“.. a matinee idol mayor”

- “If you elect a matinee idol mayor, you’re going to have a musical comedy administration.” – Robert Moses (December 18, 1888 – July 29, 1981)

- With our present crop of senators, expect a circus. – Father Soc.

“Nothing is lost.”

“Nothing is really lost. It’s just where it doesn’t belong.” – Suzanne Mueller.

- The mark of a healthy, honest to goodness spirituality is that it does not reject any part of our humanity. It simply allows Grace to put each and every part of who we are where it belongs. – Father Soc.

“… survive a defeat.”

“You’ve got to learn to survive a defeat. That’s when you develop character.” – Richard M. Nixon.

- Learn to handle pain. It brings depth and spiritual literacy. – Father Soc.

“.. rejoice.”

“We all sin by needlessly disobeying the apostolic injunction to rejoice.” – C. S. Lewis.

- Rejoicing amidst life’s realities is not a suggestion, it is a mandate.- Father Soc.

“A good traveler …”

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”- Lao Tzu

- As it is with traveling, so it is with life. A good traveler knows that while arrivals are indeed important, it is just as essential to enjoy the journey’s twists and turns. – Father Soc.

 

“Work…”

“The work will always be there but if we do not rest and pray, we will not have the presence to do our work.” – Teresa of Calcutta

- Work, yes; but with serenity. – Father Soc.

“A mother…”

“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” – Tenneva Jordan.


How great our moms are! You are great because of her! – Father Soc.

“… the ideal of service.”

“It is high time that the ideal of success should be replaced by the ideal of service.” – Albert Einstein.

Authentic love serves. You are called to serve! – Father Soc.

“Not to oppose error …”

“Not to oppose error is to approve it, and not to defend the truth is to suppress it; and indeed to neglect to confound evil men – when we can do it – is as sinful as to encourage them.” – Pope St. Felix III.

To the candidates I say: You shall not steal. The only moral way to assume your power is through the vote that is cast wisely and freely and counted honestly and respectfully. It is not enough not to steal. It is imperative that we also prevent stealing victory in elections. – Father Soc.

(Father Soc’s Message on the 10 May 2010 Elections)

“The beginning of wisdom…”

“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names.”- Chinese Proverb.

- We often get this one mixed up. The goal of the spiritual life is divine union not personal or private wholeness. John’s metaphor of the vine and the branches rightly defines perfection as union rather than achievement. – Father Soc.

“The right word and almost the right word…”

“The difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between the lightning and the lightning-bug.” – Mark Twain.

- Endeavor to choose your words well! Love “demands” it. Say the truth but don’t be without love! – Father Soc.