UPDATE: Remember when I said that Steve died on the feast of St. Faustina? Well, he died at the Hour of Mercy. Read this:
“Steve Jobs died at home of respiratory arrest and a pancreatic tumor at about 3 p.m. on Oct. 5, according to his death certificate. His occupation was listed as “entrepreneur.”
I could not believe what I was hearingafter the death of Steve Jobs. Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas called for a picket of his funeral because he “gave God no glory & taught sins”. They also tweeted that “Steve Jobs is in hell”, claiming that the cancer that took his life was a punishment from God. These are seriously sick people, but it’s not the first time they have preached their hatred.
I can’t say that I knew Steve Jobs personally. I never sat down with him for a glass of bear, nor have I ever exchanged eMails with him. When I first heard of his illness, I did write him a note to say that I would be praying for him and remembering him in my Masses. I never received, nor did I expect a response.
To me, Steve Jobs is another Walt Disney. He didn’t only think outside the box, like Walt, he through the box away.
From all that I have read, it appears to me that Steve was a good man, he loved his wife and children, he was a hard worker, he sought excellence in his work and expected that from those around him. I know he wasn’t a Christian. Steve Jobs was a Buddist. In my eyes, Steve was an honest man who used the gifts that God bestowed on him and he used them to their fullest. He was extremely talented. If all of us used our God given talents so faithfully and zealously, we would all achieve great things.
I want to reflect back on something that I have noticed through the years. Dates have always been important to me. Every time there is a major event, good or bad, I check to see what feast day it is. For example, the first iMac was released on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary (August 15, 1998). The first iPhone was on June 29, 2007, the feast of SS. Peter & Paul. I don’t intend to go through all of Apple’s products, but one date that stuck out especially in my mind was the date that Steve Jobs left this world. It was October 5, the Feast of St. Faustina, known as “God’s secretary of mercy”. Maybe it’s all a coincidence, but for those who believe, there are no coincidences, only God incidences.
I have prayed (as we should do for all people) a few Rosaries and Divine Mercy Chaplets for Steve’s eternal rest and will offer Mass when I have an opportunity. I think that is the least I can do for a guy who made my life much easier and gave me so many tools for the New Evangelization. Yes, I’m a podcaster! I can also thank Steve Jobs for the inspiration in naming my podcast.
So Steve, we have never met in this life, but I pray we can sit and have a chat in the next. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual like shine upon him. May he rest in peace!
Fr. Jay Finelli,
the iPadre
Last Friday, I attended the Red Carpet Premier and press conference of The Mighty Macs. It was the second time that I saw this movie.