And miles to go

by Bishop John C. Nienstedt

Last December 12, I underwent surgery for an overgrown polyp in my ascending colon. It was the first time that I had experienced major surgery and I am pleased to say that the outcome was positive. The polyp proved to be benign and the surgeon used a laparoscopic technique which is less invasive and allows for a quicker convalescence. Still the experience was one that gave me pause to consider the fragile character of life and to appreciate all the more the health and strength of the body. It occurred to me on a visceral level that I am not going to live forever and that thought, in itself, has given me renewed determination to respond as fully as I can each day to the responsibilities and challenges of being the bishop of our Diocese.

The Holy Father is fond of saying that "there are no coincidences in God’s plan for salvation" and from the beginning of this experience, I was aware of the support of so many, both among the saints in heaven and those of earth.

I learned of this health concern on the feast of St. Theresa of Lisieux, who has become a special patron. I had the surgery on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, so recently proclaimed the patroness of all the Americas. I returned home on the first Friday of January, a day on which we traditionally commemorate the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All these were signs to me of God’s providential care.

In addition, I came to a new appreciation of the dedicated efforts of those who work in the field of health care. I experienced first hand the difference their enthusiasm and concern can make to the process of convalescence. Ninety percent were totally absorbed during their entire shift in responding to the needs of their patients. You could tell it was a true vocation they were exercising, a labor of love.

Personally I was carried throughout this time by the thoughts and prayers of so many of you who took time to pray, write or send word of your support. Once released from the hospital, I stayed at the rectory where I had served as pastor some seven years ago. It was humbling to be remembered by those with whom I had ministered and prayed on a daily basis. I had the occasion to celebrate Mass in their beautiful parish church and was not surprised to see the same faces sitting in their regular spots. Continuity is indeed a Catholic trait!

Another source of deepened appreciation for me was the spiritual benefit of the rosary. For the first two days after surgery, I tried to pray my Liturgy of the Hours and found my concentration quite labored. So I turned to the rosary for meditation (the rosary I had with me was a beautiful handmade Advent gift made by Lee Bot of Minneota). Interestingly enough, the rosary began as an alternative for those who could not afford to own a Bible and thus could not pray the Liturgy of the Hours.

As you know from the last issue of The Prairie Catholic, Pope John Paul II wrote a wonderful Apostolic Letter last October on the rosary wherein he declared this the Year of the Rosary and even added five new decades called the "Luminous Mysteries" to the traditional Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries.

One of the many fine points that the Holy Father makes in this letter is that the rosary needs to be prayed with attention. He says: "Without contemplation, the rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the risk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ." (No. 12)

Just so, the lectio divina method of prayer (i.e. ruminating over a word or image from Scripture) can be applied to the rosary. Using one’s imagination, for example, one can enter the drama of each mystery like the Visitation, and focus on 1) the reaction of Mary hearing Elizabeth’s exclamation or 2) Elizabeth feeling St. John leap in her womb or 3) Zechariah observing their meeting. One then can alternate these different viewpoints with the recitation of each Hail Mary and thus enter the scene of that particular mystery.

The Pope himself suggests (in paragraph 33) adding a phrase after the word "Jesus" in reciting each Hail Mary; for example: Jesus, born in a manger; Jesus, adored by the shepherds; Jesus, the fascination of Mary and Joseph; Jesus, born for my salvation.

The Holy Father also suggests reading a Scriptural verse at each mystery or including a prayer for the grace to imitate the meaning of each mystery.

When praying the rosary as a family, we can add a petition or a reason for thanksgiving to each decade. The lighting of a candle with each decade can also add to the family’s attentiveness.

I recommend a reading of the Holy Father’s Apostolic Letter and a renewed effort this year to make the rosary a source of our daily prayer. I am confident that in doing so each of us will experience a sense of contentment and peace as I did in my hospital bed.

God bless you!

(February, 2003)

Falta Mucho por Recorrer

Por el obispo John C. Nienstedt

El pasado 12 de diciembre tuve una intervención quirúrgica de un pólipo que se ramifico en mi colon ascendente. Es la primera vez que me someto a una operación de esa magnitud y estoy satisfecho en decir que el resultado fue positivo. Se demostró que el pólipo era benigno y el cirujano utilizó una técnica laparoscopia la cuál es menos hostil ya que permite una recuperación rápida. A pesar de la primera experiencia, me di un alto para considerar el carácter frágil de la vida y para apreciar aún más la salud y la fuerza del cuerpo. En un nivel básico me puse a pensar que no voy a vivir para siempre y así pues me ha dado la determinación renovada para responder cada día a las responsabilidades y a los desafíos de ser el obispo de nuestra diócesis.

Una fuente de profunda apreciación para mí era la ventaja espiritual del Rosario. Los primeros dos días después de la operación, intenté rezar mi Liturgia de las Horas y descubrí que mi concentración era bastante difícil. Por consiguiente, recurrí al Rosario para meditar (el rosario que tenía conmigo fue un regalo hermoso de adviento hecho a mano por Lee Bot de Minneota). Bastante interesante, el Rosario comenzó como una alternativa para aquellos que no tenian los recursos necesarios para poseer una Biblia y de este modo, no podían rezar la Liturgia de las Horas.

Como ya saben de la última edición del Prairie Catholic, en octubre, el Papa Juan Paul II escribió una carta apostólica maravillosa proclamando por tanto, este año como el Año del Rosario e incluso agregó cinco misterios nuevos que los llamó "Misterios Luminosos" a los misterios tradicionales gozosos, dolorosos y gloriosos.

Unos de los puntos que el Santo Padre menciona en su carta es que el Rosario necesita ser rezado con atención. Sin Contemplación, el Rosario es un cuerpo sin alma, y su rezo corre el peligro de convertirse en mecánica repetición de fórmulas y de contradecir la advertencia de Jesús." (No. 12)

El método de oración lectio divina (ejemplo: rumiar sobre una palabra o una imagen de la biblia) se puede aplicar al Rosario. Usando nuestra imaginación, uno se puede incorporar en el drama de cada misterio como en la Visitación, y enforcarse en 1) la reacción de María al oir la exclamación de Elizabeth 2) la sensación de Elizabeth al sentir los brincos en su vientre o 3) Zacarías observando su reunión. Uno entonces, puede alternar estos diversos puntos de vista con la recitación de cada Ave María e incorporarse de esta manera a la escena de ese misterio particular.

El Papa sugiere (párrafo 33) añadir una frase después de la palabra "Jesus" al recitar cada Ave María; por ejemplo: Jesús, nació en un pesebre; Jesus, adorado por los pastores; Jesus, la fascinación de María y Jose; Jesús, nació para salvarme.

El Santo Padre también sugiere leer un verso bíblico en cada misterio o incluir un rezo por la gracia para imitar el significado de cada misterio.

Cuando se reza el Rosario en familia, podemos agregar una petición o una razón de acción de gracias a cada misterio. La iluminación de una vela con cada misterio puede también agregar la atención familiar.

Recomiendo leer la Carta Apostólica del Santo Padre y un esfuerzo renovado este año para hacer que el Rosario sea una fuente de nuestro rezo diario. Estoy confidente que al hacerlo cada uno de nosotros experimentará una sensación de alegría y paz como lo sentí yo en mi cama en el hospital.

¡Que Dios los bendiga!

(February, 2003)