A cousin on my mother’s side finished his theology classes last month and will soon be entering priesthood. Although he doesn’t expect anything from us, I thought he deserved a graduation gift. I had actually been thinking about this for weeks now but haven’t really made a decision. Priests take a vow of poverty, don’t they? I know they will all also be asked to live in Spartan accommodations provided by the parish in which they would be assigned. Money and expensive items would therefore be out of the question. I thought hard about his hobbies and interests as well. When we were kids, I remember that he used to love collecting insects and studying them. I don’t think that is something he will be allowed to do in the seminary either. I do recall, however, that his teachers and the priests at his seminary usually wore long-sleeved shirts with collars. Cufflinks seemed to be a good option. I’m pretty sure priests wear cufflinks, too, perhaps even religious cufflinks. I saw a pair of simple but elegant Celtic knot cufflinks made of silver the other day and just knew that they were the right pair to give a priest. The design was sleek and suited someone who wanted to keep a low profile. It was like an accessory yet with functions that were truly useful. Seeing as how I am not likely to think of anything more appropriate, the cufflinks were my gift of choice. I have already placed an order and plan to hand it to my cousin in a small blue box. It suits his new stature and purpose in life. It may not have been a lifelong dream but the peace in his gaze tells me he’s made the right decisions.
