Ave atque Vale

Well, folks, this is it. My final post on Christus Vincit. After a long while of commenting on the blog, I've decided to retire from the church politics scene, and close a life chapter. It's been an interesting ride since the mid 1990's when I became a "convert", but I never really achieved becoming a "catholic". I was always just a convert. This, I attribute to my strict Lutheran upbringing. All those years, I was really still a Protestant who happened to go to mass. I was still a Protestant organist who played the Roman liturgy like a Lutheran -- with vigor and worshipful leadership. My views were informed, like it or not, by how I was raised, and bolstered by an in-born Prussian obstinance. As a result, I was always a square peg as a catholic, too tolerant, yet too conservative at the same time. I confess that I'm happier now than ever having found my new/old church home. I don't regret going through the "conversion" process way back when -- it was a delightful experience growing from the rebellious and outrageous phase of a zealous 20-something. It wasn't a mistake. Just a "happy fault". With that, I bid you all a hearty "ave atque vale". Keep reading your Herodotus and your Pliny. There is much to discover in them.