Christmas 2011

This has been a time of many confessions. The usual rush before Christmas, both at the friary and in local parishes, plus many after-Christmas confessions: people sincerely contrite, struggling to live a more Christ-centered life. One of the friars left an interesting book in the confessional, but every time I tried to read one sentence yesterday, the door closed, someone else had come in for confession.

The book was a 1959 classic by Jaroslav Pelikan, the Lutheran minister who much later joined the Orthodox Church: The Riddle of Roman Catholicism. He makes the point that we should not simply perpetuate stereotypes from centuries past, but look at Roman Catholicism as it really is, as it is today. Of course, from the book's vantage, today is actually our 1959, before Vatican II; still, there is much in the book of current merit. Ultimately, our faith is an entry into a relationship--with God and Church. By understanding the history of the Christian Church, we understand better why we do the things we do, why certain relationships, roles, and actions are important.

As this Christmas has been a time of many confessions which I am not able to discuss, so this year has been a time of travel which I am able to discuss. My first trip to New York City proper, a rainy walk through Central Park and a mystifying meandering through the streets of a very polite Manhattan. Parish missions in New York and Ohio, Franciscan meetings in Chicago, visits in Wisconsin and Michigan, retreat at Holy Transfiguration Skete in the Upper Peninsula, a chance to celebrate the 40th anniversary of my former parish near Pittsburgh, and a myriad of parishes for help or talks, including St Joseph Melkite Church in Scranton.

I'm also trying to channel the talents of Dorothy Sloan, an old family friend and book dealer. I've been delegated to run the friary used book sale. Getting books and setting up is easy, but dispensing of the leftovers has been problematic. But for Christmas, I've been packing up paperback books to take to a local prison for their library. May God grant the people there peace and good. I hope our gift is helpful.

Amidst the usual types of books (childrens, fiction, sports, health, art, religion, ...) there are also many books on agriculture, military, ships, aircraft, car repair, old radio/tv/telephone repair, medical and dental manuals. I'm probably forgetting a few topics. I have about 50 books by Zane Grey and a ton of assorted (old) sheet music: tunes, classics, and exercise books. A little bit of almost everything.

In the midst of everything, I wanted to take the time to say Merry Christmas...on this the leave-taking of Christmas on the Byzantine Calendar. May God grant you peace and all good this new year!