St. Henry (6 May 973 – 13 July 1024) was the fifth and last Holy Roman Emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, from his coronation in Rome in 1014 until his death a decade later.  He was crowned King of Germany in 1002 and King of Italy in 1004. He is the only German king to have been canonized.

Henry was the son of Henry, Duke of Bavaria. As his father was in rebellion against two previous emperors, he was often in exile. This led the younger Henry to turn to the Church at an early age, first finding refuge with the Bishop of Freising, and later being educated at the cathedral school of Hildesheim. He succeeded his father as Duke of Bavaria in 995 as Henry IV.  Henry's most significant contributions as emperor came in the realm of church-state relations and ecclesiastic administration within the Empire. He supported the bishops against the monastic clergy and aided them in establishing their temporal rule over broad territories. He strongly enforced clerical celibacy in order that the public land and offices he granted the church would not be passed on to heirs. This ensured that the bishops remained loyal to him, from whom they received their power, and provided a powerful bulwark against rebellious nobles and ambitious family members. Henry founded the Diocese of Bamberg, which quickly became a center of scholarship and art.

Henry had been working with the pope to call a Church Council to confirm his new system of politico-ecclesiastical control when he died suddenly in 1024, leaving this work unfinished.  Henry was canonized in July, 1147 by Pope Clement II; and his wife, Cunigunde, was canonized in the year 1200, by Pope Innocent III. His relics were carried on campaigns against heretics in the 1160s.  He is buried in Bamberg Cathedral.  Because as king he supported the Church, Henry is usually portrayed wearing a crown and holding a small model of a church.

The Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans congratulates Deacon Everett J. Williams as the recipient of the 2010 Pope John Paul II Award. He has served on many committees and Boards including: Archbishop’s Community Appeal, Catholic Charities, Catholic Foundation, Our Lady of Holy Cross College, Xavier University, Notre Dame Seminary, Holy Rosary Academy and St. Joseph Seminary College. In the greater New Orleans community, he has worked with UNITY for the Homeless, Bridge House, Children’s Hospital, the Medical Center of Louisiana, the Blood Center of Louisiana and he is currently the chair of the Education Committee Patrick F. Taylor Foundation. The award will be presented at the Catholic Foundation’s Annual Dinner being held on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. The award is presented to a layperson or permanent Deacon who resides in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and who exhibits inspirational examples of Christian stewardship. Recipients must be a Roman Catholic with an outstanding record of volunteer service in the Catholic Community; high moral character; and exemplary values. I have known Deacon Williams for many years, and I could not think of a better choice. And I am so happy he’s part of long list of wonderful recipients of this high honor, including other parishioners, Blanche & Norman Francis (2003), Michael Read (2008) and my parents, Jane & Paul Nalty (2001).

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.” (Lk 10:25-27)
*     *     *
There’s a tendency to take this Sunday’s Gospel as an encouragement of laziness. We hear that Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus doing nothing, and Martha is doing all of the work. Yet, when Martha complains, Jesus reassures that the two that Mary has “chosen the better part.” So doing nothing but listening to Jesus is better than helping out around the house? Sounds like a quick way our of household chores! “Need me to mow the lawn? Sorry, but I’ve chosen the “better portion”; I’m heading to the Adoration Chapel to pray!

That’s not really what’s going on here. What Jesus is referring to is not the literal “action” of the scene, with Mary praying and Martha working. He’s actually more concerned with where their hearts are. Jesus is concerned about Mary being anxious and worried. And by singling out Martha’s anxiety in contrast to Mary’s peace, He’s pointing to Himself as the source of peace.

So now the big question. How does this apply to us? I would bet many of us more closely fit the Martha paradigm than the Mary model. We are all incredibly busy, and we continue and continue to put things into our lives that make us busier! Does that mean it’s bad to be busy? Not necessarily. But it’s bad when that busyness starts to affect our lives by making us worried and anxious. And if that happens, we need to stop for a moment, and remember that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. When we’re at our busiest and our anxiety level rises is the time that we need to sit at the feet of Jesus (my favorite place is the chapel near the Tabernacle) and receive his peace.

During my first year as a priest, I spent part of my summer making a 30 day Ignatian silent retreat. Far from being a “lazy” time, I finally understood why the “Spiritual Exercises” of St. Ignatius are called “exercises.” Praying 4-5 hours a day is hard work! Although I learned during my retreat that I wasn’t called to be a monk spending my whole life in contemplative prayer, I did learn where I needed to go when my life got too anxious: to the feet of Jesus. So if you ever see me, and I seem “frazzled” (like a friend noticed recently), give me some of my own advice. Tell me I need to go pray! You know what? I’ll agree with you.

