I’ve had a number of chats with the Bishop about a wide range of topics of late. And just yesterday afternoon, I went to have a chat with my Vicar Forane, the bishop’s rep in these far West counties of the the Western North Carolina Diocese. Lots of good encouragement and lots of good priestly fraternity with both.
The first thing, however, and just to say, that my Vicar Forane did was to present me with a donkey he had gone out of his way to acquire for me in the Holy Land. “Because you’re such an ass,” he said, laughing. Mind you, I had requested just such a donkey. I recall, as well, that is an honor to be a jackass, at least when one’s burden is Christ Jesus Himself. Saint Augustine answered the complaints of one his charges who was feeling particularly inept in this way: “Asinus es, sed Christum portas” (You are a jackass, but you carry Christ). I love that.
Long=eared equines are the best!
You are my favorite Jackass!
So very kind of you!
I never thought I would dare call a priest a jackass. But since you have educated us I feel ok saying, You’re my favorite jackass too.
And the donkey kept Mary company while Joseph left her side to look for a place to stay..