Alone in the Desert

*Disclaimer – My wife is wonderful.*

I float in a desert of Catholic loneliness. I have great Catholic friends – across the country. I have great friends – who aren’t Catholic, or aren’t nearly as deep into their faith. And I’ve got my best friend, of course, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed – but she’s a chick. I’m totally a dude.

I’ve prayed for strong Catholic male friends. My parish is aging. My whole state (New Hampshire) is aging. My family is one of the young ones, and I just celebrated the 40th anniversary of my birth.

I think that this is perhaps a peculiar curse of the faithful Catholic parent of whipper-snappers: Focused on Mass, Marriage, and Midgets, so we rarely come across other Catholic parents who have time for friendship/fellowship.

This was particularly apparent to me this winter when I was looking for other men to complete Exodus 90 with me. I wanted so badly to complete the 90-day ascetic mission, but it needs a brotherhood to do it right. A total of zero local men signed up. It really struck me then exactly how lonely I am.

Of course, I’m not truly alone. Jesus is with me. But he desires that I have other manly Catholics in my life. I suppose it may be his will that I go through a period of loneliness that – even if it lasts for the rest of my life on earth – is only temporary. And if that’s the case, I will endeavor to bear that cross for the benefit of my soul and the souls in purgatory. But I’d truly like to have even a single Catholic male friend.

Lord of lords, perfect friend, if it is your will, I ask that you bring strong Catholic male friends into my life. And then, Holy Spirit, fill us with your zeal and send us forth to evangelize by the example of our true friendship. With St. Joseph and all the saints I pray, in the name of the Father, and of the Som, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.