All Saints and All Souls for us catholics at this time of the year. I’ve written a few pious thoughts in the parish newsletter about the “double”, so no more here.

Got told off again by a sincere catholic who must have been listening to 3AW last Sunday afternoon. Les Twentyman and I are on for only 20 minutes. The show is only between footy seasons. Tom Elliot is the presenter.

I do it, and most other “worldly” things, because Vatican 2 said to do it. As far as I know, that recent experience of Catholicism hasn’t been cancelled, even though ecclesiastical micro managers are tinkering with the Vatican 2 model to make it conform to clerical requirements.

Hence, the letter: “Having heard your flippant and dismissive remarks toward to the Pope, etc etc”.

I’ll drop a short note in reply, courteous, of course,

In the spirit of the same “refreshed” Catholicism, I went to the country stables of several Melbourne Cup contenders – no names – to say a little prayer for all concerned: “O God, may these horses and their connections do no harm on Tuesday and, indeed, do a little good?”.

A strapper nudged me: “Could we change that to do a lot of good?”.

So many people happily working away together. Please don’t write a note to me about encouraging gambling!

I’m a simple soul. I’m very impressed with team work. So much can be done by so few people working together. Of course, it involves harmony and leadership.

I’ve been flying back and forth, Melbourne to Sydney, half a dozen times in the last couple of months, doing a job for ABC TV. I thought I’d hate it. Instead, I’m so impressed with workers at the airport, on the plane, at the studio, even in the taxis. It’s been a genuine spiritual experience for me.

A well known Cistercian monk (in my day), Thomas Merton, reckoned he had his most intense experience of God’s real presence, not in his monastery chapel but on a uber busy intersection in New York.

That’s another Vatican 2 preferential option – read the sign of the times – expect spiritual messages from the Cup Carnival. God’s really present in the least likely places. Give glory to God in the lowest, not just in the highest.

Good luck to “high” catholics and “high“ Anglicans getting together and having religion.

No reason why we “lower” catholics and other followers of the “unknown” god shouldn’t be extended the same courtesy. Maybe we could have a personal prelature of our own Vatican 2 style/rite but, of course, in union with Rome.

Just dreaming.

RJM