Rev. Msgr. Christopher H. Nalty

Thanks so much to Cait Muldoon and her great team that put together a wonderful “Grace Under Fire” cookoff between Father Leo Patalinghug and myself against Chef Justin Devillier of La Petite Grocery and Chef Chris Barbato of Commander’s Palace. Thanks to Mary Matalin for her great job emceeing the event, and to our great team of Judges: Judge Martin Feldman, Caroline Ponseti, Jeff Crouere, Betsy Sterkx and Sister Leah Couvillion. Ever the careful jurist, Judge Feldman gathered together all of the facts, examined the law, applied the law to the facts and determined that the contest was . . . a tie! After a requested rehearing on the merits, he was persuaded to reexamine the record. The verdict was that the winner was the crowd of hungry diners who got to taste two great dishes! Father Leo Patalinghug and I cooked a Spicy Cocoanut Chicken with Asian-style Trinity Rice, and Chef Justin and Chef Chris cooked a Redfish Courtbouillon with Popcorn Rice (and a Peach Cobbler dessert). Thanks also to the generous friends who donated items for the raffle. All in all, the evening was an extraordinarily joyful time of parish celebration!

The Prayers of Good Shepherd Parish in Rome

Sometimes pictures are worth 1000 words.  Here are a few thousand words from Rome that I thought you might enjoy more than my writing! You were remembered in prayer.

Here I am a with a few pilgrims as the empty Piazza St. Peter is set up for the big Mass for the Closing of the Year for Priests.

This is a view of the Piazza filled with 15,000 priests!

A Message from the Most Reverend Gregory Aymond, Archbishop of New Orleans
June 17, 2010

Archbishop expresses gratitude to legislators for declaring Day of Prayer for Oil Spill Recovery

We thank the legislators for declaring this Sunday a Day of Prayer. This is a public sign of our humble dependence upon God.  Our hearts and prayers go out to those who were killed in the explosion. Likewise we offer prayerful consolation to their families and friends.

The oil spill has very challenging affects on many people in our community, especially the fishing industry, oil industry and related works. We also need to be attentive to the impact on our environment and economy.  We ask God to reassure us and to walk with us in this very challenging time. We pray that:

• we may not lose hope,
• we will persevere in tough times,
• we will see God’s compassion and love in these trying circumstances,
• God will lead scientists and engineers to a permanent solution soon,
• we will bear this cross with trust,
• we will reach out in prayer and with financial resources to those whose livelihood and family life have been affected.

The Catholic Church through Catholic Charities will continue to be present to those affected by offering food, counseling and other emergency services now and in the long-term.

God never abandons us but walks with us during this challenging time in the history of our state and nation.

At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. … Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.' (Lk 10:1, 7-9)
*     *     *
The mission of the 72 disciples of Jesus has been spoken about by the Fathers of the Church in several ways. St. Augustine thought the 72 to be the first priests of the Church working in concert with the 12 Apostles (bishops). Other saints, such as St. Cyril, saw the 72 as the first worshipping community of Christians sent out to teach. Either way, the 72 brought the Gospel (Good News) of Christ to those whom had never received it. Theirs was the work of “evangelization,” from the Latin word meaning to “spread the Gospel.”

The work of evangelization stills go on throughout the world. There are people living in countries like China and Saudi Arabia and parts of Africa whom have never heard the Gospel message. In order to continue to “evangelize,” there is a Vatican office totally dedicated to supporting missionaries – those who seek to establish churches where there are none. That Congregation has changed names in recent years. It was once called the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (in Latin, “Propaganda Fide”) and was formed in 1622 when it was discovered that vast, undeveloped areas of the world had not received the Gospel, especially large parts of the Americas.  The name of that Congregation was changed to the “Congregation for the Evangelization of the People” by John Paul II in 1982 to better reflect its mission.

This past Monday, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, made an important announcement: “I have decided to create a new body with the aim of promoting a renewed evangelism in countries that are going through progressive secularization of society.” The “Pontifical Council for New Evangelization” will try to reinvigorate belief among Catholics in rich, developed countries. That office will be headed by Archbishop Rino Fisichella (incidentally, one of my seminary professors!).

