The A Catholic Motorcyclist

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6

Roy Peter Clark, in his book The Glamour of Grammar, has a rule: Honor the smallest distinctions—even between a and the. Applying this tenet not only improved my writing, it improved me too. It's the humility.

Humility, the only personal quality that Jesus urged on his disciples, does not rank as a proper virtue. St. Thomas Aquinas called it meekness—a potential part of temperance. Humiliating. But if potential for grace is the inverse of pride, it makes sense to pursue humility even in small ways. Enter Mr. Clark's rule.

The Catholic imagination is inclusive. Christ became man to save everyone, Jew and Gentile; master and slave; men and women; and, although not mentioned explicitly in Scripture, motorcyclists. The definite article the sets apart, beyond, above. It is exclusive. The indefinite article a describes one among many; sets the noun it modifies in a group, class, or population. It is inclusive and tends toward the Catholic, the universal.

So what is The Catholic Motorcyclist to do? He becomes A Catholic Motorcyclist—one among many, eager to share the ride, not to own it.

Thank you, Mr. Clark.

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May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - 2 Corinthians 13.14

Click this link to send an email to The Catholic Motorcyclist

On a Mission!

I would like to introduce you to an amazing organization out of Cleveland: The Catholic Cross Bearers Motorcycle Ministry. Their purpose is to provide a Catholic evangelistic presence in the motorcycling world and to all those who are in the streets or imprisoned; and to provide a riding group for Catholic Christian men and women for fellowship and ministry. How about that for a mission statement?

If you want to ride with faithful Catholic Motorcyclists in the Cleveland area this riding season, visit their web site today at Catholic Cross Bearers Motorcycle Mission. I hope to see you there!

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - 2 Corinthians 13.14

Click this link to send an email to The Catholic Motorcyclist

Ride to Praise and Worship

Ride Plan for 2-3 May 2009
New Gathering Time: 2:45 p.m.

• Click here for a ride plan preview


• Updated for Your Riding Pleasure...
  Click here for maps and directions!

The Festival of Praise at Franciscan University starts at 7:00 PM on Saturday, May 2. Let's plan 3 hours of ride time, 2 hour of food time (oh, you're gonna love it). Total travel time: 4 hours each way.

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Saturday, 2 May 2009

Line 'Em Up!

1A) Gather: 2:45 PM

St. Patrick Church
280 North Grant Ave.
Columbus, Ohio

Please arrive with fuel tanks full and bladders empty! :)

2A) Prayer/Blessing: 2:50 PM

Wind 'Em Up!

3A) Depart: 3:00 PM

3B) Dinner!: 3:45 PM
Manna Restaurant
5 North Third Street
Newark, Ohio

Crab cakes? Did someone say, "Crab Cakes?"

5A) Fuel Up, Depart for Steubenville: ~4:30 PM

6A) Motel Check In: ~6:40 PM

After the Festival of Praise, plan to stay at the Super 8 Motel, Steubenville, adjacent to Franciscan University's campus. Room rates start at $67.95/night and they have free high speed internet. Please e-mail to the The Catholic Motorcyclist if you wish to stay at the Super 8. We may be able to take advantage of a discount for group reservations.

7A) Arrive: ~6:55 PM
Franciscan University
1235 University Blvd.
Steubenville, Ohio

8A) Arrive: 7:00 PM
Festival of Praise:
Finnegan Fieldhouse
Franciscan University Steubenville
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM

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Sunday, 3 May 2009

1B) Holy Mass: 8:30 AM
St. Peter's Church
425 N. 4th St.
Steubenville, Ohio

St. Peter's Church was founded by the Order of Preachers!

Gas 'Em Up!

Fuel/Safety Check: 9:30-9:50 AM

2B) Breakfast: 9:50-11:00 AM
The Super 8 motel offers a continental breakfast. Of course we won't need any continental breakfast. What do you think this is? We're going to Spanky's Pancake House for a real motorcyclist's breakfast. With a name like Spanky's, it's got to be good!

3B) Depart for Columbus: 11:00 AM

5B) Arrive: Columbus ~2:30 PM

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - 2 Corinthians 13.14

Click this link to send an email to The Catholic Motorcyclist

Ride to Praise and Worship: May 2, 2009!

Email The Catholic Motorcyclist today for a ride map and other details about the Ride to Praise and Worship on Saturday, May 2, 2009!

This will be a 300 mile round trip ride from downtown Columbus to Fransican University at Steubenville. More details to follow!

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - 2 Corinthians 13.14

Click this link to send an email to The Catholic Motorcyclist

Raison d'être

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

What is the Catholic Motorcyclist about? Through Baptism, all Christians are called to communicate the Good News, and this calling is not optional. A few are called to preach, to use words and sacraments to proclaim Jesus's revelation. Most are called to preach not with words, but through actions; their everyday lives, through their families, work, and recreation.

The Catholic Motorcyclist is a layman. He loves his wife and son. He is a parishioner of St. Patrick Parish at Columbus, Ohio. He loves the Eucharist and the Holy Rosary. He writes computer programs for a bank. He rides a Buell Lightning.

The Catholic Motorcyclist will not impress you with his knowledge of theology. He studies the Catechism, but is no catechist. He reads the Bible, but is no biblical scholar. If asked about these things, he will refer you to his beloved Dominican Friars at St. Patrick's.

Yet The Catholic Motorcyclist yearns to guide people toward the Church, our Blessed Mother, the Saints, the deposit of faith leading us to Jesus Christ and through Him the Holy Spirit and our Father. To this end, The Catholic Motorcyclist organizes group motorcycle rides to holy places in Ohio. So far, he has lead small groups from Columbus to the Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation at Cary, Ohio.

On May 2, 2009, the Catholic Motorcyclist will guide a group of riders from Columbus to a Festival of Praise at Franciscan University at Steubenville, a 300 mile round trip, including an overnight stay in the Steubenville area.

Email The Catholic Motorcyclist today for a ride map and other details about the Ride of Praise and Worship on Saturday, May 2, 2009!

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - 2 Corinthians 13.14

Click this link to send an email to The Catholic Motorcyclist

The Catholic Motorcyclist Returns!

It's cold right now, but Lord willing spring will be here shortly. And we will ride. Stand by for news about our first Rosary Run of 2009!

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - 2 Corinthians 13.14

Click this link to send an email to The Catholic Motorcyclist

Rosary Run is GO for May 10!

Mission Statement
What is a Rosary Run?
Register for Our Second Rosary Run of 2008!

I hope to see you at St. Agatha Church in Upper Arlington at 9:00 AM.

It's raining now, but tomorrow's weather forecast is encouraging, calling for partly cloudy skies and a temperature of 70 degrees F.

Please email to me at The Catholic Motorcyclist if you can make it to OLC tomorrow! Click this link for more information...Rosary Run to OLC on May 10!

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. - 2 Corinthians 13.14

Click this link to send an email to The Catholic Motorcyclist