Gaudete In Domino

This week was a typical mix of classes and experiences.  The two most interesting parts of the week were our "field trips."  On Tuesday we went to the cathedral church of Rome. the Basilica of St. John Lateran.  It is one of the first Christian churches ever built for public worship.  After his victory at the Milvian Bridge, the emperor Constantine legalized Christianity.  You may remember the story that on the eve of a battle in which he was greatly outnumbered and in a difficult military position, Constantine saw a sign in the sky.  While it is often described as a cross, in reality it was more likely a chi rho, the first two letters of Christ in the Greek language.  X P which are often superimposed.  Appearing with the letters where the words, "In this sign you will conquer."  Constantine had his soldiers paint the symbol on their shields and despite the odds they were victorious.  Once Constantine entered the city he had to ask around to see what the sign meant.

Today I made my final payment for the Camino experience that will bring my time in Europe to a close.  Although we have only three weeks left in the formal sabbatical program I will have a little more time in Europe before I come home.  I discovered on my last sabbatical that I did not give myself sufficient time for re-entry.  I spent just a couple days at my parents' home and then headed to Owatonna to take up my new assignment.  That was just too quick and I felt like I was playing catch-up for quite some time.  The two and a half weeks I spend in Europe will give me a little time to decompress and come home ready to go. This week has been a pretty typical one for us.  Each day we had one or two presentations.  Sometimes it gets to be a bit tiring but the presentations have generally been very good.  This week we had ones on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Apologetics, Preaching, the Old Testament, Islam and one of the officials from the Congregation for Saints.  So, we get a wi

It is hare to believe that we are two thirds of the way through the program.  Time is flying by so quickly.  Our last day is April 14, Palm Sunday.  I then head to Salzburg for Holy Week, a couple days in Prague so I can visit Litomysl and then the Camino.  I have put down my deposit for the Camino and just need to pay the balance later this week.  Still lots to do but I am increasingly aware that time is running short.  On the one hand I am looking forward to what is yet to come.  On the other I am feeling the tug of home.  I guess that means the sabbatical has been somewhat of a success. This past week I went to London.  When entering Europe we automatically have a tourist visa good for 90 days.  As I am staying a bit longer than that I needed to be outside what is called the Schengen Zone (most European countries) for whatever I am over.  My time in Egypt took care of some of it but I needed another several days, hence London.  I served a parish in London as a deacon during my sem