What’s important about this announcement is the Holy See’s recognition that large parts of the world which have already received the Gospel have abandoned it, and need to be “reevangelized.” On one hand, that seems pretty dramatic, but on the other hand, it’s pretty obvious. In the United States, fewer than 35% of Catholics attend Mass on Sundays, and the percentage is even lower in Europe. People need to hear the Gospel message in a new way so that they can respond to it.

In truth, even those of us who practice our faith can use a “reevangelization” every now and then. We come to church to practice our faith, but there’s always more to absorb. And how can we preach the Gospel without living it? May we be evangelized so that we can be part of the mission of the 72! Let us hear the Good News, live it, and share it.

Rev. Msgr. Christopher H. Nalty

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”
He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Lk 10:25-27)
*     *     *
If you could ask God one question, what would it be? Would you ask about the future? Would you ask for the next Powerball number next year’s Superbowl Champion? Or perhaps you’d want to know about something from the past. Why did Katrina hit us? Why did my Dad have to die? Perhaps you’d want to know the answer to something current. Why do bad things happen to good people? What is the cure for cancer or AIDS?

If there is a more important question than the one the scholar of the law asks, then I can’t think of it. This life is complicated and full of mysteries; but it’s short. The scholar asks the real question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The question is inside each of us.
After Jesus questioned him, the scholar puts together two parts of the Old Testament: we must love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind (Dt 6:5); and we must love our neighbor as ourselves (Lv 19:18). It’s a summary of the law. But that’s not the end of the story.

“And who is my neighbor?” he asks. Then comes the parable of the Good Samaritan in which Jesus made even clearer that love had no limits or boundaries, and likewise our love should have neither.  It must be directed to God, but it must be practiced to be real. How can we claim to love a God we can’t see, when we can’t love the neighbor who we do see?

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44), Jesus said. Why? “So that you may be children of your Father in heaven who makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors and sinners do the same? … Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:46-47).

God’s own unlimited love toward is the standard for our love for each other. Jesus was specific to St. Peter, who asked: “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? Seven times?” Jesus responded: “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Mt 18:22) and specifically mentioned the Father’s unlimited mercy toward us as the model for our conduct toward others (Mt 18:23-35). It’s a high bar. But it’s the bar Christ gave us. Don’t we want eternal life?


Rev. Msgr. Christopher H. Nalty

On Tuesday, June 29, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Pope Benedict XVI will bestow the pallium on 38 metropolitan archbishops, including 14 from Europe and six from North America. The Americans are: Archbishops Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Thomas Wenski of Miami, Florida.

The vestment is called a “pallium,” (plural is “pallia”) and it is a narrow band of cloth woven of white lamb’s wool with a ring in the center which rests on the shoulders of its wearer. The narrow band falls down the front of the chest like a necktie and goes similarly down the back. It is decorated with six black crosses, one on each tail and four on the loop. The pallium has its origin as a liturgical vestment of the Holy Father since at least the 4th century, and it has been given to each Metropolitan Archbishop since at least the 9th century.

Worn by the pope, the pallium symbolizes the plenitudo pontificalis officii (i.e., the "fullness of Pontifical office"). When worn by Metropolitan Archbishops, it signifies the power which the Metropolitan, in communion with the Roman Church, has by law in his own province.

The story of how the pallium is made gives clues to its symbolism. The wool comes from lambs raised by Trappist monks. On, January 21, the Feast of St. Agnes (“agnes” is from the Latin word for lamb), the lambs whose wool is destined for the making of the pallia are solemnly blessed at the Basilica of Saint Agnes. However, during the last three years, the Holy Father has blessed these lambs himself at the Vatican. Wool from these lambs is then given to the Benedictine nuns of the Basilica of St Cecilia in Trastevere, and they weave the pallia. The new pallia are solemnly blessed at the Basilica of St. Peter after the Second Vespers on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, and are then stored in a special golden chest located directly above the original tomb of St. Peter. It is called the “Niche of the Pallia.”

If you’re ever at St Louis Cathedral on a Sunday, notice Archbishop Gregory Aymond’s pallium. It’s a great reminder of the universality and long history of our Church.

The life of John the Baptist is a preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, and the circumstances of his birth are miraculous. In Luke’s Gospel, John’s parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were without children and beyond the age of child-bearing. During Zechariah's time of priestly service in the Temple in Jerusalem, he is chosen to offer incense in the Holy Place. While there, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him and announced that he and his wife will give birth to a child, and that they shall name him John. However, since Zechariah doubted the message, he was made mute until the time of John's birth.

