Charles, OFM Cap. @FrCharles Twitter profile

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

7 years

"Social media has contributed to your intellectual deterioration, as it has for so many others." (my dad)

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

The most Italy conversation in recent memory. Me: "I only need three more years of residency [in Italy] and I can apply for citizenship. Unfortunately though, you need to have an income." Person from Italy: "That's not true, Father. You need to have *proof* of income."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

2 months

I am confident, even theologically, that *she* did not do anything to get a time out.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

Update. The Lord has gotten a hold of the balloon. God is in charge.

Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

See, this is why you don't have graduation in the church. The First Sorrowful Mystery: the happy face emoji balloon.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

My father died today. As one of the friars told me several times during Dad's last illness, "No one can prepare you for this." Thanks for your prayers at this time. alav ha-shalom. If there's a German-language Wikipedian out there his page can be updated

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

2 years

Kid in church was wearing a 'happy birthday' tiara, so after Mass I said happy birthday. Kid: thank you. Parent: It's not her birthday.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

Just had a funeral cancel. That's a new one for me.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

Me: "I notice you don't exactly live right nearby. What made you choose this parish?" RCIA inquirer: "You answered my email." It's stuff like that, folks.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

17 days

It's rare you hear a new sin in confession, but it happens once in a while. But I'll bet you my day off money I never hear someone confess to sinning against synodality.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Overheard: "There are thirty-three moon craters named after Jesuits. All we have is a cup of coffee. But everybody knows what a cappuccino is, and who can name craters?"

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

1 year

Without a doubt the best inquiry that has ever been sent in to our website.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 months

Overheard in the friary. Friar 1: "I have to find the energy to clean my room today. You know how I struggle with self-care, with doing things just for me." Friar 2: "Clean my room then."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

In the confession practicum (one of the toughest courses I took at old Weston Jesuit, of happy memory) someone asked what if civil authority wants to compel him to break the seal. The teacher said, and matter-of-factly too, "You go to jail. You sign up for that at ordination."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

10 days

I'm reminded of the Japanese priest, Fr. Yuki, who lived with us for a while. He was very nice but struggled with cultural differences. One time an Italian-American parish family invited him to dinner. He came home quite shaken. "I thought they were going to murder each other!"

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

1 year

Continuing to unpack and set up my new room. I feel better now that my inner circle of saint-friends is set up.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

1 year

My new assignment has been announced! After 13 years away from pastoral ministry and 10 years of office jobs, I'm going back to Sacred Heart in Yonkers, NY to be parochial vicar!

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 years

Trying to explain to friar that by giving up coffee for Lent he is imposing a penance on the rest of us

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

@DaikanyamaGuy I miss certain things, not everything.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

5 months

I had someone weeping in the sacristy after Mass because a priest scolded her for presenting herself kneeling for Holy Communion. Priests. Sometimes I want to put Flamin' Hot Cheeto dust in their pillowcases.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

The most shocking thing to me about the Viganò 'testimonianza' is that an Italian - and a prelate of the Roman Curia even - should have done work during the last two weeks of August.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

5 years

N.B. Correct way to conclude your rosary today: V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. V. And happy birthday R. to you &c.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 years

Woot! Got invited to a "priest BBQ." Hopefully that means a BBQ *for* priests.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

Dinner Friar 1: "I'm keeping my spoon for dessert." Friar 2: "There's dessert?" Friar 1: "I don't know, but I live in hope. I live the Advent season most fully."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

After baptizing the eunuch, Philip disappears (Acts 8:39). Thus he became the patron saint of all the priests whom you see at Mass but otherwise can never find.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Benedict XVI on fun and despair (Chrism Mass homily 2010)

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

Friar: Oh, so this is your office? Me: Temporary office. Friar: Everything is temporary. #MementoMoriMonday

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

7 years

Overheard. Friar on 'Femen' protester who tried to take the Baby Jesus from the nativity scene in St. Peter's Square: "It's very natural for a young woman to want her own baby."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 years

After baptizing the eunuch, Philip disappears (Acts 8:39). Thus he became the patron saint of all the priests whom you see at Mass but otherwise can never find.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 months

The pastor did not appear to make the announcements at the end of Mass this afternoon. A parishioner on the way out said, "Somebody paid for the ad-free version."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

i think it's totally dumb and theologically indefensible how they call spicy food 'diavolo' because i'll bet you a jillion dollars that the food in hell is super bland

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

Reminds me of the time there was a bird that kept flying into the church. Fr. Christopher, may he rest in peace, asked the Sunday assembly for ideas on getting it out so it wouldn't come back. A parishioner yelled, "Give it Confirmation."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

7 years

Overheard: "Drinking is, like, borrowing well-being from the future."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

See, this is why you don't have graduation in the church. The First Sorrowful Mystery: the happy face emoji balloon.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 years

Asked the Major Superior if we can buy the $60 garbage can on the Bed, Bath & Beyond registry for the friar who ran away and plans to attempt marriage. "No."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

1. Lady at daily Mass, looking the priest celebrant right in the eyes: "Let us pray for more, *and better*, vocations to the priesthood." Spontaneous petitions were suspended after that day.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

7 years

Twitter is like the liturgy. They change it for murky reasons, everyone has a fit and then we forget it was ever different.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 years

I'm 50!

