Jan 10 John Camillus the Good d. 660

Jack and Thom
Good Morning, I love you

Auburn beats Alabama: after being down 21 points in the first period. Nightmares of punt Bama punt! Can’t we all just get along? It is not in the Alabama genes. You’re either Auburn or you’re Alabama. I shoulda seen that flag in 1982! I apologize for missing it.

Uncle Ken says you and Kelly got together last night and this morning. I hope he got a picture. I’d like to update the one taken at Thom’s high school graduation. The three amigos! Would that you were known as Jack the Good? Or Thom the Good? Not merely good enough but The Good.



January 10

John Camillus the Good 660

John Camillus the Good was Bishop of Milan. It’s disappointing to begin a bio with a man’s ascendency to a bishopric. We miss the useful story that got him there – in addition to being in the right place at the right time with the right pull. It’s as if you started my bio with my becoming CEO of the Vanderbilt Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Hospital. Or some other post of fortunate selection from which I’ve served the mentally ill, especially children. But I digress.

The Lombard invasion had left Milan a vacant see, and John Camillus the Good was chosen to fill the position. In the seventh century, chosen probably meant chosen by the people, the leaders, of Milan. From whence did this man come to rise to such an exalted see? How did the people of Milan choose him? What did they see in him?

He was a relentless enemy of the heresies of his era. One essential role of bishop, any leader, is to teach. To teach what is right and what is wrong. It is not enough to tell us, show us, help us about knowing and being good. We must also stop the promulgation of heresies, the dissemination of false teaching, and the population of false prophets. Stopping the bad, wrong, evil is actually the first step to right, good, and holy.

John Camillus the Good was called “the Good” for conspicuous holiness. I hope you, too, two, are conspicuously holy.

I love you,
Dad
101127, 1946