Here, a little math is in order. At the Annunciation, which we celebrated on March 25, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to inform her that she would conceive Jesus. But Gabriel also informed her that Elizabeth, her cousin, was already six months pregnant (Lk 1:36). Since Elizabeth was six months pregnant on March 25, we celebrate John’s birth three months later on June 24.

The Nativity of John the Baptist is one of the oldest solemnities in the Church, having been recorded by the Council of Agde in 506 as one of Southern France’s principal holy days. The day is marked as the beginning of the preparation of the way of the Lord. Although rendered mute by his doubting God, Zechariah was obedient in naming his son John, and was inspired to proclaim the prophecy of the ministry of his son, the so-called “Canticle of Zechariah” (Lk 1:68-79): “Blessed be the Lord, The God of Israel; He has come to His people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, Born of the house of His servant David. Through His holy prophets He promised of old That He would save us from our enemies, From the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers And to remember His holy Covenant. This was the oath He swore to our father Abraham: To set us free from the hands of our enemies, Free to worship Him without fear, Holy and righteous in His sight All the days of our life. You, My child shall be called The prophet of the Most High, For you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, To give his people knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our Lord The dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness And the shadow of death, And to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Thanks to all who attended the showing of Damien at St. Henry last weekend, and especially to those who helped so much to set up and break down. Casey Groves really put on a great show. And thanks to those who donated to the collection last weekend. We were about to give Father John Arnone a check for $1125, and we sent over $1500 to Catholic Charities!

Corpus Christi was a huge success and enjoyed by all! Aside from the heat (which was almost unbearable) and aside from almost losing one of the Knights of Columbus to heat, the Lord blessed us with another spectacular day!

Fr. Chamber's words were most touching as he told us how humbled he was to carry our Lord and Savior in the Eucharistic Procession!  Without the Priest we would have NO EUCHARIST...So I just loved his profound holiness and sincere joy of the moment!

Click here for more photos.

I included this little item in the bulletin last year, and in reading it this year, it became a little more poignant for me.  It might be a little corny, but it reminded me a little of my Dad, who served as my deacon last year on this date

4 years: My Daddy can do anything!
7 years: My Dad knows a lot…a whole lot.
9 years: My Father does not know quite everything.
12 years: Oh well, my Father doesn’t know that either.
14 years: My Father is really old-fashioned.
21 years: Oh man – he’s really out of date!
25 years: He knows something about it, but not much.
30 years: I need to find out what Dad thinks about it.
35 years: Before we decide, let’s get Dad's idea first.
55 years: I wonder what would Dad have thought about that?
65 years: My Dad literally knew everything!
75 years: I wish I could talk it over with Dad one more time.

Last year on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI granted priests and faithful a Plenary Indulgence for the occasion of the Year for Priests, which run from 19 June 2009 until June 11, 2010 (the dates for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart each year).

On this year’s Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Pope will celebrate Holy Mass with priests from all over the world in the Piazza in front of the Basilica of St. Peter in the presence of priests from all over the world "who will renew their faithfulness to Christ and their bonds of fraternity.” I will be there with all of your prayers!

Once again, on this Friday, the Holy Father has granted priests and the faithful a Plenary Indulgence.

To obtain the Plenary Indulgence:

(A) All truly penitent priests who, on any day, devotedly pray Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament exposed to public adoration or in the tabernacle, and ... offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Penance, will be granted Plenary Indulgence, which they can also apply to their deceased confreres, if in accordance with current norms they take Sacramental Confession and the Eucharist and pray in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. Priests are furthermore granted Partial Indulgence, also applicable to deceased confreres, every time they devotedly recite the prayers duly approved to lead a saintly life and to carry out the duties entrusted to them.

(B) All truly penitent Christian faithful who, in church or oratory, devotedly attend Holy Mass and offer prayers to Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and mould them to His Heart, are granted Plenary Indulgence, on the condition that they have expiated their sins through Sacramental Confession and prayed in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. This may be done on the opening and closing days of the Year of Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular places for the good of the faithful.

The elderly, the sick and all those who for any legitimate reason are unable to leave their homes, may still obtain Plenary Indulgence if, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, the usual three conditions, "on the days concerned, they pray for the sanctification of priests and offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles".