These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.

Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, pope and doctor of the church, September 3

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God,
    the firstborn of all creation. (Col 1:15-20)

The beautiful poetry from the Letter to the Colossians is a good example of early Christian hymnody: hymns of praise to Jesus Christ. Gregory the Great was really great. He took as the theme of his ministry: Servus servorum Dei (Servant of the Servants of God). And every pope since Gregory has done the same. Today's photo is of fictional character, Nucky Thompson, receiving the Order of Saint Gregory the Great (from HBO's Boardwalk Empire).