Ruminations of an Amateur Monastic
Several weeks ago, I was struck by the thought of carrying others with me on my long Camino this autumn. Now I know what you’re thinking. Sounds a little odd, yes? Perhaps the easiest way to clarify is to quote from the note to myself that I wrote back on April 3rd: I’d like to walk this Camino – all […]
» Read more
Three years ago, Francine and I took our Hospitalero training at the annual Gathering of American Pilgrims on the Camino in South Lake Tahoe. It was quite the adventure, what with a blizzard, driving down a mountain in the snow, and finally the beginning of the Plague. When we got back home, we both had COVID, and it laid us […]
» Read more
The Madonna in Sorrow by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato, 17th century Today, a week before Good Friday, the Church has traditionally remembered the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin. While the commemoration was removed from the calendar in 1970, it survives in the Extraordinary Form, as well as in many local calendars including that most Catholic country of Malta […]
» Read more
Originally published at Pilgrims on the Way Ten years ago today, I posted here about my “nervousness, elation, and even fear” as I got ready to fly to Spain to walk our first Camino. To my great surprise, 137 days from today I will fly to Lyon, France for another adventure. From there, I’ll take light rail from the delightfully […]
» Read more
This past Sunday, after having served at two Masses at my parish, I had the great privilege to be bedside at the death of one of my friends. She had survived cancer, only to be cut down by an infection that ravaged her immune-compromised body. She was unconscious every time I visited hospital, but I think I was able to […]
» Read more
On this, the tenth anniversary of the papacy of Pope Francis, join me in praying this ancient prayer for the Pope. It has been frequently set to music, including in the venerable Liber Usualis. V. Let us pray for Francis, the Pope.R. May the Lord preserve him, give him a long life, make him blessed upon the earth, and may the […]
» Read more
Archbishop Paul Etienne has granted to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Seattle a dispensation from the obligation to abstain from meat on Friday, March 17, 2023 the commemoration of Saint Patrick. Of course, I belong to Saint Patrick parish in Tacoma, and this day is our patronal solemnity. Therefore, we were dispensed anyway – but it’s nice to see […]
» Read more
Today is both the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, and the fifteenth anniversary of the day I wed my beautiful bride. It is, as I have said before, a “moment when everything changed, celebrated on a day when everything changed”. It’s important to mark those changes in our lives. I realized a couple of weeks ago that Francine […]
» Read more
The last few days have been full of endings and beginnings. Yesterday was the end of the Novemdiales, the traditional nine days of mourning following the funeral of a Pope. In the midst of these days, last Sunday our parish of Saint Patrick celebrated – is that the right word? – the Office for the Dead for the repose of […]
» Read more
Happy twelfth day of Christmas! This evening is called Twelfth Night, traditionally the vigil of the Epiphany. In my Monastic Diurnal, Epiphany begins with tonight’s Vespers. This was traditionally a time of feasting and festivity (all of which seem to include various varieties of enormous pastries) marking the end of Christmastide and the beginning of Epiphanytide. This year, that celebration […]
» Read more
On Sunday, January 8, at 6:30PM, our parish of Saint Patrick will celebrate Solemn Chanted Vespers for the Dead for the repose of the soul of Pope Benedict XVI. Our pastor Rev. David Mulholland will lead us in this beautiful liturgy. If you are in the area, please join us.
» Read more
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11) Happy Tenth Day of Christmas! Today […]
» Read more
This morning, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died at the age of 95. Already today there have been some wonderful stories and eulogies published about this holy man, who was a reformer, a theologian, a liturgist, and one of the great writers of the 20th century. A common theme in many of these is Benedict’s meekness and humility, totally at odds […]
» Read more
Once again, it’s time for our annual look back at the year that was. Who doesn’t like top ten lists? These are the top ten post hits on the blog for this past year. This is now the sixth annual list, so I guess it now falls under the rubric of venerable custom. Only one of the posts receiving the […]
» Read more
In his general audience this morning, Pope Francis has asked us to pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict. “I would like to ask you all for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who in silence is supporting the Church. Remember him – he is very ill – asking the Lord to console him, and sustain him in this witness of […]
» Read more
About six months ago, we became parishioners again at Saint Patrick parish in Tacoma, coming home to the place where I was baptized and confirmed, and where Francine and I were married. We came to this point after long discernment, some of which occurred on our most recent Camino. It’s wonderful just to be able to walk to daily Mass […]
» Read more
The season of Advent began with last night’s vespers, and today is the First Sunday of Advent. This is the first day of the new liturgical year, so happy Advent and happy new year! Behold, the Name of the Lord comes from afar, and His glory fills all the earth. (Magnificat Antiphon for I Vespers on the First Sunday of […]
» Read more