Preacher Man Blues...

...Having just about recovered from the shock of discovering that my memory has been playing up and tricks on me for assuming Mgr. Knox [see below] to have been a Jesuit, I can now though safely recount a tale once heard concerning a certain 'Very Famous Preacher', who most assuredly was a J and, therefore, in equal measure very clearly not our Knox fellow.

This VFP was renowned the length and the breadth of the ecclesial land for his endless stream of rousing and pertinent homilies on all and any subject under the Creator's sun. Possessing a gift - or indeed truly a charism - which he refined over many years, our fellow was something of a super-star among preachers and from one pressing engagement to the next hardly able to draw breath.

Back at HQ, his 'diary secretary' and lay brother helper toiled with equal diligence to ensure that VFP always arrived at the right place at the right time, replete with appropriate text for the occasion. Theirs was as fine a combination of the dove and the serpent at work in harness as you could ever wish to meet.

Sad to relate, though, like many fine duos this one came eventually to an end with the demise of the lay brother. As he lay dying our VFP naturally broke off his current tour to return to HQ to take his farewells and to thank said lay brother for all the help and support he had given him over the many years.

"I always knew you were praying for my good work," said VFP. "And it was that humble prayer that has sustained me in my mission."

"Oh but Father," replied the lay brother with his last breath. "I never prayed that you would do good with all your words. I merely asked the Lord that you would not do too much harm!"

Score one for Golden Silence perhaps. Though think about who would have reported this conversation. Could only have been the VFP himself, in due humility reflecting on the pertinence of the remark.

Much in a way like the remark Saint Thomas Aquinas is reported having said on waking from a revelatory dream of the glory of God - "All I have written is as so much straw compared to this!" But then as old Father P of Q would remark - "Straw maybe, but such fine straw!"