+Father Raphael Barousse, OSB

 

This is a poem I wrote for Fr. Raph’s 90^th birthday this spring. Last night - 29 October 2020 - he died truly in the fullness of years, in the prayerful company of his brothers at the Abbey, and so I re-send this as my poor valedictory for him on his happiest birthday of all:

 

Father Raphael Barousse, OSB

 

Abbey St. Joseph, Covington, Louisiana

 

 Monk, Missionary, Muleskinner, Writer, Teacher,

Scholar, Raconteur, Uncle Bubby,

 

Friend

 

 

To God, Who Gives Joy to Our Youth

 

For Reverend Raphael Barousse, OSB

 

Father Raph - Uncle Bubby - on His Birthday

 

 

Introibo ad altare Dei

 

Ad Deum qui laetificat juvenitutem meam

 

 

You look into the mirror and ask yourself

“Who is that old man staring back at me?”

Your friends tell you you’re lookin’ good - for your age

And your uncooperative body in protest creaks

 

But you and all of them are wrong because

 

You still approach the Altar as a child

As you once were, and are, and will be forever

For God will have it so, will have you so -

Enchanted by His magic - a little boy

 

A little boy in Sunday shoes and shirt

Who hears his Mama whispering to him, “Don’t squirm!”

As the Mass hums through a summer morning

Until that moment when you encounter Him:

 

The universe spirals through its sunlit dance

Creation spins around, in, and down

Eternity circles the paten and cup

 

Miraculum

 

Eternity circles the paten and cup

Around and out and up, Creation spins

Through its sunlit dance the universe spirals

 

And only little children understand that

And only little children are invited

And so God gives joy to your forever-youth

And your forever-youth gives joy to God