Priest. Hermit. Aspie.
In a few days, Lent begins.
Even though Lent begins relatively late this year, it always seems to come quickly after the memories of Christmas and New Year’s have begun to fade. Lent, of course, brings with it its own memories: purple vestments and altar cloths, giving up things we like, trying to take on a more penitential spirit. Continue reading “Preparing for Lent”
It was the late spring of 2005. The diocese had just announced that I was being transferred from a parish assignment that I loved to a new parish. For a priest in parish ministry, this is hardly unusual. For a priest on the autism spectrum (though I did not know it at the time), any change is very trying.
But that wasn’t the only problem with this move. Continue reading “No Wine”
I have decided, dear readers…. to follow Jesus? Check. Already did that; still doing it! This time, I’m going to do something I haven’t done before. I’m going to offer you a rerun! Below, you’ll find the same post I offered over a year ago, when our second reading for this Sunday was also the second reading then. Having re-read it, I believe that it will work as it stands!
So, asking your indulgence as I offer you a rerun… here goes! Continue reading “Anxiety in Advent?”
2002 was an extraordinarily painful year for anyone involved in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church in the United States. Early that year, the Boston Globe ran a series of articles describing a number of priests in that archdiocese who were accused of sexual abuse of children and teenagers – and describing how archdiocesan officials responded, or failed to respond, to the accusations. Even though stories of priests accused of sexual abuse of minors had been appearing here and there since the 1980’s, the Globe’s reports seemed like a bursting of a dam. Finally, it seemed, someone was listening to these stories of betrayal and violation and believing them. Soon, nearly every diocese was dealing with people who were accusing some of their priests of sexually abusing them when they were younger, and accusing bishops of knowing about this abuse but trying to conceal it or to simply move the accused priest to a different parish. It was difficult to know what hurt more: the realization that such abuse had actually happened (along with the tremendous pain it caused to the abused and their families), or the ways in which bishops tried to deny or cover up these situations. Continue reading “The Shepherds of Israel”
“You say you are a Christian. Then where the devil is your joy?” – Georges Bernanos
Joy.
On this, the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday), the liturgy we celebrate returns again and again to this theme of joy. Witness the Opening Prayer at Mass: “Enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation, and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing.” Witness the first reading: “I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul”. Witness Paul, in the second reading: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks.” Joy. Rejoice. The message seems clear. Continue reading “Joy”