It was awfully nice of the University to remember my 200^th birthday on February 6.  I am very grateful that I haven’t been forgotten…since everyone has been riding my cassock-tails since roughly 1842.  I was honored that the Dining Hall put on a legitimate French spread.  I’m sorry for all you good, corn-fed, Midwestern, Irish-Americans who prefer meat and potatoes three times a day.  Call this multiculturalism.

What bothers me is Rozum.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  George and I have a great friendship.  But he’s had…like…50 or 60 fewer birthdays than I have.  Yet he had the gall to celebrate in style the very day after I had my bicentennial.  The nerve of the man!  Of course, it could have been his beloved Alumni Hall Dogs (why they can’t spell correctly never ceases to amaze and sorrow me) who put him up to the stunt.  God Himself knows, they have put that fine CSC up to enough Irish funerary stunts over the years.  Either way, I found it to be poor form – I mean, I don’t see a Rozum Hall on campus…yet.

This whole week brought the issue of anniversaries to my mind.  If any of you still studied Latin (which you don’t, because you’re weak), you would know that the etymology of “anniversary” means “returning every year.”  Birthdays return every year, and not just for distinguished founders and fine, but more lowly, hall rectors.  All sorts of things return every year, and we mark their coming and going.

The key is whether or not you did better on this returning date than you had on the previous date.  I don’t mean financially (but if you did, you owe us a check).  I mean in terms of your long journey through life.  Believe me, at 28 I had no idea whether or not my Northern Indiana Project would succeed.  At 38, things were better, but not great.  At 70, things were pretty good – but could be better.  Then I met Rozum in 1887, at the first Notre Dame football game.

My point is this: Treat every birthday or anniversary as an opportunity to look over the last year and decide in what ways you have done better.  It may not be in every way or every facet of your life that you have succeeded; it may be in just one small way that things got better.  But celebrate that when you celebrate a birthday or anniversary.  Believe me that’s the only way to get to 200…or George’s carefree 146.

EFS CSC

The post Belated Good Fridays w/Padre: B-Day Thx appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.

My own cher vieux papa sired nine of us little Sorins.  We didn’t have Father’s Day in France, but I think it’s a noble American custom to set aside a day and celebrate dear-old-dad.  Though I have no children of my own, I count my loyal sons and daughters by the tens of thousands.  And that brings me to an important reminder for you all: Don’t forget the Holy Cross Fathers this Father’s Day.  After all, it was the CSCs who, sacrificing family of their own, gave birth to and raised this University (with The BVM, of course).  And the CSCs continue as the fathers of Notre Dame to this day.  So if you had a favorite Father Rector, Father Professor, or Father AlwaysCheerfulontheQuad, if you have been inspired by a particular Father Chaplain or Father President, or if you’re just grateful to all the Fathers, here are some gift ideas for the deserving CSC on this Father’s Day.

Spiritual Bouquet – No one’s really sure what this is, so if you tell Father that you’ve arranged one for him with your prayers, he’ll be happy.

Pagan Baby – I’m told this is no longer considered “Politically Correct”…whatever that means.  So just give a couple dollars to the CSC missions – with or without the punch-up boxing match.

A National Championship – Any sport will do, but a football National Championship would be an extra special gift for Father.  And don’t tell me only the players can give this – everyone contributes to the effort with hearts, and hands, and voices.

Don’t Give Money – Father has a vow of poverty and would just have to turn the cash in to his Superior…but I don’t think Canon Law says anything about gift certificates.

Nothing in Black – If you’re giving clothing to a CSC, make it colorful.  Black gets quite monotonous after a while, and it’s hot in the summer, and it shows dust and dirt, and it just doesn’t pop.

Promises of Good Behavior – Lads, this applies to you and your life in the dorms come August.  Tell Father he can pick one Friday or Saturday during the school year, and you’ll all pool your resources of self-restraint and give him a peaceful, no damage, no rule violation, no bathroom disaster, no hassle evening-night-morning.  He’ll weep tears of joy and thanksgiving.

Fine Wine or Spirits – If you can’t behave, lads, at least give Father something to take the edge off living with a hundred-odd louts and ruffians.

New Breviary – If you’re unfamiliar with this item, it’s the book of prayers a priest goes through every day of the year.  By the end of football season, Father’s is worn through and all prayed out.  So get him a spare.

A Glow-in-the-Dark BVM – Those things are just so cool.  If you can get one for each Corby Car, that would be fantastic.

Rosary – Can never have too many.

Or you can just write Father a note thanking him for his service to Notre Dame.  Trust me, he’ll really appreciate it…and a National Championship – I’m serious about that one.

EFS CSC

The post Good Fridays w/Padre: Fr.’s Day appeared first on Her Loyal Sons.