Today I've been fitful, Lord. I want to be contrary. I'm like a child. I want everyone to know things just aren't quite right and, more importantly, neither are they. I'm fitful, Lord. I'm sorry.

Few Words

Today at my Holy Hour I said "Oh, Lord" and I'm not sure what I meant but I knew He did. I think I meant Oh, Lord, I'm tired, I'm worried and you finish the rest, Lord. At least that's what I think I meant.

Lives of the Saints

I love the Breton Fisherman's Prayer:

God be good to me,

my boat is so small

and the Sea is so wide.

I don't know about you but to me this is an image so familiar .......we

saw Jesus calming the sea and walking on water. I can see his arm

outstretched to me, being good to me.

Thomas Merton and Father Philip

I met Father Philip Schuster, O.S.B., one summer when he was substituting for our Chaplain here at the nursing home. During the week, I am a sacristan so I would talk a bit with Father Philip.
Father Philip was here about a week. Probably during that time our conversations didn't amount to more than an hour but I've decided it really takes a very short time to know all about a person. I knew Father Philip.

Later, I learned he was an author, a retreat master and a teacher. It was interesting but I knew Father Philip was more and then I remembered a quote I had heard long ago. It was a quote by Thomas Merton: "A saint preaches sermons by the way he walks and the way he stands--the way he picks things up and holds them in his hands." I think Thomas Merton knew Father Philip too.


Father Philip Schuster O.S.B died on June 10, 2002. He was a victim of a shooting at Conception Abbey.

Everything I ever wanted to know about being a Catholic came from my
Mom and Dad. They weren't content with feeding and clothing me. There were bigger issues.

There are so many wonderful things about Catholicism...if I were trying to get someone interested in the Church, I might start with the Saints.
Anyone who likes a good story, and who doesn't; and likes the main character to be a good guy will love the Saints.

I have an opinion on everyone; you might call it a diagnosis. Will I ever learn... as if anyone could be summed up. We are all fascinating creatures who can barely understand ourselves, let alone our neighbors.

I remember hearing so often about the mystery of God. But isn't God so very clear, really. Is it to our advantage to say we don't understand? He is understood by a child's heart, why not ours?

I think I know something about the Mercy of God. I can't put into words but it is something tangible. To me, it is inseparable from the Peace of God.

When I was learning the Baltimore Catechism answers I was happy. They still make perfect sense to me. I'm still Catholic and I'm still happy.