“The calendar is our catechism.” We should all take a lesson from that lovely line, delivered by Rabbi S.R. Hirsch in the mid-19th century.
In December, as the secular calendar draws to a close, the Church’s calendar is just beginning, and it repeatedly brings our attention to God’s mighty works: the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), the Nativity of Our Lord (Dec. 25), the appearance of Our Lady at Guadalupe and the subsequent conversion of Mexico (Dec. 12).
The calendar reminds us of God’s faithfulness to His covenant; and we, His people, respond with thanks and praise. When we recite Psalm 105 in the liturgy, we say, “Remember the marvels the Lord has done!” And as if to show us how to do it, the Psalmist recounts the great events of the history of Israel.
At the end of every year, I love to look back on the marvels the Lord has done, and not just for Israel, but for you and me and for the work we share in the St. Paul Center. With your cooperation and your generosity, God has done great deeds for us -- and through us.
This year we were able to reach thousands through our conferences. Our Institute of Applied Biblical Studies drew record attendance; and many of the people enrolled stayed in town for Franciscan University’s Defending the Faith conference, which featured many of our St. Paul Center fellows as speakers. Also this summer, we spent a life-changing week with priests, deacons, and seminarians at our annual clergy conference at St. Vincent Archabbey. We extended into the Sun Belt for the Fullness of Truth conference in Houston, Texas. In late October, at our annual Letter & Spirit conference, we addressed an enthusiastic crowd, made up mostly of catechists and other teachers.
We spent much time on the road, training Bible-study in the several dioceses -- Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and Green Bay. We took a group of pilgrims to Rome to pray at the tombs of the Apostles.
And we tried some new things in 2007, most notably our Life-Nurturing Love retreats, where my wife Kimberly applied a biblical spirituality to guide women who are called to be wives and mothers.
Those are just a few of the marvels I’m remembering at year’s end. But I’m also looking forward to another year of marvels in 2008. This year we’re adding conferences at Oxford in England and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Chicago. And, with Fr. Benedict Groeschel’s Friars of the Renewal, we’re testing the first Letter & Spirit Summer Institute for advanced students and clergy.
I hope you’ll be there with us next year, supporting us with your prayers, encouragement, and financial help. You can be sure that you’re here with us, every day, when we offer our prayers.
December 2007
