Torchbearer's Prayer

Now will I recall God's works; what I have seen, I will describe. At God's word were his works brought into being; they do his will as he has ordained for them.
As the rising sun is clear to all, so the glory of the LORD fills all his works;
Yet even God's holy ones must fail in recounting the wonders of the LORD, Though God has given these, his hosts, the strength to stand firm before his glory.
He plumbs the depths and penetrates the heart; their innermost being he understands. The Most High possesses all knowledge, and sees from of old the things that are to come:
He makes known the past and the future, and reveals the deepest secrets.
No understanding does he lack; no single thing escapes him.
Perennial is his almighty wisdom; he is from all eternity one and the same,
With nothing added, nothing taken away; no need of a counselor for him!
How beautiful are all his works! even to the spark and the fleeting vision!
The universe lives and abides forever; to meet each need, each creature is preserved.
All of them differ, one from another, yet none of them has he made in vain, For each in turn, as it comes, is good; can one ever see enough of their splendor.

Sirach 42:15-25
Our Lady of America before God's Glory intercede for us!

Words of Wisdom

Rev. A.J. Geraci. perhaps saw Archbishop Leibold for the last time publicly before his death. In a sermon given May 4th 2008 he says" Not too long ago, back in 1972, I witnessed the last ceremony of the late Archbishop, Paul Leibold. It was a large graduation ceremony at Xavier University, Cincinnati. I was there to receive my first M.A., a Master's in History. The not too old archbishop was looking desperately tired and did not participate in the distribution of diplomas, but rather retreated to a chair to the back of the stage. His posture, his composure, his physical carriage, his tiredness all communicated a message that the world could carry on without him. Remarkably the archbishop, a native of Dayton, with many Leibold cousins still around, had accomplished a post Vatican Council Diocesan Synod for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati; all nineteen counties were involved. It was as if, on the stage, he was saying, not only to the students and Jesuit instructors, but to the whole diocese, you have a plan for the future, now follow it, and you will not be needing this archbishop to help you.

That night, Archbishop Paul Leibold died of several massive strokes. In a short poem to his niece that he had recently written, he described the span of human life to be like that of the "spring tulips whose beauty lasts only a while and then are gone, back to the earth, back to God." Life is a short span of time, like spring tulips that never seem to last long enough. It was almost a poetic commentary on the end of his life. Somehow it seems he knew he was leaving us. He did. But this young Archbishop left us with a plan and that plan has been used, cited, referred to, now, for thirty-six years."