A beginning

So there I was sitting in Skip and Laura’s apartment having Christmas dinner around the table with family as we all engaged in family conversation. Maybe you saw the picture in my photo gallery at the right. Anyway, we chatted on about the true meaning of Christmas and whatever, like such as ... when Phyllis posed this question: "So Pat, have you ever read the whole Bible?" I wondered, "Uh ... ya mean like cover to cover?" And I replied that I had at one time tried to read the whole Thing but stopped around the book of Judges or something like ... such as. Of course with over 40 years of attending Mass, I am almost sure I ran across a great majority of the Biblical texts, but I can't say I have read "The Whole Thing," as it were ... or like such as. No one else at the table made any claim to having read the whole Bible through and through, so I thought I'd offer a challenge. I told the folks gathered there that I might just look into that idea as a way to start the New Year. Maybe it will be one of my New Year’s resolutions to read the Sacred Scriptures from start to finish. If anyone wants to join me, I'd be happy for the company. We could do something like 10 pages a day or maybe 5 chapters a day, whatever. In any case, I do read the Bible every day anyway, in things such as Mass and prayer, and the Office and others like such as. But still it would be cool, the next time someone (like such as Phyllis) asks me have I ever read the whole Bible cover to cover (Genesis to Revelation) ... Then I would be able to proclaim with pride (which is sort of like a sin) "Yes indeed." So join me if you'd like. The fun begins January 1, 2008 at Genesis 1:1 ...

"In the beginning ..."

I've Got A Feeling

Sometimes it does start with a feeling. My journal entry from November 17, 1987 reads "At midnight tonight I was lightly touched about my calling to enter a religious community ... it seems I finally found a direction." On November 18, the journal reads, "Last night I believe I finally heard the call to a vocation to an order." The entry for November 19 reads, "This afternoon, I drove downtown to St. Xavier Church and found one brochure on Jesuits USA, the last one. I sat in church and read it entirely. Back home, I wrote to Chicago to send me some information on formation." That was twenty years ago. What has happened since? A splendid time: months of prayer, struggle, anticipation, friendships, and spiritual confirmation. Til eventually the Lord led me to actually enter the Jesuits. Since then: more prayer, building relationships and defining the Self, conforming Myself to Himself. Service. More prayer and lots of desire. Experiments coupled with direction and discernment. Pronouncing public witness to the 3 vows. Engaging in a lot of studying. Later, teaching, then preaching. A lot of moving and leaving. Poland. Bolivia. Peru. Mexico. All started twenty years ago with a feeling! Who knew? Then ordination: the change! The devotion and the donation. Being called by you to speak of Him and bring Him near. Being unworthy yet highly favored. Baptizing. Forgiving. Wedding. Taking. Blessing. Breaking. Sharing. Man I wish I could do this better. Right now He has sent me to help others hear the call and respond. Now, I'm the one to receive requests for information on formation. Sometimes I mail out brochures; always I send out prayers. I've got a feeling this is what the Lord had in mind. As far as my journal goes, I wish I could visit it more than I do. Now I write not in pencil on journal pages but in binary on blogs and walls. But no matter where I write it, it's good to jot something down whenever I've got a feeling.

Last month I had my vocation story inserted into the pages of our province website. It is a little condensed into three paragraphs. Maybe one day I'll write a book. Meantime ... blogs.

No Reply

Yesterday Adam took me to see "Across the Universe." A kind of Beatles theme movie about young people during the 60s. You can see the trailer if you want. Anyway, the movie was OK, not THAT fantastic ... kind of tedious. But as we drove home, Adam asked me what was my favorite Beatles tune of all time. Not in terms of historical import (such as: "Yesterday" because it had been covered the most, or "Paperback Writer" because it inspired the Beach Boys to do "Good Vibrations" which led to Sgt. Pepper) ... Adam just wanted to know what MY favorite song was. I had no reply ... really, until I just blurted out, "I guess, uh ... 'No Reply'." Which, I do, I love that song. Based on the criterion that if you played it fifty times in a row, I'd still like to hear it, sing with it, and move to it.

