That Means A Lot

A meditation for Trinity Sunday:

For weeks now I have had my computer’s wallpaper set to display Raphael’s “La Disputa,” one of my favorite of the Vatican collection. Click here to see it. It indeed portrays Raphael’s interpretation of the Trinity and a host of human beings arguing and disputing beneath the sacrament. Typical.

However, in preparation for this morning’s homily, I was inspired by the playful lines in the first reading: “I was beside the master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere on his earth, delighting to be with the children of men.” (NJB Prov 8:30,31)

Of course the word play is used twice here and how appropriate for the relationship of God’s inner life: delighted playful creation. I then remembered a more appropriate image by Georges de la Tour: Joseph the carpenter. Take a look at it and see if you can sense the relationship between Son and Father, what Proverbs calls playfulness beside the craftsman, … yet where would you locate the Holy Spirit in this image?

Every Little Thing

Last week I received an email from a fellow Jesuit -- Fr Phil Hurley -- who works with the Apostleship of Prayer. Phil's message was a good one, but I was excited to read the way he signed his message. He closed with a "motto" added to his signature.

"The great secret, the great mystery is this: there is a heart of the world… and this heart is the heart of Christ.”

This is a quote from Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. Fr Teilhard is one of my favorite Jesuit theologians. For him, the supernatural and physical come together in the radiant and loving Heart of Christ.

Years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the grave of Teilhard on a trip through New York state. I was very moved to find the marker and to reflect in the light of the sun. Understandably, many pilgrims before me stopped there to reflect on how rocks and things great and small all radiate the love and energy of God. So, I was not surprised to find little rocks and pebbles placed atop his tombstone. I did the same.

Click on this photo for a larger view. You'll notice by the date on the grave stone that today marks the 55th anniversary of Teilhard's passing.

Keep him close to you, Lord, and allow us each and every one to feel the warm fire of your Your loving Heart everywhere from the smallest photon to the closest Friend.



Thanks, Phil, for the reminder and the inspired invitation to access the power of this radiant Heart in our own prayer. For we are all apostles along the way.

Across the Universe

“A Jesuit’s vocation is to travel, our study is our worship, and our charism is to find God in all things.” — Father George Coyne, S.J.


I am a fan of public radio, and so I noticed that the latest issue of American Public Media’s Speaking of Faith program hosted two of our most notable Jesuits: Father George Coyne, S.J. and Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J. Br. Guy is a friend of mine and a member of the Detroit Province, and Fr. Coyne entered from the Maryland Province. It is a truly entertaining and stimulating presentation. You can listen to a podcast or download this Speaking of Faith interview here.

Here’s an article from Wired about Fr. George Coyne, S.J.
Here you can watch a series of YouTube interviews with Fr. Coyne.

Read Br. Guy’s background at the website of the Vatican Observatory.
Watch a fascinating interview with Br. Guy about history, Galileo, science, techies, and the Church.
See Br. Guy interact with Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report: Gold, Frankincense and Mars
Read Br. Guy’s Blog.

I might also mention that a Chicago Province Jesuit, Fr. Paul Mueller, S.J., formerly of Loyola University Chicago, has recently been appointed superior of the community at The Vatican Observatory. Fourteen Jesuits and a diocesan priest make up the community at Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome. Below are brief profiles of these two Jesuits and a few related links to their stories on the Internet. Check out the Vatican Observatory’s website here. Or meet the Jesuits who work at the Vatican Observatory. Peace to you during this Easter season.

Think For Yourself

Some of you may be familiar with the famous website: ThinkJesuit.org which is hosted by the Chicago/Detroit/Wisconsin Vocations Team of the Society of Jesus. My counterpart in Milwaukee and I have agreed to upgrade the site to include recent stories, more current podcasts and the same informational material to help men discern a vocation to the Jesuits. Think about it.

Of course it must be emphasized that a Jesuit vocation is not discerned merely by "thinking" about it. A man must first "pray" about his vocation and share that interior dynmaic with a spiritual director. The most authentic vocation is felt below the neck, as it were -- ergo the T-shirts. We also have hats, but those might suggest too much a rational or cerebral process.

Pay a visit to the site if you dare, and better yet, pass on the link to guys you "think" might make good Jesuits.

Gratia vobis et pax adimpleatur.

I've Just Seen A Face

A couple months ago (when I had intended to write this new entry) the media were in a buzz about the new statue of Ronald Reagan placed in the Capitol building. One commentator said something like, “Reagan is the only statue whose face bears a smile.” Then I thought about a message I received long ago while walking through the streets of Oxford, England. I was a tourist back in 1984, before my Jesuit days, on a three-week tour through the UK, and I loved visiting the two great seats of learning: Oxford and Cambridge. One afternoon as I strolled down a busy Oxford street full of small bookstores, coffee and souvenir shoppes, I noticed my face in the reflection of a store window. Woah! What a grouch. The expression on my face looked something like this one taken by my brother last month.

“What am I so mad about,” I asked. My brother replied, “Nothing, that’s just the way you normally look.” Sweet Mother of Pearl!

Hello, Patrick, are you happy? (yes) Well, why not tell your face!

So, I continued to walk down the Oxford street, forming a new commitment in my head, “Hmmm, I’ve just got to start smiling more.” How hard is that? I usually smile at myself in the mirror after I’ve shaved. And I smile at bank tellers, people in the McDonald’s drive-through, and flight attendants. I even smile at the dentist! So, why not more places and more often?

These thoughts all ran through my head as I walked along the sidewalk, until the store windows ended. Soon I found myself walking along a stone wall with a graffiti message scratched into it. I stopped and looked more closely. No way! A message for me, from … GOD! It had no be so. It was too weird. I pulled out my camera in disbelief and recorded the graffiti for posterity: “Smiling is good for you.”

Since I think this is what I imagine would be “posterity,” I present the photo in digital form today and hope that it brings a smile to your face as well. Tomorrow, my birthday, I will try to make another entry. But for now, keep smiling.

Ask Me Why

Father, why did you decide to become a priest?

Now and then I supply quick, easy answers to that question: God called me, the Church needs more Jesuits, or I look really handsome in black. Whatever. But deeper reasons why are more subtle: God had been planting in me seeds that slowly grew over time.

When I was young, my Dad (a doctor) used to take me with him on Sunday mornings as he did his “rounds” at Mercy Hospital. When it was my turn to go with him, I loved seeing him at work, and he would introduce me to all the hospital workers, “This is my son, Patrick.” And they’d holler back, “What number are you?” Telling folks I am 7 of 14 never left them with dull expressions. But the best part of hanging out with Dad early Sunday mornings was going with him beforehand to a super-early Mass at a church other than our home parish. St. Mary’s had an early Sunday Eucharist (a quickie Mass), and Dad would take me with him at 9am or something: long before everyone else was up!

St. Mary’s was an older parish, and it had huge stained glass windows depicting the saints: in living color. At least on one occasion, Dad and I walked into church and he pointed up to my right and said, “There’s your patron saint.” I looked up to the last window on the north wall and beheld “my window.” St. Patrick, complete with mitre, snakes and shamrock. How cool was that! Not only did I have my own patron, but there he was in color and larger than life: St. Patrick! Hmm.

Upon reflection, it wasn’t the window so much. I think I was illuminated more so by the fact that I was able to share a unique moment with my father (no small experience for one of ten boys), and a holy one at that. He had named me Patrick and had a window to illustrate what was behind that name. Hmm.

Why did I become a priest? I guess I chose to follow that early Illumination when love and destiny blended in the context of prayer. Thanks Dad. Good vocations are nurtured by good Parents.

Don't Let Me Down

I saw a news article about Boston College today. A few days ago the CNA reported that BC decided to hang a Crucifix in all of the 151 classrooms on campus.
Click here to read the story.

I am all for the decision to display the icon of our faith, and I find it odd that several professors and faculty on campus disagree with the changes. This and other articles suggest that the Crucifix comes across as divisive -- that it appears offensive to non-Christians who happen to teach there.

Alas, human beings will always look upon the Good (be it self-sacrifice, freedom, or love) and call it something just the opposite. I imagine at the actual Crucifixion that the nearby Roman guards might have held a different interpretation than the mother of Jesus. Sometimes people don't like putting up with love, so they tear it down.

In a country where we have an inundation of icons secular and sour, let's raise this One a little higher. Don't let him down. In the words of George William Kitchin who wrote in 1887: "Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, till all the world adore His sacred Name."

First Georgetown. Then BC. Maybe next will be Loyola Chicago!
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Oh, and lest I forget the significance of this day ... loving birthday wishes to my model of faith.
Happy birthday to my dear and beloved Mom.