I am now of an identical age to that when my mother enjoyed her last Christmas before her expiry the following October on the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, almost exactly a year after my elevation to the episcopate on the feast of St Francis of Assisi, which, of course, she attended.
A little over four years ago, indeed on December 13th, I announced my withdrawal from public broadcasting on television and radio. I had long since quit giving print media interviews. By a curious coincidence, the clock (left in the picture) indicates the time as a little after 4.00 pm.
I am not especially fond of formal portraits these days, not recognising always the person I see in them, but acquiesced nonetheless just one last time on Christmas Day. Semi-formally attired and wearing selected decorations, mist and lights were added to an erstwhile dark picture taken just three days after the solstice. This was to indicate perceived aspects of my psyche. The expression I wear is serious, stern even, but hopefully not unkind.
The whole is immersed in a past time.
I cast a shadow (as evinced by the silk topper), and quite obviously do not belong to anything other than this world. Yet everything is transient in the world in which I dwell. Including me. Hence this is my last official photographic portrait, and I share it with whomsoever takes an interest in it.
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