Commins was so fast — his edges so strong and his crossovers so sharp — not even the little hockey speed demons could catch him.

Commins is only 27. A Frenchman who grew up in a military family that moved 12 times, he’s a St. Louis transplant by way of South America, the west coast of Africa, Florida, and a one-year stint at a boarding school in New Hampshire where he perfected his skating. He’s been an ordained priest in St. Louis for less than two years.

After several stints in tropical climates — including a year in seminary in Gabon, Africa — he’s taken full advantage of St. Louis’ winter weather to become Steinberg’s unofficial holy man of the ice.

He can be found at the fabled outdoor rink — and sometimes at the indoor rink in Brentwood — skating full speed in his cassock and white cleric’s collar about once a week. Sometimes he comes with members of his historic south St. Louis church, other times alone.

Wherever people find him, they see a man captured by the joy of skating. And they smile as if they’ve seen something that’s a little bit divine.