There are days, and there are days. Today was one of those days.
I’ll spare you the gory details, but the deepest levels of the Vatican where the filth is churned would be an apt analogy, or the deepest pit of hell where the stench is thick would be another. Yes, an adult underpants blowout did occur, not unknown among those with ALS. It happens.
When an all-out blow out like this I am reminded of how of the Lord was born in a cave, among the smell of the sheep, but also his of exultation of mere creatures stuck in the veritable dung of a stable to be raised to the dignity of children. He lowers himself so that our dignity might be raised. He was born in the stable so we could be born to heaven, but not only that, through Holy Baptism, we, even in this life, we can by grace be raised even to the dignity of the priest.
Great dignity transforms the babe baptized, and the priests Ordained. Who but dare but speak of the priest and his dignity than the one who deigned to be too humble to become a priest.
Kissing your feet, I implore you all my brothers, and with the utmost affection I beseech you to show the greatest possible reverence and honor to the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . Consider your dignity O Brothers who are priests, and be holy because He is holy . . . It is a great misfortune and a miserable fault to have Him thus near you, and to be thinking of anything else. Let the whole man be seized with dread; let the whole world tremble; let the heavens exult when Christ, the Son of the living God, is on the altar in the hands of the priest. O amazing splendor and astounding condescension! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! The Master of the universe, God Himself and Son of God humbles Himself so far as to hide Himself for our salvation under the feeble appearance of bread! See brothers the humility of God . . . keep nothing of yourselves for yourselves, so that He may possess you entirely, who has given Himself wholly for you. ~ St. Francis of Assisi
When these things happen, I shake my head at the absurdity of it all, and offer it up. These, my brothers and sisters, children of the highest God, are my sacrifice offered for you. This is my body, dung covered as it is, given for you.
You too, can make sacrifice. Maybe not as dramatic as mine. And if you are a priest! Then wondrous is the Sacrifice you make. NEVER, EVER, forget your dignity! But also your humility! You too were snatched out of the stench of sin, then through Holy Baptism washed clean and raised to the dignity of son, and then, wonder of wonders, you, and I! were raised to the dignity of the priesthood.
Forget not, my son, where you have come, nor where you are going.
One of these spats costs me a lot in energy and emotion. I find myself crying over things that we take for granted, like the day I went to the hospital my dog, Oliver, waited all day outside till I returned. Such loyalty in man and beast is rare, and blessed the man who finds it. So, I cry about this, that, but mostly prayer. I wept copiously at the confirmation of my nephew about being a priest forever. Those moments, so often taken for granted, should be more often wept over. My Spiritual Father tells me this is good. I believe him.
