Scala Santa

The "Scala Santa"--"Holy Staircase"--that Our Lord walked up to be tried by Pilate.

Looking toward the Vatican from just beyond the Circus Maximus, and the busy streets of Rome...

Dear Friends and Family,

This past week I was in Rome for a theological colloquium as part of the program for my licentiate in theology. We were required to attend a colloquium somewhere in the world but could choose. I chose the Rome Life Forum and was not disappointed!

Many of you have likely read summaries of the talks on LifeSite. They were excellent. Four Cardinals, two Dominican theologians--including the theologian to the papal household, an expert on China and a number other excellent speakers. But perhaps the best part of the colloquium were all the discussions and times of prayer with the other participants. It's hard to find a better group of people than 200 pro-life leaders from around the world.

I celebrated the opening Mass of the conference Thursday morning at the Angelicum, and the chapel was almost filled to capacity. It was beautiful to see people from all over the world kneeling in silent adoration as I offered a quiet low Mass. What were the people like? Full of life, hope, lots of laughter, joy, and of course also suffering. But I would say that hope and joy were by far the predominant notes of our encounters.

To give you a glimpse of what the encounters were like:
-Sunday evening: visited with Virginia Coda-Nunziante, who heads up Rome's March for Life.
-Wednesday I had time with Roberto de Mattei, John-Henry Weston, Maria Madise, Fr. Linus Clovis, and some great young adults.
-At Thursday morning's coffee, I right away ran into Fr. Giertych, the theologian of the Papal Household, and discussed theology, only to be interrupted by the arrival of Cardinal Eijk, whom I talked with for a while until we were called into the main hall for the conference to begin.
-Thursday lunch: a good lady from New Zeeland who is the mother of 7 and is doing heroic pro-life work.
-Thursday evening: dinner with Taylor Marshall and his 7-year-old son, two men about to enter the seminary, and a good priest living in Rome.
-Friday lunch: sat across from Cardinal Eijk and spent most of the meal discussing the situation in the  Netherlands, which is not easy! He is a physician with two other doctorates and was quite friendly and accessible, not to mention courageous!
-Friday morning: met with Cardinal Burke.
-Friday evening: discovered a fellow participant, a businessman (tech company) from Oklahoma with a young family, was a fellow Notre Dame grad. So we went out for coffee and then walked around Rome until Adoration began at 8PM.

One particular highlight was the Scala Santa. For the past 300 years the marble steps that St. Helena brought back from Jerusalem--the marble steps of the praetorium where the Lord was condemned--have been covered with wooden planks to protect them. But this spring they were uncovered. Hence, I was able to spend 40 minutes or so going up them slowly (as everyone does) on my knees and praying for my own personal conversion as well as for all of you. It was quite moving to see, and feel, the marble steps that had about 8-inch indentations in them because of the centuries of kneeling pilgrims! So many, many Catholic ancestors and saints went before me and knelt on those same steps.

Much more could be said about the week but I have to go now to meet a visiting priest for dinner.

May Jesus and Mary watch over you and guide you.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

Roma

Our Lady keeping watch over the convent as flowers spring up.

The side door to the cloistered garden....

A lane leading into the village.

The neighbor's farmhouse and some flowers.

Dear Friends and Family,

It is now 10PM in Rome, where I have just arrived in order to follow a colloquium at the Angelicum. It is a beautiful time of year in Rome, but an even more beautiful time of year in Cornwall. Nature seems to be singing a Paschal hymn of joy to the Risen King. Among other blessings this week, a family with many young children visited and attended the Holy Mass at the convent each Sunday and a rosary with some of the families Wednesday evening. One of the beautiful things about the Latin Mass is the way it brings people together very quickly, giving you a sense of the "universal family" of the Church. Any family accustomed to attending the Latin Mass quickly feels at home and can pray the Mass wherever they turn up. But that is only the beginning. So many other things naturally go (the vast majority of the time) with attending the Latin Mass: belief in the full range of Catholic doctrine, devotion to Our Lady, a sense of modest dress and the importance of silence in the Church, the importance of raising the children well in the Faith, etc. etc. This tends to help families quickly feel at home with one another. This week was a beautiful example of that. We hope our guests will come back soon!

