114/227. My Book pp. 160-161. Post No. 1393.
MY COMMENT :
Back in business, earlier than expected. After two consecutive prostate-stints in the hospital, I came home yesterday, feeling no pain and rarin’ to go. This post, like the previous 113, was written more than a decade ago. I am now approaching fifty years as an atheist and have never regretted my decision to abandon both the priesthood and the illusions of faith.
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Forty winks, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, the forty immortals of the French Academy, forty days of quarantine, the forty days of Noah’s Deluge, the Israelites’ forty years in the desert, Jesus fasting for forty days and forty nights. And it was, in 2008, exactly forty years since I checked in my capuche and my chasuble.
Numerologists and biblical exegetes could tell us what is so special for me about the number (or better, figure). But I can tell you what has been so special for me about the last four decades.
My papal dispensation from the priesthood, my marriage, our children (my divorce is another story), living in the States for ten years and in France for the last thirty (at time of writing). But those forty years – more than half my life – as a layman, after sixteen years as a Franciscan, including seven as a Catholic priest, have been literally a second life for me, beginning with ten years as a lay-theologian and the last thirty as an atheist. I keep quoting the Gospel text because it sums up my liberation : “The truth will make you free”. Forty years of freedom from meaningless celibacy, including thirty years of freedom from the illusions of faith.
RIDENDA RELIGIO
Amy Fienga said:
Welcome back Friend Frank. Interesting to think of the decade that has past since you wrote that first reflection of the forty years that have past since you changed the course of your life. It reminds me of our friend François Mazon : il n’est jamais trop tard pour changer de vie. What’s your next act?
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frankomeara said:
Do you remember that I interviewed François in the Béhoust auditorium, called him a boomerang, and asked him to tell the audience of managers why he left – and why, for cryin’ out loud, did he come back. He gave honest answers to both. He is a remarkable man.
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shelldigger said:
Good to see you made it back. Now stay out of those damn hospitals, they kill people 😉
Also good to know, there were no hospital bed conversions 😉 Hang in there Frank!
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grogalot said:
Frank, it’s good to see you again. There must be a story. You are well and here. That’s important. Cheers. GROG
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frankomeara said:
Thanks, Shell. Hospitals used to be called “Hotels of God”. Whatever they are called, I’m bloody glad they exist.
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frankomeara said:
There is a story, and mine has a happy ending. The devil is in the details.
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Thom said:
Looking forward to the posts flowing freely again – welcome back Frank.
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Amy said:
sending greetings to our friend Frank hoping your recovery is going well and that you will soon feel up to posting again
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Thom said:
I am, like Amy, somewhat concerned at Frank’s unaccustomed silence.
I imagine a complication from his recent operation, hopefully not serious, is the cause and that he will return to his blog fully recovered in due course.
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