About this blog
Post for April 22, 2006
Why blog? Because I’m bursting. As a priest, way too many cool things happen to not talk about them, way too many profound (at least to me) thoughts come into my brain to not express them, way too many beautiful things come my way not to share them. But who to share them with? Why not the whole world?
I wrote those words in November 2003 to my friend Marie-Josée, a blogger who encouraged me to start my own blog. I owe her a lot.
Before starting to write, however, I knew I wanted more than just another diary blog. I needed a philosophy, a reason to be blogging. After some thought, I decided on the following points:
- One item,
- once per day,
- inspired by something that happened that day.
If you look through my blog, you will see that this is pretty much what you get. Even if I am late with a post, I will eventually write it back-dated to that day — just so that my “one item” of that day can still be found. Sometimes my blog will have a direct reflection on my day, other times it will seem to be a more “theoretical” reflection, but I can guarantee that it is (almost) always inspired by something from that day.
I see my blog as an extension of my priesthood, a way to share the beauty of a life of ministry with the whole world. I am sometimes asked what a priest does in a typical day, and they are sometimes disappointed when I answer “There is no typical day.” This is not a cop-out: it is absolutely true. Every time the phone rings, or there is a knock on my door, I never know what new adventure the Lord is planning to put me on. Through my blog I am hoping to show how the life of priesthood is in fact very exciting — for a priest to be bored there must be something wrong. This life is also filled with joys and beauty, even if these are sometimes found in the midst of difficulties and struggles — but that is all part of the adventure. It really is a great way to live — men desiring a mediocre life need not apply, but those wanting to live the challenge of excellence need look no further.
I also wish to use the blog to publicly address certain topics that just can’t be covered in the space of a weekly homily, and which perhaps shouldn’t be covered there anyway. The blog allows me to post as long an entry as necessary, and to back it up with links to resources for people to learn more if they wish. As I see it, the blog is a tool of education and proclamation, to build people up with the Gospel.
Finally, I hope that the blog can become a mechanism to motivate people to action. If Christians (and, indeed, all persons of good will) are divided, either because we don’t know what is “really going on”, or because we have difficulty coming to be “of one mind” regarding the serious challenges facing our society and civilization, then it is that much more difficult for us to speak with one voice and act with one accord. I am hoping my blog can help people to act in a way that defends and promotes the Gospel, even if only in little things.
All of human history is tending towards the great Day of the Lord at the end of time, when Jesus will come again and all persons, alive or dead, will gather before his throne. Ultimately my blog is about encouraging and empowering people to keep faith and soldier on, so that when he comes the Lord will find us “Waiting in Joyful Hope”.
» Filed Under | Leave a Comment