A Poem of Gratitude to the Lord*

Fifty years have passed. It seems like yesterday, a morning of snow. Jesus took the flag and started down the road; I started walking after Him.

What time is it my brothers? Is dawn breaking?

The anointing with all its weight of sweetness, descended on my soul, a nest of illusions, an unending field of dreams. Like stars falling in an abyss, so too a thousand graces and gifts of the Most High descended to the depths of my being through the hands of that blessed old man Monsignor Delgado. And I began my walk: down a path of surprise and tenderness. That day was like the first day of creation, an explosion of joy that I wished to absorb to the last drop, but it could not be possible.

On that day, that month and that year I so desired to be with my beloved on the inac­cessible height of the tallest mountain in the world. Telling him: I want to crown you with a garland king of all my worlds; I want to sing to you in the light of each morning while the stars still shine, I want to row in your boat until I reach the shore; I want my love to be eternally fresh and pure like the rain. Oh, my Jesus: I want to hold on to you and embrace you in a whirlwind of passion and happiness, without ever letting go. How I wish time had stopped right then, on that day, like an old watch tired and still.

In the annals of my history, it was a unique day. Fifty years ago.

* Father Ignacio wrote this poem on his 50th anniversary of priesthood

Circular Letters N.15 by Father Ignacio Larrañaga