Benedictum nomen Mariae, Virginis et Matris!

Hello hello!!!!

It has been ages since I have been here I know... I had been without a computer for so long but I have written many posts... I will just have to post them all at some point.

Today is the Feast of the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What a great feast!!! (http://morelacemoregrace.blogspot.com/2011/09/first-off.html)

For the moment, I simply want to catch people up on my life (for those who care).

I have moved seminaries and am no longer in Latrbobe, PA at Saint Vincent's Archabbey. I am in my second year of Theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH and I love it!

The man you see there is Msgr. Joseph Jessing, founder of the Josephinum... and it is a rather interesting story. A German immigrant, Msgr. Jessing served in the Prussian army. He was decorated by Kaiser William I of Prussia for bravery at the Battle of Dybbøl, earning many decorations and medals for his service in the Seventh Westphalian Artillery during both the First and the Second wars with Denmark over the Schleswig-Holstein Question. He was always proud of his military achievements and continued to wear his medals over his cassock...which is technically not allowed but nobody was going to tell him otherwise.

Despite all these military achievements, Joseph's dream of ordination remained his true ambition.

Once ordained and in America at the Parish of the Sacred Heart, he became so concerned with the German immigrants and orphans that he founded the Saint Joseph Orphan Asylum which would be funded by a German newspaper, the Ohio Waisenfreund, meaning "Ohio Orphan's Friend".

Once the boys started to get older, he relocated the orphanage and started a school so that the boys could learn a trade, particularly furniture making.

When four older boys expressed a desire to study for the priesthood, he put an ad in the paper that he would support and sponsor two boy who lacked the means to pursue the priesthood. The first class had 23 students in 1888 and the College was named Collegium Josephinum in honor of St. Joseph's orphanage. To ensure that the Josephinum would continue after his death, Jessing asked that the fledgling institution be placed under the protection of the Holy See. Pope Leo XIII granted the request in 1892, thus making the Josephinum the first Pontifical Seminary outside of Italy.

Anywho, he was a rather remarkable man: As the wikipedia article on him puts it, "Father Jessing, tough Prussian soldier, young immigrant, tireless advocate of orphans and founder of the only Pontifical College in North America had gone a long way on his journey from the Old World to the New. He was an American pioneer, but in a far different sense than that term is usually understood. As the old hymn goes "Onward Christian Soldiers, marching off to war, with the Cross of Jesus going on before.""

 So one cool thing is that we are a Pontifical College and Seminary. That means, we get house cassocks!!!!

The house cassocks were unique to the various pontifical colleges in Rome. Here is a basic list (courtesy of http://romancatholicvocations.blogspot.com/2007/12/j.html)

Seminary of the Diocese of Rome Purple Cassock and soprana with pendant strings and no sash.
Pontificio Provincale Pio Black cassock, violet sash, a full cloak
Vatican Seminary Dark purple cassock with cromson bindings and buttons, one crimson string decorated with the papal arms, buckle shoes
Capranica College Black cassock, black soprana of shiny cloth, stings, no sash, shoes with silver buckles
Propaganda Fide Black double breasted cassock, red pipings and buttons, scarlet sash and strings (photo at left)

Germanic College Scarlet Cassock, black sash, scarlet soprana with pendant strings (Masson notes that they had the nickname 'gamberi cotti' or 'boiled lobsters' and that their distinctive dress was imposed due to their reputation for uproarious behaviour)
Greek College Blue cassock, red sash and pipings, blue soprana with strings - out of doors: a black soprana with wide sleeves
English College Black cassock and soprana, black strings and no sash

Scots College Purple cassock with crimson sash, buttons and pipings. Black soprana with pendant strings (photo at left)

Irish College Black cassock with red piping, no sash, black soprana and strings
French College The first college to abandon collegiate dress for the priest's cassock, no sash
Lombard College Black cassock, violet sash, soprana and strings
Seminary of SS. Peter and Paul Priest's dress with a black sash
Belgian College Priest's dress with a black sash edged with red
North American College Double-breasted black cassock, blue pipings and buttons, crimson sash, pendant strings
South American College Black cassock with blue edgings, blue sash, black soprana and strings
Maronite College Black cassock, soprana and strings
Bohemian College Black cassock, maroon sash edged with yellow
Armenian College Black cassock with red pipings, out of doors: black coat with wide sleeves
College of St Boniface Black cassock with yellow pipings, black soprana with black pendant srings lined with red
Polish College Black cassock and soprana with green sash
Spanish College Black cassock with blue sash, round black cape with vertical blue pipings
Candadian College Priest's dress and no sash
Ruthenian College Blue cassock, soprana with strings, orange sash

Note - the Soprana was a long sleeveless coat, often with two long strings or streamers hanging from the armholes to signify the state of tuition.

So the Josephinum has one identical to the Propaganda cassock and as of last year, it was brought back for Sunday, Solemnities, and Formal Events!

Here is some of the seminarians last year, praying at an abortion clinic in C-Bus

Say a Hail Mary if you can think of it

Sancte Joseph, Protector noster, ora pro nobis ! (we sing this every evening at the end of dinner)