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

8 years

In this whole business, nobody brings up @McDonalds 's generous service to a certain underserved population in Italy: people who have to pee.

The New York Times

@nytimes

8 years

A McDonald's opened just outside Vatican City last week, despite complaints from residents and religious leaders

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Yeah well maybe before McCarrick moves in with us he should read this

Criminal serving his sentence with monks pleads to be sent back to prison... because monastery life...

Thief David Catalano, 31, found living alongside Capuchin monks at a Santa Maria degli Angeli community in Sicily so demanding that he escaped twice in six weeks.

www.dailymail.co.uk

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

Me: "I was reading about that just last night, what to do with a Mass if a priest dies while celebrating it, before the consecration, after the consecration, or in between the consecration of the host and the chalice." Friar: "You really need to get a TV."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 months

Well, there it is. Carlo Acutis will be canonized. May he pray for us! (He's entombed in our Capuchin parish church in Assisi BTW.)

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

18 days

I usually delete pics people send me with me in them because I don't want to see myself, but this one I kind of like.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

One of the friars sends along a pic from the big day for 100 first communicants in Assam, India.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 years

Missionaries of Charity themed restaurant

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

It is characteristic of holy people that their own painful trials do not make them lose their concern for the well-being of others. ~ Pope St. Gregory the Great (Office of Readings)

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

1 year

The email inquiry we got yesterday about raising a Capuchin did so well here on Twitter that I thought I would also tweet my reply.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

Reading about the latest Rupnik fiasco. I can just say from my time in Rome (2012-2019), the grip of that art on the place was remarkable. Even spooky. It was everywhere you went. I used to joke that the presence of a Rupnik was required for sacramental liceity. It's all so sad.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

2 months

Making the Mass schedule. I put a green paperclip because it's Ordinary Time. It's the little things that keep you going.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 years

6 stone jars holding 20 to 30 gallons. Filled to the brim with water that became *good* wine. That's a lot. Like 10 kegs. Jesus doesn't mess around.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

7 years

I'll be ok with this 280 thing. You don't survive long in religious life without knowing how to deal with more characters.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Telling the story of the older friar I saw sitting in the cemetery. I asked him what he was doing. "Contemplating my next assignment. The first one in which the Provincial has no say!"

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

I'm keeping this pizza thingy as an encouragement

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

9 months

Do folks really want married priests? Want to up their offerings to support priests' families? Want to hear that father can't go to the hospital right now b/c he has to go to a dance recital? Want to face that it will take about 5 minutes before one says I'm marrying another man?

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

12 days

Today's cute Sunday Mass moment. Lector: "because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." Little kid voice from somewhere in the back: "Uh oh!"

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

"Twitter is full of unsourced quotes." ~ St. Francis of Assisi

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Sermons don't often note this, but it's good to recall that Epiphany is the end of astrology. From the incarnation forward, creation, properly interpreted, points to Jesus Christ.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Each of us is a unique and unrepeatable creation; all shapes and sizes.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

7 months

I dig this church in the neighborhood because they, like, have all the bases covered.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Eleven years ago today. On the one hand, it's been a deep and fascinating journey. On the other hand, I realize that I'm still struggling to adjust to it. So thanks so much for all your prayer and support!

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

1 year

The monks in Spencer did some nice improvements during their covid closure, including cleaning up the retreat house inner courtyard. You can sit out there now. The retreat house has a hobbit-hole feel, no?

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

1 year

I knew a friar, Br. Matthew, may he rest in peace, who used to say the Office of the Dead for the friars he lived with.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Reminds me of one of my greatest moments with a formation director. Formation Director: "Charles, where do you see yourself in ten years?" Me: "Purgatory."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

5 years

Re: the question of weekday holy days of obligation, how it's a burden for the faithful to have to come to church on a weekday, and so on. My reply is always the same: doesn't seem to be a problem on Ash Wednesday.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

5 years

Italian friar lamenting the weather: "Straight from winter to summer! What happened to spring? How will people fall in love?!"

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

I had Mass today with the sisters whose Mother General gives me underwear for Christmas each year, so I was very tempted to say how blessed I am in comparison to Jeremiah and his rotten loincloth. But I resisted and said something about the gospel instead.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

English-as-a-foreign-language fun of the day Friar 1: I'm broken. Friar: 2: We're all broken, brother. Friar 1: Yes, but I also have no money.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

5 months

The argument I usually hear about moving holy days to Sundays is that it's difficult for folks to get to church on a weekday/workday and so on. My answer to that is always the same: doesn't seem to be a problem on Ash Wednesday, and that's not even a day of obligation.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 months

The Paschal Triduum is a funeral that turns into a wedding.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

8 months

Woot! Somebody wants their new car blessed. For this I always use the old version that talks about Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Of course one of the ironies of applying to religious life is that one of things you are most nervous about is the psychological testing. But then you enter and meet the other people who 'passed.'