It is a classic John song: "despairing at the world of lost love" ... which is another story. And there is this spot (at 1:28) where John and Paul's harmonies are so striking, not to mention the drum syncopation (at 2:02) which is one of Ringo's best. OK, so maybe that's my favorite Beatles tune .... but I also like "If I Fell" quite a lot. And there must be something said for "Across the Universe" itself. After all, that John song was the one which drew me in 1970 (at the age of 16) to buy my first Beatles album. I was doing the dishes one night and heard it on the radio (55 KRC) and thought to myself, "I have to go buy that album tomorrow." I did. Ironically, my first was the Beatles' last: "Let It Be."

Oh, and if you want to see what John thinks of Paul's "Let It Be," listen to him sing "Let it A, Let it B, let it C, let it D."
CLICK HERE to listen.

It's all too much.

She Loves You

I found a cool web site today as I was surfing. It is run by an old friend of mine and his wife. They are a Catholic couple in Georgia who do podcasts, videos, and ... yeah ... make Rosaries.

Why not say the Rosary?

How much time does it ask? I am sure we have all wasted 20 minutes on ... uh ... web surfing. And what better way could you spend 20 minutes than contemplating MYSTERY? Anyway, here are the links. Think about it.

Click the image above for a closer look. And isn't it coincidental that 90 years ago today three children were inspired in Fatima to pray in such a way?

http://www.rosaryarmy.com
http://youtube.com/user/gregwillits

I'll Follow the Sun

This morning, I dragged myself out of bed to see the Sunrise. I capitalize Sunrise because I like to think it has something to do with the rising of the Son to the world. It turns me on, OK.
Anyway, this morning's was particularly beautiful. I live on Lake Michigan at the end of Loyola Ave so it's a blast to walk over to the lake and wait. I figured that today's Sunrise would be about 6:44 or so. Turns out it rose exactly at 6:45 am. Not a cloud in the sky, the spark of orange light ignited on the horizon and grew into a disk in less than 3 minutes. I couldn't look right at it, but I took in the colors nearby: a lot of morning blue, some horizon rose, white whisps, and a lot of gray soaring gulls, and some black speck planes. Took time for prayer, maybe thought of you, and then sipped my warm coffee as I headed back into the house.

Now here's the puzzler: I checked the Sun-Times to see the time for tomorrow's Sunrise: 6:46 am. Usually, no suprise, the sun comes up a minute later each day until December 22 when it travels back up towards our tropic. Then I looked at the times for moonrise, also another hobby. Today it will rise at 8PM. Tomorrow the moon rises at 8:44 PM. Monday it rises at 9:37 PM, Tuesday at 10:41. WAIT ... one day it rises at 8, then 44 minutes later, then 53 minutes later, then 64 minutes later ... WOAH. How come the intervals of moonrises are not uniform, or systematic? So, I sent my question in to "Ask An Astronomer" and I patiently await my answer. Enough hobby for this morning. Time to enjoy the sunny Saturday.

The Two of Us

This is me with MY DAD, whom I love with my whole heart and soul. Today is Father's Day, and a guy feels a certain responsibility to connect with his Father in ways not usual. So, yes, I called him ... knowing he'd be sitting there at home watching a golf game. Just a few minutes ago, I ended my obligatory chat with Joseph Philip Fairbanks III, M.D. And how grateful am I for his life? VERY. Of course, he wanted to hand the phone off to mom or someone else, but I told him ... "This is all about You!" We exchanged solemn words and sentiments, and then I had to let him get back to watching golf. If it wasn't for my Dad, I wouldn't have a love for card games, a college education, a puppet stage, any siblings, or ... my life! Man, am I glad I have had just that brief time to express my love for my Dad. Hope you had the same chance. Happy Father's Day to all my sibs who are Pops. And thanks to the Father in Heaven for giving me the best there is.



Oh, and let's not forget to wish Happy Birthday to Audrey Ann who was born this day, seven years ago. Shortly after her birth, I had the honor of baptizing her in full immersion: my first. And I sure it was her first as well. I love you Auds, Uncle Pat.

Slow Down

This is my nephew Andrew, also my godson. Today he is 15 and a young man who enjoys life. This is a shot of him watching the Chicago subway roll past ... too fast. What a blast! And I know he thinks he "hast" to hop on and ride along. He wants to go fast too. All teens do.

So, my words to Andrew are these, which make life last ... Slow Down! Take time for prayer Andy. Listen to birds. Contemplate water. Instead of yelling at your siblings or running away from their madness ... watch them ... ponder what they are ... and thank God you have 'em. Same for your folks. How freaked out would your mom be at the kitchen counter while she's cutting the cheese and you are just staring at her (in prayer) thanking God she's your Mom.
OK, not everybody has a priest godfather, but lucky the ones who do ... like you ... nephew Andrew.