I'm in Rome this week because a mandatory part of my theology studies in France is that we have to attend, and write a paper on, a theological colloquium somewhere in the world. This one at the Angelicum piqued my interest. It is entitled "City of Man vs. City of God" and will try to take a theological look at God's plan for society while looking at some of the more challenging concrete situations in the Church today, such as the situation of the Church in China.

Because of the hour, and an early morning start tomorrow, I had best sign off. I will be praying for each of you at the tomb of St. Peter, as well as at that of St. Catherine of Siena and hopefully at several other tombs.

May Jesus and Mary watch over you and guide you.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

Painting a Picture with Words

Dear Friends and Family,

Today was full of blessings, lots of activities, and beautiful weather--so beautiful that I forgot to take any photos! So I'll try to paint a picture with words.

I'll start with the end: at 3PM many of the families from Lanherne and Plymouth gathered at the Buscombe farm to celebrate the Paschal season with both congregations together. Many families showed up and there were little kids running around everywhere!--to see the newborn piglets, to play on the rope swing, to fly remote-controlled airplanes, to kick the soccer ball (for those in Europe, the football), to throw the frisbee, to play "monster" and chase each other around, to pet the horses, and on and on...  

And God seemed to be smiling down on the afternoon. He gave us a beautiful sunshiny day. With a blue sky and the temperature in the mid-50's, warm for Cornwall this time of year!--the freshly grown, lush, green lawn. All of nature seemed to be smiling in honor of the resurrection. And David and Sarah did an outstanding job with the barbecue: home-grown sausage, bacon, burgers, turkey, freshly baked bread, vegetables, cheese, homemade ice cream, it was quite a feast...

It was such a joy for me to see the parents and children laughing, talking, playing, and relaxing together. In the midst of a world that is increasingly hostile to the Faith, and with so few Catholics around in this part of the country, it was very, very good to see them enjoying this time together.

After the, (long and very enjoyable!), meal and time of visiting, there was a tour of the farm, which all enjoyed, especially seeing the little piglets, horses, and tractors. We had scheduled a rosary to conclude the afternoon/evening but by this point, it was rather late for those with little ones from Plymouth, so I made the decision that we would just pray a decade--outdoors, around the statue of Our Lady. We then sang the Salve Regina and crowned Our Lady with a beautiful wreath of flowers that one of the mothers had made. A beautiful afternoon and evening...

The earlier part of the day was also very blessed. The early morning hours alone with the Lord in the chapel, then setting up for the Holy Mass, hearing Confessions, preaching, offering the Holy Sacrifice, visiting with everyone in the hall over breakfast. Heading into Plymouth to hear Confessions and offer the Holy Sacrifice, then a May Crowning, then the joy of bringing a homebound Catholic, who had not received the Sacraments in months, Confession and Holy Communion. Then driving to Cornwall. It is good to be a priest...

May Jesus and Mary watch over you and guide you.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

The Blessing of Adoration

Springtime outside the Falcon Inn, just across the street from the convent.

Dear Friends and Family,

Blessed Divine Mercy Sunday! All of creation has seemed to be singing for joy here in Cornwall these past two weeks. While the last 2 - 3 days have had some rain and overcast skies, the above photo was taken yesterday morning and is typical of the sunshine and flowers that have covered Cornwall. For those in Texas, bluebonnets have covered many of the fields and hedges surrounding the village. I haven't had my camera with me when walking but can tell you that it has been quite beautiful. In my jogs through the fields, on the coastal path that follows the river for a while and then splits off through the fields to go to St. Columb Major, a number of the fields are still full of little lambs and their mothers. They seem more used to me now and don't move off the path until I'm quite close.

Also, our apple orchard has been in blossom. The blossoms probably looked prettiest a week or two ago, including during the Way of the Cross through the orchard, but this photo gives you a glimpse of the trees such as they are right now:

Some blossoms are still visible.

