Father DASSS – A Total Ass! It’s Fun Time!

Fr Arockia Rayappan –

 While I browsed the internet, I saw that my middle name was misspelt as ‘FR.R. Arockia DASSS’ on the official Delhi Archdiocese website. My instant reaction to it was that I needed to bring to the notice of the person who maintained the website. Then, I delayed it, and later I forgot about it. In the process, I often self-answered saying that it was not a big thing to be concerned about at all. But there were other times when I would offer the answers to myself in the following manner: “Let the readers have a laugh over it.” I even gave the benefit of doubt to the administrator, saying, “The person did not do it intentionally. He might have overly been exhausted or even possibly been sleepy while he typed my name. Let me accept that all of us make mistakes.”

Recently it happened that I misspelt the name of Father Nicholas as Nichoals in an article  on Indian Catholic Matters. The incident made me come back to my senses that I too misspell the names of others.

Further I self-talked that it might be that the person who maintained my archdiocesan website might have misspelt unintentionally like I did without any ulterior motive. I offered the benefit of doubt to him because of the instant realization of my own mistake in writing someone’s mistake wrongly. Thereafter, I invested my energy in preparing an abstract for an upcoming bi-annual conference on Bernard Lonergan in Theology in the City 2024 at McGill University.

But the thought to bring to the attention of my name being misspelt to the person concerned nagged me. I kept on smiling at myself recalling what was happening to me. Why was I bothered about it so much?

There, I paused for some time… I asked myself: What does God tell me – here and now? Here in my room, can I listen to God’s voice? Then I decided that I can offer all the excuses and offer the benefit of doubt to the person concerned and remind the person to do the needful. I sent an email update to the person concerned. Additionally, I was inspired to find the spiritual meaning inherent in it. For some, it may sound foolish. Let me become bit foolish myself for the time being.

There I recalled the words of Prophet Samuel at the time of his conversation with the priest Eli (1 Samuel 3:7-11). I repeated the words of the Prophet: Speak, Lord, your servant is listening! Lord, speak! Your servant is listening! While in prayer, I recalled the story narrated at the mass by a preacher in Vinay Gurukul, the Delhi Archdiocesan Minor Seminary. I am not too sure if the preacher was either Delhi Priest Francis Swaminathan or Archbishop emeritus Vincent Concessao who preached the recollection/homily on the Feast of Saint John Vianney, the patron of Vinay Gurukul. This was in fact a real event from the life of Saint John Marie Vianney, the patron of the pastoral clergy both diocesan and religious. Later I found the full story in the internet: To my surprise, the story was even titled Total Ass and narrated  as follows:- “Once upon a time John Vianney was called by the rector of the Major Seminary where he was studying for the priesthood, to inform him of the negative report he received from his professors. The rector, with fear and trembling, said: “John, your teachers don’t think you have what it takes to be ordained a priest and they cannot in good conscience present you for ordination.  One professor, in particular, went on record saying that you are a total ass!” John was not perplexed at all. After a moment of silence, he replied: “Father Rector, do you remember the story in chapter 15 of the book of Judges where God uses Samson to kill a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, thus saving the people of Israel?” “Of course I do” answered the rector. “Now tell me,” continued John Vianney, “If God could work such a wonderful deed with the jawbone of an ass can you imagine what God can accomplish with a total ass?” After the title of the event in the life of Saint Vianney, this article is titled, “Arockia Dhas – An Ass!”

Now I say to myself. I wish to be that ass like Saint Vianney and the jawbone of an ass in the hands of the powerful man Samson in the Book of the Judges.

Then it instantly struck me! I smilingly asked myself: What kind of jawbone do I have in my hand? Am I using it effectively? Then I realized that writing is my jawbone. Why don’t I write about it in the form of an article using my ass-jawbone of writing? Instantly I recalled that it was the ass that carried Jesus to enter into Jerusalem. It was about the ass that Jesus said to his disciples, “The master needs it.” Can you believe it? I couldn’t.

Then I was overjoyed. Now, I am praying that my name be spelt at ‘Arockia Dasss’ not only while I live – but also after my death. Ass has much significance in the biblical narratives in both the Testaments of the Holy Bible. So that, those who will visit the website (at least one person) may be reminded of the ass story in the life of Saint John Marie Vianney/ jawbone in the hands of Judge Samson, / even the ass that carried Jesus when everyone else sang, “Hosanna.”

Furthermore, I was wonderstruck that the ass reminded me of the beginning of the passion week – THE HOLY WEEK, the most important week for every follower of Christ.

Thank you for reading till here! Were you thinking that I was so focused on such a small thing like a name that was misspelt. You may tell me that I am making a mountain out of a molehill. You are right. I second your view.

Then I remembered a spiritual dictum: “God writes straight with the crooked lines (of our lives).” Just recall the events in your life during the last six months, even may be the events of the last week – last two weeks – last month. Ask yourself: how many times have you been upset or lost your cool because someone disrespected you? ; someone did not acknowledge your hard work?; someone ignored you?; someone took you for granted?; someone did not offer the promotion you deserved?; someone did not get the transfer that s/he was looking for at the end of the present assignment?; someone whom you valued ignored you? To some readers, the current political situation might have caused much distress.

The question I wish to ask is: Can we have some humour in our life? Could we laugh at ourselves sometimes [not always 😊 😊]? Now each time I look at the name of my spelling, I smile gently. It fills me with happiness… I also learnt some life-lessons…

The next time when you notice some silly mistakes – committed by your family and dear ones, just move on.  Do not make it a huge issue. Please, do not focus on things that distract you from priorities and assignments you need to do to be do and complete…

As we grow in age and maturity, we look forward to listening, learning, and becoming flexible. Now it dawns on me that I am forty plus. Instead of asking others to change, let me start changing myself. Now I am smiling … It is time to change … “the real change first begins with me,” says Gandhiji. Now, you the readers, tell me if the jawbone of the donkey of writing was used effectively 😊?

(Note: The readers are advised not to interpret it out of context where justice must be done and is required. The author does not side with spiritualizing events that are the consequences of the structural sin.).

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The author is a priest of Delhi Archdiocese, and Ph.D. student at Concordia University, Canada. Please visit the weblink of Concordia Library Spectrum Research Repository for more details NS also for his Orchid ID.  His most cherished quotations are: “Inspiring and effective leaders are made not born – and it can take a lot of hard work to develop the skills and know-how to do this.” “Our life’s trials often reveal our capacity for empathy and kindness.” “A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.”