I am a Catholic priest. I went into the woods to live deliberately. I love to hear the steel belts hummin' on the asphalt. Otherwise my opinions are my own.
I just got back from the hospital and celebrated Last Rites for someone. I'm so full of joy, I just have to share it with you all.
There are so many amazing things about being a priest it's hard to pick one as the best.
Yes, celebrating the Eucharist is the greatest. But in
Into bed, falling asleep, get emergency call to anoint someone dying. Scrambling to put on clerics, grab my oils, out the door, into the truck. Saying the prayers, offering the sacraments, commending the soul to God, consoling the family. Most amazing part of my life, every time.
Said it before, and I'll say it again: working for the Catholic Church in America in 2019 feels something like working for Blockbuster Movies in 2005. We're still arguing about how we should display the DVDs, and meanwhile our current model and customer base is about to collapse.
Today a young woman discerning religious life said when I asked how she's doing: "My faith will not be broken! I just think of Mary at the cross. This makes us want to work even harder to purify the Church. A whole new generation of saints are coming." I was stunned, humbled.
Ladies, if he:
- is a single man
- in possession of a good fortune
He may indeed be your man. For it is a truth universally acknowledged, such a man must be in want of a wife.
Important stuff happening in the news. But here's some news you might not know: I heard 2 hours of confessions tonight. No doubt, that happened all over the world today: ordinary folk encountered Christ as powerfully as you read about in the Gospels.
Miracles happen every day.
Really excited about the forthcoming NYTimes piece about the many happy celibate men in the priesthood who, having freely given up the real possibility of marriage and family, found an otherwordly peace and joy in greater service of others and greater union with God.
If we have another shutdown, I might just get a tent trailer (like the cool ones I was so mystically in awe of in my childhood in the 80s), tow it behind my Ford Ranger (with the 4.0 V6), drive around the country, and say Mass in different wild and beautiful places every day.
My advice for #catholictwitter: avoid tweeting too much on current affairs, news, controversies; tweet more on what is timeless, essential, lasting. Not so much your opinions about whom and what out there, but more your experience of within. Worship, friendship, sorrow, joy.
Day off. Caught up with four priest brothers. Started with Mass, prayed a Holy Hour, then talked it out for a few hours. (Been a crazy summer.) What now? Commit ourselves to holiness and fidelity. Be men of truth, unafraid and ready for battle. God ordained us for this time.
