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I never knew about this quote until I went to Chicago in June of 2005 to watch my Mother die, then plan, preside and preach at her funeral. I found the full quote on a scrap of paper in her handwriting; it became the basis of the homily. It comes from the opening of Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet In Heaven. I think about that as this past Monday would have been her 100th birthday. The quote is all about transitions—some terribly painful, some joyful, some simply inevitable. The quote ends …We just don’t know it at the time.

Who was at the Last Supper? The Twelve, of course, but surely more—the family of the house where the meal was eaten; the Mother of Jesus (if she was at the foot of the Cross on Good Friday, she didn’t take an uber from Nazareth that morning to get there); and perhaps other disciples, as well (if the “Beloved Disciple” is someone not of the Twelve [Lazarus?], he was there, too). And, perhaps, the two disciples on the way to Emmaus.

We have arrived at the Octave of Easter, the end of the “Eight-Day Day,” and we celebrate today as “Divine Mercy Sunday.” Is there anything more central to the experience of Easter than this? I don’t think so. Neither does Pope Francis: remember that the first (I think!) book he published upon being named the new Bishop of Rome is “The Name of God is Mercy.” And that brings me to reflect on a directive published by the Vatican a couple of weeks ago, from the Dicastery for Clergy, on the issue of Mass stipends.

A few quotes to celebrate gratitude—He IS risen!!

This will be a dense essay—appropriate for the end of Lent and your penance! Please don’t give up on it—it has a “happy ending.”

There are so many episodes in the New Testament that don’t seem, when the events occur, to make much sense. It’s hard, at the moment, to see a purpose for what happens.

We’re surely familiar with the saying, “If you can see light at the end of the tunnel, remember: you’re still in the tunnel.” It’s true, but it beats not seeing any light at all!

Many of us (like me) have no recollection of our baptism and only a vague remembrance of our confirmation. We were babies when we were baptized and very young (6th grade, for me) when confirmed. I’m not sure what the overall effect would have been in any event, as the entire of both sacraments was celebrated in Latin. But the ritual itself would have been impressive.

We have begun Lent, and I hope and pray that our season of penitence and repentance will be powerful and help us enter into the joy of Easter more wonderfully than ever before.

He may or may not be dying, but Pope Francis is still working, even in the hospital! Today (that is, Tuesday, 2-25) the Vatican website published his message for Lent, and I want to share some of the highlights in order better to focus ourselves during our 40 day journey to Easter.

I hope everyone can recognize this title from “Sanford & Son”—and for us Catholics “the Big One” is also coming very soon.

We don’t have the reading of the Decalogue today, but we do have the results of not following it. Jeremiah is clearest: cursed is anyone who trusts (turns into their ‘god’) in human beings (or anything other than God).

There is no coherence to these thoughts; take them separately, or pitch them, as you will. I read a devotional post recently praising the Blessed Mother and the Holy Spirit as ‘consolators.’ It’s a beautiful image, especially for the Holy Spirit in the great Pentecost Sequence (Consolator optime the best Consoler). But I think most people think that a synonym for “consolation” is “comfort,” and this is a misunderstanding.

“Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans…”

Buckle up, people: it’s theology time! At the end, I’ll share the two reasons for this essay.

[Editor’s note: this essay is based on notes that were intended for this past weekend’s homily, but I forgot about the guest speaker for Catholic Charities!] All of this past Sunday’s readings have the flavor of the past season(s)—Isaiah 40 reminds us of Advent; Titus was the reading for Midnight Mass on Christmas; Luke is a throwback to John the Baptist (Advent) and the actual celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. This is not redundance: it is a summing up of the season(s). It offers us promise and fulfillment.

At the end of November I took all of our “Ordinary Time” vestments to be cleaned, knowing that with the purple of Advent and the white/gold of Christmas they wouldn’t be needed for a while. But beginning this Monday, it’s the default color of choice for a few weeks, until Lent begins on 3 March.

Chances are, you have but didn’t realize it at the time (or perhaps even now). That’s OK! Most of mine have been minor, but here are some of them.

What is the beginning of a new calendar year for Catholics? Liturgically, it is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Devotionally, it is a World Day of Prayer for Peace. Both of these deserve attention.

Yes, I know the observation of St Paul (I Corinthians 1:26-31) that God chooses the weak and foolish to shame the wise and strong. But why?