By Dr. Scott Hahn

Remember when the teacher used to ask you on the first day of school to stand up and tell the class what you did on your summer vacation? If I had to do it this year, I'd tell everyone about my second honeymoon on the high seas.

I'm refering to our "Living Waters" Scripture cruise to Alaska in late July. Taking Pope John Paul II's call for the new millennium literally, we "put out into the deep" (see Luke 5:4) - sounding the depths of the Scriptural theme "restoring right relationships."

Kimberly, my bride of 25 years, and five of our six children were on-board. Several couples traveling with us were celebrating their anniversaries, including two couples celebrating 25 years of marriage and another celebrating 35.

However, I know I speak for the many of you who were with us in singling out one pair - the couple who chose to spend their honeymoon with us!

We were all inspired by the beautiful way they had decided to consecrate their covenant with one another and with God.

And maybe because of them, the voyage became like a second honeymoon for all of us. Those of us who were married fell in love all over again with our spouses. But all of us fell in love again with Jesus Christ, as members of His Bride, the Church.

The weather was gorgeous, the talks and workshops were outstanding. We felt God had drawn us together to be near Him - in the natural beauty of His creation and in the powerful truth of His living Word.

While we were sailing, it struck me - what an act of charity it was for these people to be there, to give up their scarce vacation time to get refreshed and to renew their own vocations.

They gave up their time to go more deeply into their faith - so that they in turn would be better able to give that faith away to others. Passionate about getting to heaven themselves, they're so filled with love that they want to take as many people with them as they can.

The cruise also reminded me again of what a treasure I have in the members of my St. Paul Center team. They made a warm, family atmosphere in those icy waters. Though we were all far away from home, they made us all feel right at home.

This would be a good time for me to announce next summer's pilgrimage - to Rome, the spiritual home of us all.

I hope you'll be able to join us. I guarantee it will give you some exciting things to report when people ask: What did you do on your summer vacation?


Cruising in Alaksa: Kimberly and Scott Hahn (center) with some of the St. Paul Center team.