Ruminations of an Amateur Monastic
Ten years ago today, on the night of the 26th of March 2005, I was baptized into the Church at the great Vigil of Easter. I used to think that it was a rare thing that one could point to a specific day, a specific moment, and say with certainty, “that’s it; that’s when everything changed”. As it turns out, […]
» Read moreIn theory, each pilgrim who completes the Camino de Santiago is a member of the Archconfraternity of Saint James the Apostle. Originally founded in 1499, the aims of the Archcontraternity are: Promote honour of St. James the Apostle and encourage Christian pilgrimage to his Tomb. Ensure that pilgrims are welcomed and looked after on their pilgrimage along the different ways […]
» Read moreNothing says love like digging a grave in the middle of the night in a rainstorm. We just conducted an impromptu funeral for Hyde the rabbit. He was a good rabbit, and he lived a good long life. We concluded with a few songs in his honor. I sang a very off-key rendition of the Salve Regina, and Francine played […]
» Read moreToday is the principal feast (at least among the Benedictines) of Saint Benedict of Nursia, author of the great monastic rule that in large part saved western civilization after the fall of the Roman Empire. Pope Benedict XVI took his name at least in part from Saint Benedict, and the life and work of the saint was a topic that […]
» Read moreIt’s been a long time since I last talked about my own life here. Obviously, there was a whole lot of journalling when Francine and I walked the Camino, but since then not so much. When I started this blog, I was discerning whether God was calling me to the Diaconate. Since the Archdiocese of Seattle currently has no plans […]
» Read moreYesterday, on the great feast of Christ the King, the Year of Faith drew to a close. Pope Benedict XVI established it as a time to re-dedicate ourselves to professing the faith, celebrating the faith, and witnessing to the faith. Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience […]
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Just about everybody knows Saint Francis. He’s the plaster birdbath guy, right? The saint who hung around with fuzzy pastel animals. Well, sort of. “Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.” (Saint Francis of Assisi) I very nearly took “Francis” as my confirmation name. It might have been awkward, though, what with being engaged to Francine at the time. Reading […]
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Nine years ago, on the 15th of August 2004, Francine and I walked into Saint Patrick’s Church in Tacoma. This was the Solemnity of the Assumption, and ever since we have counted this as our “Catholic anniversary”. On that day, I discovered in a moment that every doubt I ever had about the truth of Christianity had collapsed. God in […]
» Read moreBlessing of the “Rucksacks” This past weekend was a crazy whirl of last minute errands and bon voyages. Although I’m not leaving until Easter Sunday, and Francine not until the 17th of April, we thought it best to avoid the rushing around the week before Easter. We topped up our equipment at the REI sale in Tacoma on Saturday. Some […]
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On the 15th of August 2004, Francine and I walked into Saint Patrick’s Church in Tacoma. This was the Solemnity of the Assumption, and ever since we have counted this as our “Catholic anniversary”. On that day, I discovered in a moment that every doubt I ever had about the truth of Christianity had collapsed. God in His wisdom had […]
» Read moreLast weekend, we threw a surprise birthday party for Francine. She’s very clever, so we had to take some care in making sure she woudn’t find out. We figured the only way we could throw a surprise birthday party for Francine’s big 50 was to hold it seven weeks early and in another state. To get her to the appointed […]
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Saint Rita, whose feast is today, is sometimes known as the patron saint of lost and impossible causes. Married at a young age against her will to a terrible, abusive husband, by her prayers she gradually reformed him into a proper Christian husband. After his murder, she entered the convent. This wounded saint received the marks of Christ’s thorny wounds […]
» Read moreSo. My wife and I live in an urban neighbourhood known as Hilltop, or “The Hill” as I prefer to call it. The Hill is one of the oldest and grittiest neighbourhoods in the city of Tacoma Washington, a place that sometimes calls itself “Grit City”. So that’s a whole lot of grit. There are quite a few of us […]
» Read moreThere is something magical and compelling about a doorway, about a crossroads. It is a time and place in between the old and the new, between past and future; the liminal space where for a moment time stands still and new possibilities, undreamt of mere moments before, now come sharply into focus. Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, […]
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Today is the feast of the blessed martyr Saint Polycarp (he of many fishes). Burned alive in Rome for the crime of being a Christian bishop, he was a disciple of Saint John the Apostle. Although I could wax on and on about the great Polycarp, I’m not going to, for as the headline to this post reveals, a truly […]
» Read moreIt’s the first of January, and I’m clearly looking and feeling my very best after last night’s festivities. We rarely throw parties, but when we do, we invariably overdo it a bit. Last night’s feast had libations aplenty and a table groaning with food for our family and friends old and new. Everybody brought something to share. Combine that with […]
» Read moreThis morning is the calm before the whirlwind. It is the moment of silence in the morning before everyone else is awake and about their busy day. In many ways, this has always been my favourite part of the day. It’s when you can see the whole glorious day stretch out before you full of promise and possibility. I rarely […]
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