What you won't find in Texas

I'm dreaming of a white ­Christmas...I mean Lent...

Things you won't find in Texas:

I never thought the reason volleyball would be canceled is because of a snow avalanche. Sounds like 'a dog ate my homework' excuse.

The tractor that you see in the courtyard is a big tractor. It takes two of them a lengthy amount of time to clear it so we don't get swallowed walking to Mass. And for much of the picture you cannot see the first floor of the monastery, it's covered because the snow piles and snow avalanches have covered it up!

Praise Him; my midterms are finished and I'm still alive. I just slept for twelve hours straight since I only slept two hours the night before.

I enjoyed my midterms. Since my majors are Catechetics and Theology, most exams for these subjects are made up of several essays or short answers. This forces one to articulate the theology so that one can catechize correctly; because it is easy to memorize, but to write or say it back in your own words can be quite difficult. So I spent this week writing many essays in small amounts of time about God. How cool is that! What will be even cooler is if I make good grades on all of them! Either way, praise Him. At this point (actually, since the very beginning), it is only His will to be done.

- Study weekend

I stayed in Gaming this weekend so I could study hard for my midterms this week, as you can see in the picture. It was a nice weekend. I enjoy watching what people do when they are here. There is a different dynamic living with men, so sometimes they become boys and do boy things. There always seems to be a dance party in the tea kitchen right across the hall from me. This weekend there was an official dance and everyone had to dress up in twos of some kind of character or something of that sort. I didn't go - I studied - but I did stop by and visit and help some of the girls get ready. At one point my room was filled with girls trying to figure out what to wear.

The studying has gone pretty well this weekend. A big plus to it is I really enjoy it, because it is all Theology midterms: Christian Spirituality, Theology of the Church, and Moral Theology. I think I might be the only one here enjoying studying all weekend, but that's fine with me.



















So for the second picture, that is a balcony right out my window, and the snow has covered it. In the background is the part of the monastery and the church that I go to Mass to everyday. I haven't been to it yet, but in one of the snow piles, some people built or dug an igloo, but you have to slide to get in. They put holes in the walls and put candles in it to light it up. Last night after the dance they had an igloo party and fit around 20 people in it, so they say. That's a big igloo, bigger than the one Alexandra and Christopher made last year - but with Texas snow.

This Fridy I leave for Rome and Assisi for ten days. It's a school trip.

-Updated

It snowed last night. The snow is up to my waist when I walked outside! I never knew that could happen! I stood in it, it was fun. The snow piles are higher than me. Father John, you might be right about there being ten feet of snow . . .

Finally, I am up-to-date on my weekends. If you look to the right of the screen and scroll down a bit, you will be able to see the blogs and click on the one you have not read, since I posted several at a time this time.

I feel I put so little on these blogs. There is so much to show and tell (Christopher, pun intended) so it makes it difficult to shorten it to a quick blog. When I'm back in Texas I'll be able to share more.

I really want to thank all of you who are supporting me, support in all ways. Coming to Austria was the farthest thing from my mind when I found out I was going. I am so grateful to be here, to experience and see these things. It's hard to find words and time to describe all that I've seen and done. The travels are wonderful, and I enjoy being able to continue studying what I've wanted to study for so long. I'm learning so much at school and on the weekends. Thank you.

-Polska

Niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus!

Before you continue reading, I want to say that so many things happened this weekend. I saw and did so many things. I will not come even sort of close to saying everything I did this weekend, otherwise this would be many pages long; however, I will touch on a few things.

We arrived at Czestoshowa
Got there 15 till 6am and made it to the shrine to see the unveiling of Our lady of Czestochowa. At 6am, there were loud trumpets and she was unveiled slowly. It was a big deal. We left right after for breakfast, but came back as soon as we were done. We had some spare time before Mass to see the shrine and pray. I could say so many things, but I will share just one experience. In one of the smaller parts, but definitely not less elaborate, was where Our Lady of Czestochowa was kept. Starting on te back left you could see railing a few feet wide that was lined around three sides of the chapel, including behind the altar. Behind/above the altar was where Our Lady was kept. The tradition of the people was to crawl on their knees praying or saying rosaries. Even older ladies crawled for our Lord and Lady. Students could choose to do the same. I did. It was very powerful to do this. I was forced to be on my knees at a slow pace. There was a lot of time for reflection and prayer. When you get past the altar it is a sort of hallway and our lady is right on the other side of one of the awlls, visible on the other side, just not behind it. We were able to stop there and pray for a few moments. I prayed for specific things as well as my parish family, just like Deacon Palms told me to wherever I went. In general, it is not easy to do that on your knees; it is a hard floor. For me it was a little difficult for I hurt my knee when I was skiing a few weeks ago (Momma, do not worry, I will be fine) so it swells just a little when I kneel too long, but that was more of a sacrifice and help me to focus not on my self, but Our Lord and what He wants.

