“If I should fall even a thousand times a day, a thousand times, with peaceful repentance, I will say immediately, Nunc Coepi [Now I begin]”
With his return as quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts recently, Phillip Rivers is once again in the football news. I was fortunate to hear Mr. Rivers speak at a men’s conference in Grand Rapids about a dozen years ago. The focus of his talk was the Latin phrase “nunc coepi” (now I begin). This phrase was initially popularized by Venerable Bruno Lanteri, the founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. This talk and this phrase made a lasting impression. As 2026 begins, I am reflecting on this phrase, and how the Lord is asking me to integrate it into my life in the days and months ahead. I hope you find it as inspiring as I do!
“Say with courage: Nunc Coepi – Now I Begin and walk always in the service of God. Do not keep stopping to look back, because he who looks back cannot hasten forward. Do not content yourself with beginning this year. Begin every day, because each day and for each hour of the day the Lord taught us to say in the ‘Our Father:’ Forgive us our trespasses. Give us this day our daily bread. And do you not see that the enemy seeks to take away your tranquility and confidence in God, two dispositions so necessary for praying well? Take there the counsel of St. Teresa, “Let nothing disturb you”, not even your spiritual miseries, because these are the object and the foundation of the infinite mercy of God, which surpasses the malice of all the sins of the world!”
