Nunc dimittis…

…servum tuum, Domine.

On a daily basis I come better to understand.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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10 Comments

  1. Fr. John Mary says:

    Yes, Father, and I as well.
    And I as well.
    Blessings.

  2. Templar says:

    My Latin, being very poor, reads this as if you are being dismissed by the Lord. Others apparently do not see it so, thus I must be wrong, but I found this cryptic reference disconcerting.

  3. Luke says:

    Don’t forget Servus servorum Dei. (Probably declined wrong, but you get the idea…I hope…)

  4. irishgirl says:

    What’s the matter, Father? Why would you be saying this?

    Hope you’re not sick….God forbid!

    I’m with Templar-I find this reference disconcerting.

  5. Denis Crnkovic says:

    Sed Pater! Sed Pater! Quid viderunt oculi tui…?!

  6. Rob Cartusciello says:

    Father Z,

    This time of year is tough for many of us. The change of seasons & the shorter days and longer nights can be difficult. I suffer from a particularly virulent type of Seasonal Affective Disorder that causes me to suffer through every solstice & equinox – winter, spring, summer, fall.

    Each change of season heralds a different mood swing. Fall & winter are depressive, spring & summer are anxious. With help, I’ve learned to chart out the swings and know when to expect a change. I jokingly refer to “surfing” the emotional waves.

    With your work, I am sure you are exposed to much of the seamy underbelly of the human condition, especially scandal in the church. Just as Christ’s resurrected body bore the wounds of the Crucifixion, so the Church bears the wounds of sin from its members.

    Sometimes one must limit exposure to this corruption, lest we lose hope. Be prudent.

    Fr. Benedict Groeschel once observed that in the Salve Regina that this world in a “valley of tears,” but then find ourselves surprised that it turns out to be so. The world is seldom kind.

    Remember, too, that God is so vast and ungraspable that in our search for Him we find ourselves frustrated. Mother Teresa’s diary testifies to her “long night of the soul”. Despite having received enormous revelations and spiritual consolation in her early years, God was silent for decades. The task is to be faithful.

    Lets all say a prayer for Fr. Z. I will personally bring your intention to Rome & Assisi next week.

    Coraggio, Padre.

  7. jaykay says:

    Friends, by quoting the opening of the Canticle of Simeon Fr. Z. is not necessarily showing he is downhearted (at least I hope he´s not). Simeon of course goes on to prophesy the sorrows of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the second part, but remember his beautiful words in the first part, which Fr. has quoted:

    “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant in peace, Lord, according to thy word, (nunc dimittis servum tuum in pace, Domine, secundum verbum tuum…) for my eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to illumine the gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel”.

    It´s full of hope. One of my favourite from the whole NT.

  8. Luke says:

    Of course I didn’t mean to add weight to your own deepening hermeneutics of our humble place before God…apologies Father.

  9. Tina in Ashburn says:

    the Nunc Dimittis is what you say before sleep folks. Note the time of Father’s post. As a child our family would chant Compline on Sunday evenings and this was always one of the choices sung.

    -though not to discount some other double meaning. Hope all is well Father.

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