The Feast of St. James the Greater

Today is the sixth anniversry of my ordination to the Diaconate. It was a glorious (though oppresively hot and muggy) day in 2003. I was thinking this morning after Morning Prayer that, despite all my training, despite my studies, despite the pastoral experience I had before that day, nothing truly prepared me for ordained life and all that it held (both wonderfully good and not so good).

Still, I am truly thankful today.

Here is the prayer I adapted from John Henry Newman, which I had printed on my ordination booklet.

On my Ordination to the Diaconate

(after John Henry Newman)


Holy and Loving God, help me to spread the fragrance of your presence
wherever I go. Let my soul overflow with your all-consuming spirit and life.
Let your brilliance radiate through my entire being.

Let your presence flow through me so that everyone I know
may, in turn, know the comforting rain-like gentleness of your presence.
When they look at me, let them not see me, but you.
Let them know you as I know you.

Shine through me and let me be a beacon for others—
for it will be your light shining in me, O God, not mine.
Let my pale reflection of your light be like a song of praise to your ears.

Let me preach you without preaching—
not with words, but by example,
by the fire that rages within me,
by all the good I do,
and by the reflected image of your love I carry
branded deep within my expectant heart. Amen.