"A Confession"

This is a poem written by a Polish poet whose name is Czeslaw Milosz (1911-2004). I first read this poem Spring semester of 1997 in my Senior Seminar in the St. Ignatius Institute at the University of San Francisco. This poem had such an impact on me that it inspired me to write my senior thesis around it. The title of my thesis was -- The Flawed and Aware Prophetic Witness: A Condition of Human Existence. Along with another student, I won the Senior Thesis award that year in the St. Ignatius Institute. 

I remember Dr. Erasmo Leiva gave us this poem the week before at the end of class and at the next class he asked who would like to read it. My hand went up like it was shot out of cannon. Dr. Leiva said to me, "Tom, how did I know that you would be the one that would like this poem?" I guess he knew me pretty darn well. I hope you enjoy.

"A Confession" (1985)

My Lord, I loved strawberry jam

And the dark sweetness of a woman's body.

Also well-chilled vodka, herring in olive oil,

Scents, of cinnamon, of cloves.

So what kind of prophet am I? Why should the spirit

Have visited such a man? Many others

Were justly called, and trustworthy.

Who would have trusted me? For they saw

How I empty glasses, throw myself on food,

And glance greedily at the waitress's neck.

Flawed and aware of it. Desiring greatness,

Able to recognise greatness wherever it is,

And yet not quite, only in part, clairvoyant,

I knew what was left for smaller men like me:

A feast of brief hopes, a rally of the proud,

A tournament of hunchbacks, literature.

OPENING DAY

I wrote this the first time in 2004 and then again in 2007. It was composed two days before Opening Day. 

Today is the day that begins 7 months and 162 days of pure American delight; a pastime that has steamrolled through history as an army into battle. For us, fans of the Bronx Bombers, we will cheer and smile just like children opening presents on Christmas morning because today is the day that the Yankees play again.

As the 2007 season begins in the House that Ruth Built, our team, will run unto the field with great enthusiasm and vigor. They will sprint to their positions as children run to a playground. We know how our Bombers have won World Series Championships in the past, its called tradition--104 years of New York tradition. 

Along with this tradition, will be the twin advocates of awe and mystique; twins who have in the past shattered the confidence of Yankee opponents. These legendary twins have catapulted 26 teams into the books of baseball history. The god's of baseball--Ruth, Gehrig, Joe D, Mantle, Maris, and Munson, will open the clouds with the might of their bats and throw from their gloves the passion and love that helps us cheer on our team, 

THE TEAM…..THE NEW YORK YANKEES.

Pope Benedict XVI and Evangelization

For all of us that work with teenagers and wonder if they will ever "get it", here is what Pope Benedict XVI says about evangelization...

Pontiff: No Soloists in Evangelizing
Highlights Paul's Collaborators in Building the Church

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 31, 2007 (Zenit.org).- St. Paul didn't evangelize alone, but acted as a member of the Body of Christ, Benedict XVI says.

The Pope explained this at today's general audience in Paul VI Hall where some 6,000 people gathered to hear a reflection dedicated to three of St. Paul's collaborators: Barnabas, Silas and Apollos.

Highlighting the support the three men gave the Apostle, the Holy Father said: "Paul does not act as a 'soloist,' as an isolated individual, but together with these collaborators in the 'we' of the Church."

For Paul, there is no "I" but a "we" of the Church, the "we" of the apostolic faith, Benedict XVI explained.

"Each one has a different task in the field of the Lord," the Pontiff said, quoting 1 Corinthians 3:6-9: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave growth ... for we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

The Pope explained that Paul's collaborators "found the meaning of life" in their evangelizing mission "and thus they are presented to us as luminous models of selflessness and generosity."

"This is valid for us also today, for the Pope, as well as the cardinals, bishops, priests and laity," Benedict XVI added. "We are all humble ministers of Jesus. We serve the Gospel in the measure that we can, according to our gifts, and we ask God to make his Gospel, his Church grow today."

Pope Benedict XVI

When John Paul II died, I wondered if the Church through the College of Cardinals could find a successor with the eloquence and theological strength that JP II gave to the world (of course the Holy Spirit guided this through and through).

The day the new pope was announced I remember getting a call from my sister, Carla, who was watching television with her students at the catholic school she taught at. I was so excited that I could hardly contain myself. I went from classroom to classroom in my hallway at St. Mary's High School to tell the other teachers. There was a presentation occuring in my room at the time. I asked the presenter if we could put on the television to watch the announcment. Even though she was not Catholic, she agreed and was as equally excited as I.

I remember being in my classroom with a large number of students waiting and watching during break. The bells of St. Peter's were ringing and people were running to the square to wait for the new pope. HABEMUS PAPEM -- As the cardinal came out and read off the name of the new pope, Joseph Ratzinger, I did a double take and asked one of the kids, "Did he say Ratzinger?" I jumped up so high, I nearly hit the ceiling. Cardinal Ratzinger chose the name, Benedict XVI. He chose Benedict because St. Benedict brought Catholicism back to Europe and he must do the same.

As I sat down to write this blog (my first), I was only going to copy and paste an article that I had read from Zenit.org, but I guess the Holy Spirit inspired me to write this. I will post the article in another blog. Let us pray for his Holiness and the work he must do for the Church.