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| Looking out over the valley. |
Blessed Sunday! And for those in the U.S., happy 4th of July weekend! Even if it is a very heavy time for the country, I am very grateful to have an American, to have received so much that is good from the sacrifices made by our ancestors in the States.
I want to let you all know that I will not be, at least not for a while, posting to this blog. The reason is that I all of a sudden find myself in the surprising position of being a rather public figure, due to the daily worldwide rosary crusade. I'm very conscious of the admonition of Scripture, "Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger." I think that, in general, we would do much better as pastors of the Church to speak less frequently but more to the point or more carefully. To that end, I think I ought, for the moment, to not add to the number of words I am spreading around the internet each week.
I began this blog as a way of allowing family, friends, and families who had been under my care to still be in contact, even if I was now living far away. But now that you can, for better or worse, pray the rosary with me any day you wish to, I don't think the blog is as necessary. Also, I had begun this as a vehicle of writing to friends and family in much the same way I would speak around the table if I were sitting in one of your homes. Now that I have begun more of a public person, anything I write or do online is that much more public, including this blog. The goal of a priest is to put people face to face with Jesus Christ, not with his own personality. "He must increase, and I must decrease."
So I think, at least for a while, that this is the right approach. Feel free to let me know your own thoughts. Perhaps after a few months, we can see if this is the best approach or not. In the meantime, know that each of you will continue to be in my daily prayers and thoughts.
But since today I am still writing.... among the blessings of this past week was nearing the end of my 100-page licentiate paper in theology. I still have a few more pages of the conclusion to write, and then the process of reviewing and correcting, which will not be minor, but the hardest part is almost behind me! Tomorrow I will head into Florence, both to stop by a parish for Confession, in order to receive the graces of the First Saturdays, and also to have lunch with the chancellor of the diocese, a good canon lawyer who is also an American.
Thank you for the special gift that each of you is in my life. May Jesus and Mary watch over you each day. When travel becomes possible again, I will hope to see you in person. in the meantime, I will hope to see you for the rosary!
In Cordibus Iesu et Mariae,
Fr. Pillari