While the earth seems to have been rejoicing at the Lord's resurrection, I spent some time celebrating the resurrection with the altar boys yesterday afternoon. To be more precise, I joined them at their family farm to thank them for all their hard work in preparing for and serving Holy Week, which was a lot of work for them but which came off quite nicely. The gathering began with a 2 1/2 hour game of Risk Europe. "Sir Wesley of Europe" as one individual dubbed the 16-year old conqueror of Europe from our previous game, was the reigning champion.  For this game, I was based on London, Sir Wesley and his co-captain were based on Constantinople, and the other 2 armies were based in Rome and Stockholm. Battles ebbed and flowed among the four armies. Thanks to a combination of some lucky rolling of the dice and the other armies turning their attention, and arms, on battles between themselves, I was able to conquer the British Isles, France, North Africa, and key cities in Germany and Switzerland, such that I conquered Europe. My first order of business will be to disband the European Union...

We then moved on to pizzas and garlic bread. When shopping for these at Morrison's I spotted a hot sauce with a skull and crossbones on it and thought the guys might enjoy it. It did make for a good number of laughs and some burned throats and watering eyes... We completed the meal with some chocolate ice-cream sticks and the moved onto playing pool. My guardian angel must have been working hard because... I won all the pool matches. I will now go into retirement in order to hold onto my crowns, and will perhaps play pool and Risk again in another 20 years.

While such things were a good deal of fun and a real blessing, the blessing from this past week that stuck out in my mind the most was the blessing of adoration. Adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, whether in the tabernacle or exposed in the monstrance, is something incomparable. In that quiet, simple prayer, whether assisted by the help of a book, or simply a quiet conversation, or accompanied by some of the rosary, or simply quiet adoration and thanksgiving, it is something that does so much good for the soul. I don't think I have words adequate to describe it. The resurrection and Our Lord's enduring risen presence are mysteries that are not easy to put into words or to access. But through regular time spent in quiet adoration, the Lord is able to open our souls to these mysteries, to direct contact with Him.

May He grant you much Easter joy through the hands of His Holy Mother.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

Resurrexit Sicut Dixit, Alleluia!

Dear Friends and Family,

Happy Easter! Christ is risen. Truly He is risen!

On this wonderful, blessed day all of you were remembered in my offering of the Holy Sacrifice: my friends and family, my former flock in Texas, those I had the blessing of meeting in Canada, in Italy, those of course right here in Cornwall and Devon, and all those who God has brought into my life. May Jesus and Mary grant you an abundance of Easter peace and joy.

Right now, after the joys, and the work, of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum, then Easter Sunday's Masses and a sick call this afternoon--right now I am wiped out, though very happy. So, for today's post, I will simply share a few photos below.

I also began our annual novena of Masses--that will continue throughout the Octave--for all the benefactors of Lanherne, including all those of you who assist me in one way or another: through your prayers, donations, hard work, sacrifices, friendly support. May God reward all of you for making my priestly life and ministry possible, and may He grant you the hundredfold.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

Palm Sunday Procession at St. Edward's, Plymouth.

Altar of Repose, Thursday Night.

High Altar prepared for Mass this morning.

Lanherne Grounds Wednesday evening, with Robert, our good gardener! in the midst of his handiwork.

A patch of the English countryside.

The Blessing and Joy of being Alive

Dear Friends and Family,

God has been so good to me this week.

While there is much that took place that I could write about: the Baptism of two little baby girls: one last Sunday afternoon and another this Friday; the joy of seeing so many volunteers who worked hard to prepare today's Palm Sunday liturgies; conversations with two individuals considering becoming Catholics--please pray for them!; an invitation to celebrate the Mass for a local pilgrimage to the shrine of the Chideock Martyrs--which could be a good occasion to help those who love the Latin Mass in our diocese; hearing how much students learning their catechism had retained--more than I expected!--from a lesson and from the book on St. Martin de Porres that they are reading; so many, many blessings...

But as I sat down to write (and once again have no photo to share because my computer is not cooperating. A technician should have that fixed by a few weeks from now), I was drawn to simply give thanks for the gift of being alive, with all the little blessings that I so easily forget. So many, many blessings...

....to walk out the front door in the morning and see a beautiful sunrise reflecting off some small clouds, with a blue sky in the background, or to feel the rain on my face, or smell the fresh air coming off the sea, or look at the trees, birds, nearby belltower, hills in the beautiful English countryside, or the sheep and their little lambs grazing in the fields.

