Tickle Me Tuesday

 Just a little blast from the past.... with pertinence right now. (Photo circa June, 2019)

Gabe: "These teeth? You want me to smile with these teeth?"

William:

This photo is an example of summer haircuts -- which have always been rather a point of contention between me and the Davis boys - all seven of them. They like traditional skull-shining-through buzz cuts. I do not. I don't mind short crew cuts, mind you, but I prefer a little fringe of bangs to shade their eyes -- and soften the glare. Soothes my aesthetic sensibilities. Usually, though, unless I cut their hair, my aesthetic sensibilities take a back seat to coolness and simplicity.

So, here's the thing. Here we are: 2023, William's graduation year, my last high schooler is leaving the minor seminary. Historically, in the 5 years Br. Simon and William have attended St. Joseph, I've gotten them back in June, shorn like sheep. The barbers in charge of the minor seminarians haircuts don't generally have a lot of time for foolishness like bangs. And I get it. But this year, much to my surprise, William has bangs that brush nicely to the side above his forehead. #2 all over, blended to#4 and a little longer in front. Very handsome. Just like I would do it. Because, as William told me, his brother cut it and: "Father Philip said you would like it."

Which I DO. Thank you, Fr. P!

It's the dumbest little acts of kindness and courtesy sometimes, isn't it, that make your Momma heart swell? Lol! BANGS! My boys love me.

William Thomas Gerome Davis
Graduated with honors (and nice haircut)
from St. Joseph Minor Seminary, June 2023

The Litany of Humility

                                             

                             The Litany of Humility

Written by Raphael Cardinal Merry del Val (1914-1930)

(For private use)

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, (Deliver me... etc.)
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred to others,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase
and I may decrease, (Jesus, grant me... etc.)
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
That others may become holier than I,
provided that I may become as holy as I should, 

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Amen.

On the "basics" of humility over at Catholic Family Podcast: