The Bishop taught Scripture to the 2nd-6th years. At one point, I needed to study and summarize each chapter of St. Paul's epistles. So naturally, I found myself writing more poetry. I know the Bishop liked these. I don't remember how many he read to the whole Scripture class, but I know he read the one to Galatians, because of one "special" verse it contains.





1. A fancy intro for the Roman race.
The Gentiles are in trouble, they need grace.


2. As for the Jew, the Law will hardly save –
unless they put in practice what God gave.


3. Both Jew and Gentile are in trouble then!
But faith in Jesus Christ can save all men.


4. For Abraham by faith was justified:
It did not matter he was circuмcised.


5. Because of Adam’s sin the race did fall;
but Christ, by justice, has brought life to all.


6. If someone sins like mad, they’re grace’s friend?
Through death of Christ one’s sin is at an end.


7. The Old Law led to death per accidens;
but grace of Christ to save me always tends.


8. The law of grace saves those in Christ from Hell;
and makes them sons and heirs of God quite well.


9. But what, then, is the deal with the Jews?
You must admit, God has the right to choose.


10. The Jews want justice to be by The Law.
but Justice is by Faith, above you saw.


11. Rejection of the Jews, though quite contrary –
is partial, useful, and quite temporary.


12. Be pure and humble, flee into the wood.
Have Charity and overcome with good.


13. Thus God ordains authorities and powers.
Your good has aught to fear, but evil cowers.


14. If you are stronger, weaker ones judge not;
nor scandalize the spiritual tot.


15. You – cut your weaker brethren lots of slack!
For so Christ Jesus taught you how to act.


16. These Roman Catholics will you greet for me?
From heretics and all dissenters, flee!
(alt.) To Roman Catholics, greetings have been sent;
Avoid dissenters, be obedient.









1. There is no other Gospel, silly guys!
“My” Gospel was from God, I tell no lies.


2. Henceforth, in Old Law justice can’t be found;
and even Barque of Peter ran aground!


3. The Law was pedagogue and guardian;
The Sons of Abraham are Faith-ful men.


4. For we were slaves and heirs, by Christ we’re sons;
and thus the four-fold allegory runs:


As Agar bore the persecuting slave,
The ѕуηαgσgυє brought forth the Hebrew knaves.


The persecuted free-man Sara bore;
The Catholic Church is persecuted more!


5. The spirit and the flesh, eternal war:
Cut off the Judaizers till they’re sore!


If they’re so anxious, scalpel would be good:
to bring these men into soprano-hood.


6. Be humble, heed your spiritual boss;
Thus stigmatized I glory in the Cross.

I know we had a thread (or two?) where a bunch of memories were shared. I thought I'd create an official one. Feel free to repost anecdotes here, even if you posted them in other threads.

Here is a poem I wrote about the yearly Priest Meeting, which Bp Williamson apparently liked because he read it to the whole seminary. He really liked poetry, and I'm sure this firmly entrenched me in the eyes of many as a "teacher's pet" of sorts. Interesting that I was the first seminarian to be dismissed in the 2003-2004 academic year (the first months of Fr. Le Roux's rectorship).

De Congressione Sacerdotum

(Concerning the Priest Meeting)

in iambic pentameter

The priests are coming here to meet once more:
It’s time again for sleeping on the floor.
There’ll be a crowd of refugees this year –
Some 25 or so, it would appear.


It will be fun with fifty priests around –
but some of us will sleep quite near the ground.
At seminary, patience must be tried.
From life of luxury, we all must fly.


Like Halloween, the zombies from their tombs:
Thus lower years will issue from their rooms.
Like corpses feeling coldness in their bones:
Thus first years will awake in St. Jerome’s.


The Sacristy will surely not be bored;
They do not mind, for Jesus is adored.
They labor, although few will see their work:
Behind the MC’s glory they will lurk.


The priests give glory unto Christ the King:
Since Breviaries and Mass kits they will bring.


Refectory will probably be packed,
’cause last year of new sems there was no lack!
But this time, though, much energy is spent:
Dessert for hundred ten, we’re outside Lent!


The Aud’io room now overflows with act:
by stuff to do, will shortly be attacked.
Since conferences are given every day,
‘Tis sure that boredom will be kept at bay.
They do cassettes and now they do CDs,
High quality, as everyone agrees.


The Office tempo will speed up a bit,
and in the pews a lot of guys will sit.
The week of Meeting, life is not the same!
And who will win the coming Hockey game?
The sems and priests discuss their battle plans
and strategy while washing pots and pans.


The rule of silence will be bent a bit;
At ten o’clock to bed they’d better get!
Temptation to behave a little lax,
for at these times Beelzebub attacks.
One must adhere to seminary rule:
It’s not vacation (summer, spring, or Yule!)


Perhaps I might point out to ease your fear:
This kind of meeting happens once a year!

Nice. I believe I slept in the barber shop that meeting. 
I remember that morning when you showed up to Prime in "civies." Certainly wasn't expecting that.

Love the poems, Matthew.  Right up Bishop Williamson's alley for sure 

I just remembered another memory this evening, while listening to a recording of Sunday Vespers.

"Esurientes implevit bonis"
("The hungry will be filled with good things")

One evening during Lent, we had a particularly sparse supper, just cream of onion soup with the usual bread served with the evening meal. That was it.
Apparently that was below the bar for a Lenten supper at the Seminary.
(At the seminary, the main meal was at noon)

I remember sometime between the end of the meal and the end of post-supper recreation +W wrote on the community white board, "Esurientes implevit bonis", followed by a note that seminarians could have bread and fruit preserves in the coffee room until Compline.

I remember taking advantage of that permission. I also remember some seminarians joking (mocking?) about seminarians picking their teeth during compline.

I remember it as a classic example of the compassion Bp W had, despite his reputation as a hard liner against liberalism. He was hard against error, but was tender towards souls. I also remember he only made this allowance once during my 3 years at the seminary while he was Rector.