A while ago I posted a lengthy series of posts on why Jane and I had chosen to become Roman Catholic. On reflection, I realized that I’d left out an important part of the story.

What I related was my intellectual and spiritual journey, the studying I had done, the thinking and praying I had done, as though I were the active agent in all this. It certainly seemed that way at the time. But in fact, it was the Holy Spirit at work all the time. I followed a path, but I was led along that path, and it seems only fair to say so.

And then, there were many people praying for us as well. I’d like to particularly mention Julie D. of Happy Catholic, who prayed for us when I asked—diligently, over a long period of time, too.

And in the context of people I only know “on-line,” as it were, I find I have to mention the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Thomas Aquinas, both of whom were sources of aid and comfort to me over the last year.

Regarding St. Thomas Aquinas, I’ve observed that although there are “official” patron saints for all manner of occupations, there is no specified patron for software engineers. The closest is St. Isidore of Seville, the patron saint of the Internet, so named because he wrote one of the first encyclopedias. For my part, I think St. Thomas would be an excellent patron for software folks. As a philosopher and theologian he spent his days building fine distinctions and subtle abstractions into beautiful and coherent cathedrals of thought. Which is, quite literally, what I attempt to do at work every day.

Dear Lord, thank you for your leading. Blessed Mother, St. Thomas, thank you for your prayers.