"Te Deum laudamus..."

Today is the first Friday of the New Year. Or, as Roman Catholics observe it, the First Friday of January. This means it's time for the first traditio of 2026!

When given the opportunity, I kind of like blogging about blogging, probably a bit too much. Since Christmas, I've been enjoying some downtime, time at home, which I have loved. I've preached a lot. I preached on Christmas for the Mass at Night. I preached on the Feast of Saint Stephen and for the Feast of the Holy Family. I also preached for yesterday's solemnity.

Bas Relief of Saint Olaf, original work by Dale Schultz, a parishioner, commissioned by Father Andrzej Skrzypiec, 2025

Something that stuck in my craw was when someone, complimenting me on my homily, asked if I prepared my own homilies. My response was, "Of course." To which the inquirer replied, "There's no of course." Sorry, but what?

I work hard and preaching and pour a lot of my education, formation, and experience into my homilies. Posting them, as I do, I am conscious of my words extending beyond the walls of my parish. Stated simply, I hope I am able to serve others in this way. Such a thing shouldn't bother me much. Over the years, I've been subjected to much worse, as has anyone who's undertaken the vulnerability of engaging in ministry.

I often wonder if I put too much effort into preaching. Even good preaching doesn't seem to yield much fruit. But the alternative, in my view, is not winging it. Rather, it would be making homilies less substantial and more superficial. Good thing the Spirit won't let me get away with that.

I don't consider myself a great or even very gifted preacher but I am diligent. I take preaching with the seriousness I often see lacking. Most of the time, frankly, I preach the way I like to be preached to. In any case, good, bad, or middling, each homily is the original result of a substantial amount of work and time.

Since I mentioned The Imitation of Christ in my last post, the thought occurs to me that, like Saint Paul, I should be grateful for the thorns in my side. I'm working on it.

Anyway, this New Year, I already know, will be a year of great change for me, the likes of which I haven't experienced for a long time. Times of vulnerability are good as they put my need in bold relief. It isn't so much praying more. It's really praying. This carries over to my prayers for others.

It's only 2 January. 2026 is still very fresh. Therefore, our traditio for today is the Te Deum. Sung or recited quite often, it is traditionally sung at the end of First Vespers on 31 December. It is the Catholic hymn of praise.