After Mass, we drove to Auschwitch and Birkenau to see the concentration camps. I realize that children read what I write; therefore, I will not discuss details about this experience. I will say that it was very powerful and much different seeing this in person, rather than reading history books about it. Awful.

On Saturday we spent the day in Krakow, first having a tour by Polish tour guides starting at the Cathedral and ending in the main square. We then had free time on our own. I went to a Franciscan Church where John Paul II prayed daily as a bishop. I knelt right where he knelt, and I prayed where he prayed. Seth, John Paul II sat one pew in front where you sit.

After that, I was fortunate and so grateful to get some time to myself for a few hours. I sort of accidently got separated from my group. I wanted to do different things from them anyways, so it was alright. I enjoy being with others, but it was really nice to be allowed to be quiet and not have to talk. In the Kartause, it is very difficult to be alone and I was ready for time with just God and me - for an extended period of time with no interruptions. It was good to walk around Krakow. I went to several churches and was able to go to a crypt in one of them and see a tomb of a bishop in the 1600s as well as other tombs.

On Saturday afternoon we went to the Divine Mercy Shrine and saw the image that Saint Faustina saw. The painting was incredible to see in person.

On Sunday we went to High latin Mass in the Cathedral in Krakow. After that we headed to Wadowice, the birthplace of John Paul II. It was a privledge to be here.

It was cold in Poland. It snowed almost the entire time. My hair froze twice - that was a new experience.

-Praha

Last weekend I went to Prague and had a really neat time. This was our first time to travel without the school, so there were bumps along the road, but it all worked out. I went with a seminarian, Brian, two preo-theologate students, Ben (he was the one who taught me how to ski) and Jeff, and Rebecca Wunderlick. We stayed at the Arpacay hostel.

In the picture from left to right: Ben, Brian, Jeff, Rebecca, and me. We ate dinner one night at Puskins. I had spaghetti. The painting you see in the picture is Puskin himself.
We did not have any definite plans on Friday so we basically walked around and went to different things. We made our way near Old Town Square and then went across the Charles Bridge. We then walked up the castle, finding St. Vitus Cathedral with an adoration chapel off to the side. There was Mass there that night so we said the stations before it and went to Mass there in another language(I would tell you which language, but I do not know which one it was). The castle had a great view and the Church was beautiful. After that we went down the hill to find the men something to eat. We found a bakery. At that time we were at Old Time Square and there were churches and surrounding shops around it. So we did some walking there.

This statue is Saint John Nepomucene on Charles Bridge. The five stars around his head represent five letters in latin which say "I do not confess." He would not reveal what he was told in confession, because of the seal of the confessional. He is considered the first martyr for this. He was thrown off Charles Bridge.

On Saturday we planned to meet Father Martin at Wenseclas Square so he could show us the city. He took us to different churches and told really neat stories. He took us up to the castle and told neat things there as well. He told us that in the Carmelite monastery there, there is an incorrupt nun still sitting where she died. He brought us there to show us the monastery, but we could not get in. That's okay.

Joanna Gallegos, this image is for you. It is Saint Joanna at Saint Vitus Cathedral.

Finally we were able to go see the Infant of Prague. I had been looking forward to that all weekend. This was very interesting to me. I had no idea what to expect. I wasn't sure what I was going to see or what it was going to be like. I went in and began to look for the Infant. He was directly in the front. I wasn't even sure how big he would be, I was thinking rather large. Finally, I spotted him to the left. It was an infant, as you would imagine. He is tiny, much smaller than I imagined. After I had contemplated this after a while, I realized he was just the right size. And to gaze upon this Infant. It was this infant that saved us. This small child with little hands, small eyes, and a tiny mouth.

We had Sunday Mass at this church, Our Lady Victorius, celebrated by Father Martin.

-Leaving for Poland

I'm fixin' to leave for Poland in 15 minutes! I spent a lot of time prepping for a big exam I had today, so still not blog about my other two trips; however, no school Mondy because we get back Sundy 3am.

This is a school trip, we are taking at least three buses.

Blog when I get back!

Thanks for your prayers this week in regards to my schoolwork. I tried very hard and think I did well on all I had due this week (but we'll see what the grades come out to be :D).

My roommate says I gotta go! Tata!

-Skiing in the Eastern Alps of Austria

I went skiing for the first time. And it was the first time to ski in the Eastern Alps of Austria! It was a school trip so a full bus of students went.





I had a great day, but I decided that skiing is not for everyone. Personally, skiing was too fast and steep for me. After speaking to some of the students that are experienced skiiers, the 'bunny hill' here in Austria is the intermediate level in America. I did enjoy the day, but I'd rather go at a nice, easy, non life-threatening pace down a mountain.


From left to right, Rebecca, Jeff, Jimmy, and me! We all rode up this lift together but when that lift ended, I went to the left and they went up another lift. They are much more experienced than I. You can tell they are more experienced, they have sunglasses and I don't.

This is Peter (left) and Jeff. Some of the students decided to snowboard instead of skii, like Peter. Peter is an LCI student from Hungary.