And Another Ending . . .

On Saturday we come to another ending. The first of December this year marks the ending of our current Church Year.
Ever since, this final day of our year takes me back in memory to 1990. And looking back to that year, I notice that the final day of the Church Year then was also December 1, just like this year!
So why does the final day of the Church Year take me back to 1990?
That's the day I "discovered" it!
And since then, every year I find myself anticipating it.
1990 was the year I spent the time from September to the end of November on sabbatical in Rome. I had taken the long route into Rome, figuring that I would make the most of this opportunity.
I was able, while still in the States, to purchase a couple of Eurail passes. I put one away for my return journey to the States at the end of the sabbatical.
With the other pass I went from Paris in mid-August to Marseille and along the French Riviera to Nice and then on into Rome. Took the scenic route.
When the program ended, I began the long journey home, again traveling by train to Milan and then to Geneva, Switzerland. There was more to come - Lyon and then back to Paris - but the last day of the Church Year I was in Geneva.
And it was freezing cold!
I had to buy a warmer coat to survive. That I clearly remember.
And on the morning of December 1st, the final day of the Church Year, in the Office of Readings, part of the official prayerbook of the Church, I came to the final words of the final assigned reading for the year.
I am sure that I had read those words any number of times over the years but in 1990 on that final day of the Church Year those words leapt out at me and struck me and have stayed with me from that time to this. That year I "discovered" those words. Each year since as we approach that final day of the Church Year, I anticipate those words yet again.
They are words from a sermon by St. Augustine. They are words about singing in the midst of our journey through life.
His words begin, "Let us sing alleluia here on earth, while we still live in anxiety, so that we may sing it one day in heaven in full security."
And his words, Augustine's final words as we bring a Church Year to a close charge us like this, "Keep on making progress. This progress, however, must be in virtue, for there are some, the Apostle warns, whose only progress is in vice. If you make progress, you will be continuing your journey, but be sure your progress is in virtue, true faith and right living."
And those final words - "Sing then, but keep going."
What a powerful way to end the year.
What a beautiful way to turn toward the new Church Year.
Those words, every year since that one in Geneva, have reminded me that in all that life has to offer, in the good times and the bad, there should be an "Alleluia" in my heart.
Should I wonder Who made those words strike me so powerfully that day?
Need I wonder?
I don't think so.

Time to say, "Good bye!"

Time to say, "Good bye!"

I was taught by Dominican Sisters who staffed SS Cyril and Methodius School on Detroit's east side back when. They eventually settled on property in Oxford, Michigan. In those days at SS Cyril and Methodius, we developed many ties with these sisters and we took many a trip out to Oxford for pilgrimages, festivals and just plain visits.

In my days of full time ministry, I also enjoyed many a weekend directing retreats at Oxford.

The ties were deep.

So when I retired, they asked me to help and minister to them, providing Mass and preaching and sacramental presence. On my journeys there I was provided with a house on the campus in which to stay.

This arrangement continued for over ten years now.

But in recent days I have had to deal with the realities of the limitations placed by the aging process.

It has come to the time to say, "Good bye."

My last couple of trips there have involved packing and sorting and giving away and just plain giving up and tossing away.

My trips to Oxford are coming to an end.

I will continue to hold close to the memories, the experiences, the richness of the Dominican Sisters and their presence in and blessing of my life.

My journeys come to an end. My memories always continue. And my gratitude endures!

EIGHTY!

Aaaaaaaaaaaannnnddd!
Here we go!
80!
Eighty!
Eight-Zero!
Ate Oh!

The day has arrived!
It is now official and I am now not even asked for proof that I qualify for the senior discount.

And some questions that are often asked at a stage like this:

Do you feel older?
Well, every day I feel older. You reach a certain stage in life when just getting out of bed in the morning makes one feel older. You just kind of wonder,"What's going to hurt today?"

Do you feel like you are eighty?
I don't know. Never been eighty before. What's it feel like? What's it supposed to feel like? Any different from seventy-nine?

So, what's planned for the Big Day Today?
Not much! Rather quiet. We had our November birthday celebration here at the Village on Tuesday - nice meal, good company and as a special treat I opened and shared one of those "special" bottles of scotch that I have been gifted with over the years. You know the ones - "saving for a special occasion" and getting folks all bent as they wondered what might be a special occasion as the bottles remained corked through my 70th, retirement, 50th Anniversary and turning 75. Well, one got opened for this Special Occasion and shared. Half left - guess that will be good for 90!
Meantime, today is set for my drive out to Oxford to join the Dominican Sisters of Peace, as I have been doing for ten years now. They have planned a birthday dinner and that will be it.

And looking back . . . what?
Surprise after surprise after surprise - not at all what I had planned or expected!
A Masters in Liturgical Theology from the University of Notre Dame - no way!
Pastor at 34 - you are kidding!
Adjunct faculty in grad theology - who me?
Four wonderful parishes - St. Clement of Rome, Precious Blood, St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Aidan - to pastor on this journey - for me?
Discuss theology of Confirmation with Cardinal Dearden the master theologian - oh, right!
And debate issues one on one in their private residence with Cardinals - for real?
And serve in a key role for the Papal Visit to Detroit - yep! Sure!
And earn a sabbatical to study in Rome in the shadow of the Vatican - not a chance!
And concelebrate Mass with Pope St. John Paul II in his private chapel - again, no way!
And then meet him, shake his hand and have a (brief) personal conversation - Seriously?

Surprise after surprise after surprise!
And I know exactly the Cause and Source of all that and so much more - "My thoughts are not your thoughts and My ways are not your ways!" 

Yes, it has been quite a ride so far.
So, thank you to the One who charted the course.
Thank you to all who have shared in the ride.

I can't wait to see what is around the next bend!

