HAPPY FEAST OF BLESSED BASIL MOREAU!
Root words and stems are fascinating ways to explore the depths of our human identity. While we may think, for instance, that sober means “a person who doesn’t drink,” the etymology reveals something more spiritual, “on one’s own,” inviting the dignity of living from a place of authenticity and existential trust. The word think actually comes from “to thank,” suggesting that the mind is more than a self-contained system of drama, but rather an altar upon which our memories and ideas might be offered to others in gratitude. An abstract word such as truth can surprisingly be traced back to something quite concrete, “tree,” which is to say that we encounter reality in the deeply-rooted and close-at-hand. Let’s therefore be dissatisfied with flimsy meanings at the surface and actually process the words we hear and use. We will discover that at the heart of our human experience is a primordial pattern of speaking and listening with the Word who is the definitive meaning of our lives. Ave Crux, Spes Unica.