It's always an privilege to attend Mass celebrated by Father. I got to observe how he celebrates when I was in Rome. Such reverence, love and devotion, but done with elegance and without ostentation. No grand vestments - usually very simple, but always neat and dignified. It's the little details that stand out: the way his eyes seem never to leave the host once it has been consecrated, the reverence with which he handles the Body of Christ, be it during Mass, during Benediction, or just while carrying out his normal priestly work. After a week of attending Mass at the most awesome of settings (the Vatican, at the tomb of St Josemaria, at Assisi, and even the local parish church), our last Mass in Rome was inside Father's room at our Hotel. My experience has been that Masses held outside the church building lack something - some sort of dignity. But that morning, Mass in the hotel room had the same "feeling" of dignity as any of the other Masses I attended in Rome.
Father's homilies and meditations always give you something to think about, something to work on, some part of your life to improve on. You can tell they've been well-prepared.
And of course I'm so thankful for the countless times he has heard my confessions and given me advice for my spiritual life.
Father's a great person too - great humour, great humility, with the two combining in the self-deprecating comments he makes about himself sometimes.
He also always has something interesting to add to the conversation. He was an excellent tour-guide in Rome and so knowledgeable! I remember an enjoyable chat I had with him on the long train journey back to Assisi - we talked about Dante, the importance of knowing our cultural and historical roots, etc.
Thanks Father for your wonderful priestly ministry. Happy sacerdotal anniversary!
After God, the priest is everything.
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