Golden Slumbers

Man, there is nothing like visiting family for a few days of R&R. I am between directing retreats: one at Milford last week, one at Manresa next week. In between I decided to mosey on up here to Minnesota and serve as my nephew Stephen's Confirmation sponsor. What a great time that was Thursday night at the Cathedral in St. Paul. The photo here shows us all smiles (although my sister claims that my smile is more of a goofy face). Notice Stephen's Holy Spirit tie! The Beatles title for this post (Golden Slumbers) refers not only to the great rest I am having here at my sister's house, but also to the this cool juggling video Stephen showed me. My nephews are both jugglers, and so of course the best tune for juggling is "Golden Slumbers" by the Beatles. Check this video out ... OK for now. I'll try to be more committed to this blog. After all, Confirmation is the Sacrament of Commitment.

And I Love Her

We call Friday Good because of where it leads ... to the Good News of the Resurrection. When you consider life and all the events therein, the same principle applies: we are all created Good and (hopefully) headed for Good because the source of our lives and our final destination are the same: Jesus Christ, Who is nothing but Good. Sacred art tries to convey the goodness of God through the creative talent of those so inspired. I like this rendition of the Resurrection by Rogier van der Weyden. It is part of an altarpiece in Berlin, and you can see that it depicts a Resurrection event most Christians have never heard of: the appearance of the Risen Christ to Mary. The Gospels don't tell of this "event," but the long tradition of Christian writers (including Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises) hold the opinion due to the great love of Christ for His Mother. My guess is, if the Lord loves each of us as much as he does His own Mother, then how quickly will he run to be with us at the hour of death -- so to make it the start of new life? Maybe you'd like to browse the link below to see if there are other renditions of Resurection art that stir your heart. Happy Easter season.

http://www.joyfulheart.com/easter/resurrection_artwork.htm

Good Friday

I wonder why they call this day "good." If they asked for a new name, I am sure people might suggest "Holy Friday" or "Passion Friday" or even "Sad Friday." Those are more apt to the feelings and senitments of the events we recall. Still ... Good is good. I'd like to say a little bit about Good Friday and a little something about this painting by Nicholas Tournier which I saw in the Louvre last year. Included here at the foot of the Cross are Mary, John, the Magdalene, and St. Vincent de Paul. Are you somewhere in the scene as well? Where?

What You're Doing

Happy St. Patrick's Day.
I had a great feast today and one of my goals was to write a blog on March 17 and post the various things I've been up to. But it is going to turn midnight any second, so I better post this now (so I can accomplish my goals) and I'll tell you what I've been doing later. God bless you. And St. Patrick ... pray for us.

I'm A Loser

Question: Is there an appropriate Scripture for those defeated in Super Bowl LXI?

Answer: Well sure … check out Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, where “BEARS” are mentioned by name.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, nor pompous. It is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love BEARS all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor 13:4-7)

Sounds like St. Paul is telling to “Wait til next year!” ___________________________________________

Meanwhile, let me just pass on Birthday Greetings (Feburary 15) to the best mother in the whole world. When he wrote those words about LOVE, St. Paul was actually describing OUR MOM. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Now that kind o’ love should definitely keep us warm during these chilly days of mid February. In her eyes, everyone's a winner.
We love you Mom.

It Won't Be Long

CHICAGO BEARS !
2006 SUPER BOWL CHAMPS
Ok, I have never been that big a football fan; in fact it is my least favorite sport (next to Zurkhaneh and Zorbing). But Chicago has caught the SuperBowl fever and we are all for Lovey Smith, who has had a remarkable season. In any case, one cool thing about this year's battle is that we here in the Jesuits are calling it a "Chicago Province Super Bowl" because it includes two of the major apostolic cities in our 4-state province: Chicago vs. Indianapolis.

As for me, I plan to watch the Bears win from my living room here at the Jesuit community at Loyola Chicago where we will have a rather hefty Super Bowl Bash going on. To be fair, I plan to travel to Indianapolis the very next morning, to console the defeated. Isn't that one of the spiritual works of mercy?

Which brings me to the next question: what Beatle song title will I use to commemorate a Bears victory? It remains to be seen.