35 Comments
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Adam Boyle's avatar

I'm no celestial being but I think the Angel of the Lord declared *unto* Mary.

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JD Flynn's avatar

good Lord. what a weird autocorrect. Good Lord.

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Francis P Farrar's avatar

I just refreshed this page. The auto (AI?) correction still stands.

Are you not allowed to edit your very moving essay?

Update. Moments later: "Correction" corrected!

Thanks for your beautiful thoughts.

I'm blinking through tears of gratitude.

God Bless you!

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Tom Gregorich's avatar

When I was younger i hated blue laws, but as a 40 something parent I appreciate theyre still around.

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BeNotAfraid78's avatar

Are we going to talk about the very cool Pillar jacket our good admiral is wearing?

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The Bayou Thomist's avatar

Nothing says “I’m from Jersey” more than that jacket with a popped collar.

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Nicole's avatar

Appears to be satin, too. Jersey bowling league vibes.

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Uncreative Name's avatar

Or the fact that in the reflection it appears the second person is JD taking a photo of himself

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Sue Korlan's avatar

To be a Kentucky Colonel you usually have to have done something important for the state. I doubt auctioneering counts.

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JD Flynn's avatar

I’m not sure that’s so.

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Marty Soy's avatar

Make JD a Colonel!

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Joel Turvey's avatar

What a beautiful reflection to ponder. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

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AC's avatar

JD, a very beautiful reflection on our interior lives. Thank you for sharing it.

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Michael Becker's avatar

Why was The Law trademarked?

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Bill N.'s avatar

JD, I would be honored to nominate you as a Kentucky Colonel. Email me if you're interested as that form includes more information about you than I'm comfortable assuming. And I do hope you will consider returning to Louisville in your capacity as speaker, auctioneer, journalist, and party curiosity to support my Catholic school of choice!

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JD Flynn's avatar

oh my goodness it's happening.

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Deacon Zav's avatar

Love the reflection about the choice for virtue or vice happening in the hiddenness of our interior lives. Oh how it must please the Lord when we accept and suffer the coming of His Love in humble and hidden ways!!

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Kim's avatar

Bielecki sounds like that dude in the movie "Catch Me if You Can".

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Fr. Matthias, OSB's avatar

He is certainly a master manipulator.

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Joe Witkowski's avatar

His seminary vetting must have been done by the US Senate.

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eric's avatar

"In the confessional, or in temptation, or in the quiet moments of humble hiddenness — the Lord already knows what we’re about. In that reality, the only thing that makes sense is to speak to him as we really are, and to ask of him as we really need." Good stuff here. Thanks.

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Austin Gurchiek's avatar

Fun fact, the first KFC restaurant wasn't even in Kentucky. It was in Salt Lake City, Utah!

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JD Flynn's avatar

Indeed! The first franchise was in SLC!

The Colonel started selling the chicken in Kentucky!

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Robert Reddig's avatar

Forget a Rome pilgrimage--lead a Kentucky bourbon tour!

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Hazel Veronica  Pinto Cardozo's avatar

Could not have written better myself... Thanks JD

It " the Way Truth Life" all the way to Heaven......all goes on INSIDE - He was In Mary for Nine months in a most UNIQUE way With us in Holy Communion..

even if and when a girl or boy sees something OUTSIDE as did three children at Fatima it is their response inside that matters. I am 83 and have yet to see my very own Gaurdian Angel.. I like it that way...think I have (made) a deal with the Great Almight ONE in three -that I be touched uplifted and transformed by what is Going on at Each Mass I ( that way I do not have to be threatened to be boiled in Oil or burnt at the stake.. ! I have attended Sunday Mass since I was six and made my First Confession and Communion.. 77 years ago and Daily Mass since 2004.

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Ashley's avatar

That province had another brother defrocked for spiritual abuse. We place so much emphasis on screening for child abuse I don’t see why there aren’t ongoing psychological reviews for those in active ministry.

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Fr. Josh's avatar

Probably an issue of time, money, and priorities.

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Cally C's avatar

Is there any evidence that something like a psychological review is effective, for identifying people who are actively hiding malfeasance?

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