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

27 days

For the third time in my religious life, it fell to me today to clean out the car of a friar who died unexpectedly. It’s always a curious little glimpse into someone and his daily existence. Among today’s finds, a 🧵

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

1 month

I was chatting with a friar about how when you're learning a language it's easier to talk with another learner than a native speaker. I was reminded of the time I read the gospel in Spanish and Cardinal Dolan said, "Thanks, Charles. That was so bad even I could understand it."

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

5 months

At Mass this morning I recounted the legend of Paul VI weeping on the Monday after Pentecost when he realized he had abolished the octave. Not much reaction.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

11 months

When Baptists call me looking for an exorcism I'm like don't you guys have clergy? Sounds like there's some kind of lacuna in your religion if you have to call me.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

7 years

Michael:“Who is like God” Gabriel: “The Strength of God” Raphael: “God’s Remedy” (Gregory the Great (OoR)) All #Archangels , pray for us!

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

9 months

Reminds me of a lady who called for confession and asks my age. I was 36. "Oh no, you're *way* too young for my confession!" So I explained how we have the senior friars' house here where I could find priests up to 97, and what did she prefer? "Are you making fun of me, sonny?!"

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

There's our province's new novice! Congrats!

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

7 months

One of the great characters of my province of the Order, may he rest in peace.

Conor McDonough OP ⚓️

@ConorMcDonough4

7 months

Such a great photo! East Harlem, 1966: Capuchin friar, Fr Capistran Ferrito, at the plate.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

7 years

A version of Chopped where priests have to give a 3-minute homily on an odd combination of readings.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

St. Francis like i saved you some snow

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

Visiting friar: Your service isn't very good Me; I'm trying; there are a lot of challenges Friar: The phone service

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 months

It ain't quite right to say the Holy See excommunicated Viganò. He excommunicated himself. The DDF just looked into it and declared it. Right, canonist Twitter?

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

The coat of arms of Cardinal Cantalamessa

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 years

Just finished Mass but I'm hanging out because the new priest has a baptism at 12:30 and maybe I can get a blessing. As one of the old fathers taught me, the blessing of a new priest is worth wearing out two horses.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

5 years

In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course. ~ St. Boniface (Office of Readings)

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

3 months

I told a friar I would be there to help him with computer in about an hour. I arrived at 61 minutes. I love being punctual. In Italy, if the friars found you overly precise by their standards, they called you 'puntuale.' If they were really annoyed, they called you 'Swiss.'

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 months

After baptizing the eunuch, Philip disappears (Acts 8 : 39). Thus he became the patron saint of all the priests whom you see at Mass but otherwise can never find.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

9 months

deliver us, o Lord

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

2 years

@PetriOP I've done this too! I've kept mine in little notebooks. Even though I've lived most of my priesthood as a secretary, I've baptized 57, confirmed 1, witnessed 26 marriages, and laid hands on 8 priests at their ordinations.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

You jealous of my Halloween-y chasuble

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

Although the all-time winner in spontaneous intercessions was the lady at Mass, looking right at the pastor, "Let us pray for more, and *better* vocations to the priesthood." Spontaneous intercessions were not invited after that.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

2 months

BTW, I found my rosary. Thanks for prayers and thank you St. Anthony!

Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

2 months

I lost my rosary. Not happy about this. Here it is in case you see it.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

2 months

*Everything* is monastic here.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

5 years

Lunch. Telling the story of my OFM classmate who really wanted a religious name. The friars were like, no, no way, not our theology, baptism, Vatican II and so on. So during the vacation between postulancy and novitiate he changed his civil name to the religious name he wanted.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 months

Friary supper chat. The most memorable spontaneous petitions we have heard at Mass or Morning and Evening Prayer. Here are my top three, a short 🧵.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

4 years

The less people concentrate on their own sins, the more interested they become in the sins of others. ~ St. Augustine (Office of Readings)

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Reminds me of how an older friar once summed up the decline of the Order: "In the old days when a friar arrived at a house the first thing he asked was, 'Where's the Blessed Sacrament?' Then it was, 'Where's the refectory?' Now it's 'What's the wifi password?'"

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

A show like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives but where I go to parishes and grunt my approval at the ways different priests set up for Mass

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

5 months

Condolences to all of you, suffering majority, who observe today Thursday of the 6th Week of Easter, a liturgical day unknown to our devout ancestors.

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Charles, OFM Cap.

@FrCharles

6 years

Reminds me of one of our senior friars talking about a young man whose parents didn't want him to be a priest because he was an only child. Friar: Best priest I know is an only child. Me: Who's that? Friar: Our Lord!

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