons -- The Pack and the Green Knights! The tree really looks great. That is, until one of our students from the other side of the Cheddar Curtain defaced my Christmas cheer with an ample supply of blue and orange -- a Chicago Bears ornament and several Bears candy canes are also now displayed on the tree. By comparison, this seems much more innocent than the acts of vandalism you often see on many college and university campuses. Actually the colorful additions to the tree gives one the impression that our students believe that Christ came that first Christmas for all sorts of sports fans, even the Chicago Bears fans! [Do you wonder if any Chicago Cubs Christmas ornaments exist?] So in a spirit of true ecumenism, the ornaments will remain on the tree throughout Christmas.

Right now many of our students are currently engaged in the 9:15 AM exam period on Thursday morning. Regardless of sports affiliation, I'm keeping all of our students in thought and prayer these gruelling days. I well remember exam weeks at St. Norbert even way back to my college days here. I'd often exclaim, "The best test is a finished test!" Towards that end, I pray for the Spirit's guidance on our students all week long -- and for safe travels back home to be with parents, siblings and friends from the homeland.

That diaspora will allow me to be a bit more attentive to the blog. As you can see, I've been away from this sight for quite a while. A good friend Katie stated to me three weeks ago, "No offense, but I'm getting a little tired of seeing St. Paul!" Therefore, we have much catching up to do. So, keep tuning in these days -- I'll forge ahead! But in the midst of that, I'll spend today and Friday saying goodbyes to the students before they venture out on a very long and well deserved Christmas break. Then I'm headed out to Jacksonville this Saturday. In addition to the normal duties associated with Packer travel, I'll be meeting up with Ray McKenna and representatives of Catholic Athletes for Christ, of which Jaguars' Coach Jack del Rio is a member. I've been looking forward to this trip for some time now.

But before all of that, I'll reintroduce you to a prayer I posted here at the end of last semester. It was penned by Saint Francis deSales. Many spoke or wrote of how meaningful this prayer was for them, especially our graduates. Stating it here once again, I hope the prayer on Francis' lips will be the prayer we have in our hearts for all students during this exam week... ... ...

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;

Rather look to them with full hope

that as they arise,God, whose very own you are,

will lead you safely through all things;

And when you cannot stand it,

God will carry you in His arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;

The same everlasting Father who cares for you today

will take care of you today and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering

or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and

imaginations.

+ St. Francis de Sales

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