It’s hard to believe that I have been in Austria for three
weeks now; it doesn’t feel like it has been that long. What I can say though is
I have settled in here very well. My classes are excellent and it is such a joy
to have professors who really take the time to get to know each of the
students. Going to daily Mass here at the Kartause is so different as well.
There is just something about being at a 700 year old monastery that really
reminds one of the rich history there is in the Catholic faith.
I’ve seen
so much since I’ve been here. Melk Abbey is truly one of the most beautiful
places I’ve seen. Having Mass there was an experience all on its own that
everyone should be privy to. Heligenkreuz was also incredible. It helps that
there remains the largest relic of the true cross. I think that my favorite
place though that I’ve been was the Royal Treasury Museum in Vienna where the
world’s largest collection of relics is including relics from the cross, the
manger, the blessed Mother and all 12 apostles. There was even a tooth from St.
John the Baptist and an arm bone of St. Anne. What may have been even more
incredible, though not a relic, was the book of the Gospels that belonged to
Charlemagne. That blew my mind.
All of
these truly magnificent things have had my brain in overdrive. The path to
holiness has been primarily on the mind. Everything I have seen has been a
reflection of God who is beauty itself. How much more beautiful then will God
make man, the pinnacle of his creation, when he follows the path of the cross.
That’s the thing though. The path of the cross is painful. It will take you to
your limits and then push you over them. Look at the apostles. They were
ordinary men like you and I, and all but one of them were martyrs who suffered
some of the most gruesome deaths imaginable, and they did so with joy for the
reward was worth. Eternal joy in the presence of God is worth our all. That is
the price, everything we have. We must give ourselves to God completely.
Below are some pictures from my travels. Enjoy.
Thanks, Ryan. Very cool posting. What's the deal with the keys? Can you tell us a little about the clothing in the pictures? Glad that you're having such a great time. Wait until you get to Rome!!
ReplyDeleteVery much looking forward to Rome. We leave on Friday to head down there.
DeleteThe keys are for each of the rooms within the Hapsburg palace, basically the equivalent of the keys that belong to a maintenance man.
The clothing you see are some of the ceremonial robes worn by Hapsburg emperors. In one of the pictures is a child sized gown. That was the Baptismal gown of Emperor Franz Josef.
Thanks, Ryan. That's quite a key collection. Bet the maintenance guy is glad that he doesn't have to carry them around on a ring. Let us know what you're seeing and doing regularly, please.
DeleteWhat an experience for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures with us all. Have a wonderful time. Hope you will get to see Pop Francis.
ReplyDeleteI hope you know I meant Pope Francis.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you're having a great semester so far Ryan!
ReplyDelete