...or to light the candles next to the tabernacle in the morning and offer the day to Mary, asking Her to use it as She wishes, to have the grace of praying psalms to our Eucharistic Lord, hidden in the tabernacle, to kneel before Him and spend quiet time reading, meditating, or talking to and listening to Him.

...to offer the Holy Mass, something that can't be put into words, or to hear Confessions and have the great joy that fills the angels in Heaven with joy, or to baptize a little baby.

...to prepare sermons, studying about angels, or the action of the God in our souls, or so many other things.

...to be able to speak or sing at all.

...to be able to walk, and even to run.

...to hear beautiful music.

...to taste food.

...to rest in a bed.

...to prepare now for Holy Week.

So many, many blessings.

As you begin this Holy Week when anxiety can sometimes weight on the devout Catholics, may God grant you particular graces of thanksgiving. Please keep me in your prayers. You all will be in mine as I live the sacred mysteries of these days.

Oh, and some of you asked me for the link to the book, which apparently I did not include at first last week. Here it is:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maria-Valtortas-Life-Christ-Treasured/dp/0986115126/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?keywords=maria+valtorta%27s+life+of+christ%27&qid=1555270314&s=gateway&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

A blessed Holy Week!

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari

New Book

Our Lady keeping vigil in her grotto just outside Lanherne, as the sun sets.

Dear Friends and Family,

A blessed Passion Sunday to you all! We are now in the home stretch of one of the most grace-filled times of the year. Today I had the wonderful joy of baptizing a little girl, while another young mother went into the hospital this morning to give birth. So hopefully there will be another Baptism before Easter. It is such a joy to baptize little babies, especially when the parents take the Faith and their role as parents so seriously. May God grant their little girl to grow up to be a saint one day.

For those of you who struggle with insomnia, I have just the thing. Click on this link to see it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maria-Valtortas-Life-Christ-Treasured/dp/0986115126/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=maria+valtorta%27s+life+of+christ&qid=1554663926&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull   . It is my JCL thesis, in a condensed form and with various elements added to make it more accessible to all readers: especially the testimonies of Mother Teresa, Blessed Gabriel Allegra, and Blessed Maria Ines Teresa Arias. I hope it will help many people discover this great treasure.

What a few people have said:

“When in the 1980s I commenced reading The Poem of the Man-God, I was cautioned by overscrupulous well-wishers concerned for my spiritual welfare against reading a book which had been placed on the Index of Forbidden books. Father Anthony Pillari in Maria Valtorta’s Life of Christ has banished for good and all any lingering doubts as to the orthodoxy of her visions and writings.”

—Cardinal Thomas Williams, Archbishop Emeritus of Wellington, New Zealand

“Fr. Anthony Pillari and Stephen Austin deserve to be commended for this precious work which will, God willing, open up for the Church the great treasure that is The Poem of the Man-God. Valtorta’s great work, like St. Louis de Montfort’s priceless True Devotion to Mary, has been a hidden treasure at times despised and rejected even by those in the Church. With the witness of these saints who have profited from Valtorta’s incredible insights into the life of Christ, may the whole Church awaken to the riches of an intimate knowledge of the life and times of Our Lord.”

—John-Henry Westen, Editor in Chief and Co-Founder of LifeSiteNews

"Fr. Pillari and Stephen Austin’s text on The Poem of the Man-God makes clear the canonical legitimacy for all faithful Catholics to read and appreciate this great mystical work.  The positive spiritual discernment of St. Teresa of Calcutta and other recently declared 'Blesseds' of the Church testify to its inspiring and authentic contents. The sublime Mariological theme of Mary as the 'Co-redemptrix' with and under Jesus, the divine Redeemer, accurately embodies the best and richest Mariology of the last millennium. Rather than a threat to Scripture reading, the Poem makes the superior Word of God come alive and move souls to repentance, conversion, and peace.

"The time has come for The Poem of the Man-God to be universally appreciated as the contemporary mystical classic that it is. Thank you, Fr. Pillari and Stephen Austin for this outstanding articulation and defense of the pearls of the Poem for today."

—Dr. Mark Miravalle
St. John Paul II Chair of Mariology
Franciscan University of Steubenville
President, International Marian Association

May Jesus and Mary watch over each of you and grant you a joyful preparation for Holy Week.

In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari