Christmas 2011

Dear Members of the Prep Community:

Now that I am a commuter, I find myself doing a lot more work on the PATH. I am continually amazed at how much email and how many texts I can complete as I travel from Christopher to Grove Streets, deep beneath the Hudson River. Believe it or not, my daily train rides have made me a lot more efficient.

A question lingers for me, however: with all of my subterranean emailing and texting, have I become a better communicator? If I answer that honestly, I must confess that over the past six months, the quality of my writing has in fact suffered. In my attempt to do more, I have actually become much sloppier in how I communicate with friends, family and all of you. The “e-world” has taken its toll upon both the style and the substance of my message.

One of the hallmarks of Jesuit education can be found in the term “Eloquentia Perfecta,” that is in the ability to “speak well.” Saint Ignatius Loyola's greatest desire was to “help souls,” or better stated, to “move souls.” A well-formed message was fundamental to communicating one's inner self, beliefs, values and desires - with the hope of advancing the Kingdom of God.

One of the images that best identifies Jesus Christ is, the "Word made flesh." That is, Jesus is God's spoken word, God's message, God's spoken self. If we want to know who God is, we look to God's message, God's Word, God's Son.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

As Christmas dawns this weekend, my wish would be for all of us to reflect on our words. Do the words I use communicate my truest self? Am I happy with that? Is the quality of my speech "perfect"? Do I share kindnesses, speak the truth, inspire those around me? Or am I compromising myself, my message?

We celebrate God's Word at Christmas time. My hope is that we can also celebrate mine, yours and ours!

  

Father Reiser has been president of Saint Peter's Prep since July 2006.  He also taught mathematics and Latin at Prep from 1990 until 1993.  In addition, he has served at Canisius High School and McQuaid Jesuit, and as vocation director for the Jesuits on the East Coast.  

Fr. Reiser holds advanced degress in philosophy, divinity, theology and education.  He also serves on boards of trustees of Jesuit high schools and colleges in the northeast, as well as the board of the Jesuit Secondary Education Association.