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December 7
Aloysius Schmitt, Columba, and Abu Sa'id Abul-Khayer.
David Barnhart
December 07, 2025
Chipmunk, 2023. Own photo.
Today marks the death of Aloysius Schmitt, Roman Catholic priest and chaplain, in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. As the USS Oklahoma was sinking, he helped sailors escape through a narrow porthole, but drowned while continuing his life-saving efforts.
Today is the birthday, in 521, of Saint Columba, a foundational monastic figure in Ireland and Scotland, whose feast day we marked on June 9. He set the precedent for Irish and Scottish monastic life, and established the monastery at Iona, among many others.
Today is also the birthday, in 967, of Abu Sa’id Abul-Khayr, Persian Sufi poet who in some writings called himself “Nobody, son of Nobody.” His mystical poetry highlights unity with God or speaks of God as a lover.
Reflection:
A prayer attributed to Saint Columba:
“Alone with none but thee, my God,
I journey on my way.
What need I fear when thou art near,
Oh king of night and day?
More safe am I within thy hand
Than if a host did round me stand.”
Abu Sa’id Abul-Khayr wrote:
“Life here is a gamble in which when you win,
you lose. Be content, that's how you beat the game. This world is like a pair of dice,
the only reason you pick them up
is to throw them down!”
and
Love came and flew as blood in my veins
Emptied me of myself and filled me with beloved.
Each part of my being she conquered
Now a mere name is left to me and the rest is she.
Prayer: Love, fill us with your divine self. Amen.