E Pluribus Unum

 

Recently and with great interest (and a bit of concern), I’ve carefully observing the political dramas saturating the news.  Sometimes these reports have causes me some anxiety and even indigestion! 

I really don’t want to get political here, but in our country, and looking ahead to 2024, I do pray for less polarization, more mutual respect, less rancor, more civility, less impertinence, more statesmanship, less bitterness, more magnanimity, and above all less division, and more unity!   

Is this a pipe dream?

The official motto of our great county, the United States of America, is “E Pluribus Unum” (“Out of the Many, One!”). 

Let’s hope, as we look to the future, both the donkey and the elephant, with all their now well-known penchants for bravado and enmity against those with whom they disagree, can strive to model more polite and courteous manners of civility in their common quest to “Pursue A More Perfect Union.”  

**I have to be honest: I’m a bit skeptical about this, but will continue to “live in hope!”

Priest of God . . . say this Mass . . .

 

Priest of God

say this Mass

as though it were

Your First Mass

Your Last Mass

Your Only Mass

**On November 12, 2015, I went to Gift of Hope Convent in Baltimore, Maryland, to celebrate the Mass with the sisters and the residents of the home.  That day, I posted the following on social media:

<<I just finished celebrating Mass with the Missionaries of Charity.  I hope I was faithful to the sentiment of the admonition on this plaque located in the sacristy. (see photo)>>

**Today, seven years later on November 12, 2022 I posted the following: 

<<Last year, I faced a few challenges in my personal and ministerial life (in 2021), but one thing I can say with absolute certainty, is that I have ALWAYS been faithful to the sentiments expressed in this well known admonition to priests, and this has been true even on my darkest days.  

I have never once celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with anything but a clear mind, a sense of great devotion, and with gratitude to Jesus our Lord and Savior, who completely shares the Father’s unconditional love for us in every Sacramental celebration of the Eucharist.  

If my saying this is somehow a sin in the area of pride, then I will humbly place my trust in God’s infinite mercy which aims to wipe away every one of our transgressions, and that always seeks to restore us to lives full of Grace—I know and believe this to be a central theme of the Mass we pray and celebrate—something for which I will continue to yearn and to aspire with devotion and thanksgiving, and with the hope of future glory!>>

Unisex Bathroom?

This morning, I was out running a few errands, and while in one of the stores I needed to visit the restroom.  

When I walked in I could hear someone in one of the stalls talking on the phone, and, with what was probably a self-righteous sense of indignation, I thought “really, you’ve gotta do that in here while doing your business!”  I thought the man had a rather loud and high-pitched voice, and that made the whole thing seem even more annoying.  

As I approached the neighboring stall, it dawned on me the person talking likely wasn’t a man, but rather the voice seemed to be that of a woman.  I thought to myself, “wow, it really is true that some people insist on unisex bathrooms.”  I wondered if the “woman” was actually a trans-man, and I thought for a moment that I needed to be more open and accepting of such modern day realities.   “Get with the program Timothy,” I thought to myself!  

At that moment, and from the corner of my eye, I saw another person entering the restroom . . . and she was a very elegantly dressed woman.  It then hit me with a feeling of great embarrassment that in fact I was the one “in the ‘wrong’ rest room!”  

I could only hope the two women in there were as self-reflective as I was when contemplating the situation!  But I no doubt must have turned several shades of red as I quickly headed for the exit, and the elegantly dressed lady looked kindly at me and with a wide smile said “have a nice day sweetheart!”  

Oh my, there’s never a dull moment, and life certainly can at times be very humbling!