Happy "Advent"

Today brings to mind an ancient footnote (and I mean a really small footnote) to our liturgical history. I thought I would share it with you.
Did you know that as far back as the late fourth and early fifth century, when the liturgical calendar was still in its developing stage and various local Churches were free to develop it as they saw fit, something that came to be called St. Martin's Lent emerged in some places. This seems to have started in some dioceses in France and then spread to dioceses in Germany. It lasted into the Middle Ages when it also spread to Britain. Then it died out.
At that time Christmas was finding its way onto our Church calendars and local Churches were beginning to precede it with a period of preparation. In some places that meant the days from December 17 to Christmas Eve.
However, some local Churches came to the conclusion that we should have a longer period of preparation, perhaps even a period as long as Lent. Calculating the days of Lent and the days leading up to Christmas, this period of preparation began on November 11. This was also the Feast of St. Martin of Tours.
Thus, the preparation for Christmas came to be called St. Martin's Lent.
And what a Lent this was!
Fasting every day of the week, except, of course, for Sundays. Wouldn't that sit well in our time with all those "Christmas" parties!
No parties - forbidden!
No dancing - forbidden!
It was a time that strongly emphasized getting ready - not so much for an historical recalling of a past event but very much as an anticipation of that final day, time unknown. Traces of this can still be found in many of our Scripture readings in these days.
However, in time St. Martin's Lent faded from the scene, though, I understand that there actually were some bishops at the Second Vatican Council who wanted to bring it back and make it universal. Needless to say that did not go very far.
In any event this is St. Martin's Day even though this year this is a Sunday and Sundays rule! But November 11 is St. Martin 's Day.
And if you really want to go back to our ancient traditions, welcome to St. Martin's Lent.
This was one of those items we learned about in those four years of study in the field of Liturgical Theology!
It doesn't have much practical use other than to show that change and growth and development are part of who we are as Church.
And now that you know this little item, you can dazzle someone at next week's Christmas Party by asking them, "How are you keeping St. Martin's Lent?" or "What did you give up for St. Martin's Lent?"
Let me know their response!

Countdown!

And here we go!
The countdown has begun. This is the final week.
I am already being reminded of that reality.
A couple of weeks ago I got my first (very early) birthday card. It was from a dear friend now living in Florida. In its note I was called "octogenarian" for the very first time.
Then today came an email, early this morning, starting off my day by reminding me that this is my last week in the 70's.
Today - two more birthday cards.
The countdown has really and totally begun.
Next Saturday I officially will enter the 80's.
And like so many of my peers I am wondering where the time has gone.
70 was a kind of quiet entry. That was the year of my retirement and that was the big event that year.
That's been ten years already - say what?
60 - Ah! that was a celebration. Took a group to France and celebrated the birthday with dinner in Paris. How sweet! And that was twenty years ago already - say what?
49 was a more memorable celebration than 50. That was the year of the Papal Visit to Detroit and so much of that year I was totally absorbed in my part in that event, so absorbed in fact that I completely missed the preparations that my parish (Precious Blood at that time) was making for a surprise birthday celebration - renting a hall, catering the event and even selling tickets right under my nose. Surprise, indeed!
31 years ago now! Say what?
And when we try to go back further than that, well things just sort of become a blur.
But now this countdown has begun.
The final week in the 70's!
For real?
Well, I guess the journey continues and one week from this day, I suppose that, according to Psalm 90, I get to prove that I am strong.
(And I know the Source of that strength!)

Hello, again!

I know! I know! It has been a while since a new post! Well, I have been with the Dominican Sisters of Peace in Oxford all last week and my internet provisions (at my personal choice) there are about nineteenth century. Then I came back to go on retreat this week and that has just ended. So, those are my excuses.
Meantime, if you have been regularly checking back to see if there was something new, thank you because you have added to the total number of "hits" that I show. Makes me look good! However, if you would like to avoid this process, take note on the very bottom of the blog site. There is a place where you can "subscribe" or "follow" or something like that. Check that and you would be notified whenever there is a new post. Save you time, energy and probably some frustration.
Anyhow, fresh back from the retreat and here we are with a most unusual feast today - the Dedication of John Lateran Basilica. That's a building, you know! We are remembering and celebrating the anniversary of the dedication of a building! And this is a rather pretentious and bold building to boot. On the cornerstone of this building is inscribed the words: Omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput! (Mother and head - or first - of all the churches of this city - Rome - and of the world!
In other words - this is the most important church in all the world!
Rather bold, no?
Well, this place has a right to profess that boldness.
This is the cathedral church of Rome. That means this, and not, as some might assume, St. Peter's, is the cathedral church of the bishop of Rome, the pope. For centuries popes resided in the residence attached to John Lateran. Four Church Councils have been held at the Lateran vs. two at the Vatican. This is the place where many of our great names in history have come into the Church through baptism.
This is our geographical center, so to speak!
But still and all, why celebrate a building?
Well, check out the readings for today (Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; John 2: 13 - 22) and you will be reminded that this is really about reminding ourselves that our buildings are only "church" when we are the reflection of the Presence of Jesus in our world. Our buildings are the homes of The Church. What transpires in these buildings makes us Church to make present in our place of the world the Presence of God. Sacred events within sacred buildings create and call forth the Sacred People of God.
And this particular building, the Mother of all churches reminds us that we are truly universal. We are brothers and sisters to each other across the globe. And we are also open to all; that's what Catholic properly means.
We are a family, a great big, all encompassing family.
And that Church who is head of all churches says to us, " Children! Listen to your Mother! Behave yourselves. Love one another."
And finally, I have a most interesting experience to share with you regarding this Feast and this Church. However, that's for next time. So, keep checking back or subscribe! ⇩