February 7 Tressan d. 550

Thommy and John

Good morning
I love you

Saturday – maybe a day of new beginnings; or the recognition of the ravages of aging? It’s not aging per se but the manner in which it is done. Great data that pets help old people not only live longer but live more healthily. Maybe it’s the unconditional love? I don’t know the research of the effects of children on their parents’ aging process. I have hypotheses about my particular situation. Wanna hear? Better, wanna discuss? Being a sandwiched man – between my father and my sons – I have a picture of the effects from two directions. Maybe the relationship with one’s father has an effect on the aging process? It’s 1312 on 2-7-09 and I’m a half day in a row on target; if today is the first day of the rest of your life [a saying I haven’t heard in a long time], then now is one’s entire live, yes?



February 7
Tressan d. ~550

There’s more about Tressan in the dictionary of woman saints on line under St. Helen, his sister [companion on pilgrimage?] than in Catholic online under Tressan. Although in her entry there’s more about Tressan than her, maybe he should be better known as Helen’s sister….

We are not only who we are but also with whom we are connected/compared. Like in sports, to be the next Bill Russell or the next Michael Jordan. No athlete accepts the accolade. It’s an honor to be remembered in the same breath as one of the greats. But, each athlete, each one of us, is our own person and persona. And not. We are who we are. And we are some one’s son, brother, father, cousin, uncle, friend. Everything and everyone is connected. And we are defined by each other. What one of us does reflects upon the other – and sticks [there are no Teflon men]. Not only reflects upon, but also effects the other…

Tressan resolved to be a pilgrim. An honorable vocation in sixth century Ireland. And, according to the entry about Helen, Tressan took with him his six brothers and four sisters. And, left unsaid, they went with him. Two of whom, Helen and Gabriel, are also saints. Imagine the familialness. And wonder what role their parents played. Picture the eleven of them, maybe with other companions, traipsing across Eire and the channel and northern France – also Celtic and, thus, probably not so foreign to them then as it is to us now….

Tressan was not literate or learned in his faith. A holy man. A religious man. Probably more piety than knowledge. But you gotta start somewhere and follow the road as it brings you closer to Christ.

Tressan arrived in Rheims during the episcopate of St. Remigius. When I wrote to y’all last February, I suggested that you look him up. So, this time, I peaked into the catholic encyclopedia online.

St Remigius, b. 437, d. 533; celebrated on October 1st as the Apostle of the Franks; Archbishop of Rheims. Remigius’ father was a Count. Remigius studied literature, became known for learning and holiness. Remigius was elected Archbishop at 22. Musta been mucho smart and extraordinarily holy – not to mention well connected. Maybe it was just fortuitous that he was holy and smart. Good for us – and Tressan and his family.
Remigius’ chief aim was the propagation of Christianity, i.e., our catholic faith, to the Franks. He converted Clovis, king of the franks, with the help of Sty Clotilda, Clovis’ wife. [this much should give you some great ideas for your own success as well as lessons about selecting and sustaining a spouse. Remember that your mother converted to Catholicism after John’s birth. Not her first, nor apparently, her last conversion. Wonder what helps conversion stick? Wonder what has to be done to sustain possession of the one true faith? Certainly wonder about the many roads to discovering that faith; and re-discovering it.]

Tressan was ordained by Remigius after Tressan acquired the necessary learning to be a priest. The young man and his family went on a pilgrimage. They came into the sphere of influence of Archbishop Remigius who was in the midst of converting and serving the Franks. Tressan signed on to that vocation in a very special way – he became a priest.


I love you
dad