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Feb 1, 2024
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Yes, I am a priest in the traditional sense. Father Josef and I entered the cathedral school at the same time. We became fast friends. He was always pulling pranks (apples in the vestry, that was one; he also moved the pipes); I was always there to tell Father Tomulson not to expel him. God forgives, I would say. It always worked. After a while, I became a little more rigorous. God forgives, I would say to Father Josef. But you cannot become a priest in good faith with this attitude. God also knows what you are doing. I do not know if that was the seed of our discord. Something began this lifelong trouble. We have different ways of thinking. His is not so traditional. I hope that soon we can make amends.
Feb 2, 2024
Hello, and thank you for writing to me.
After Vesper yesterday evening I had a moment to think. Many do not imagine priests in their youth, but we were all young once. Every Spring, when I was young, my father would take us to Lorraine to pick thistles. He would always joke to my sister, "Do not pick the whole field, Charlotte !" and my sister, whose hands were so small, would respond with a very particular grabbing motion. We would all laugh. My mother and aunt and Charlotte would run through the field grabbing as many thistles as they could carry. I miss those times. I miss them so much, in fact, that I had trouble sleeping. When I have trouble sleeping sometimes I roam the grounds of the monasterie, and decided to do just that. To my surprise, I found I a single thistle growing up between the cracks of the path, near Jenofi's Bench. Jenofi has taken ill and hasn't been cleaning his bench. Normally he cleans it every day. It occurred to me that his illness was to my benefit, and I felt great guilt. I confessed, prayed, and felt absolution. Yet, the thistle is still with me now. I have nestled it squarely on my pillow. In the morning I will find a vase and place it there. We don't have to get rid of everything we hold dear, do we?
Humbly,
FPL
Feb 2, 2024
