First, thank you all so much for the prayers, well-wishes, and sympathy cards for my family. My father, Leo, died on February 11th, 2024, Our Lady of Lourdes (also Super Bowl Sunday). I had the funeral on Thursday, February 15th. My dad was 83 years old and had a good, faith-filled life. He suffered from a few different illnesses and had a good share of suffering these past years, but we were really blessed the last week as a family to all be able to be with my dad, and I really felt God’s grace in it all. So again, thank you for all the outreach and support. You can read my dad’s obituary (I wrote it) and see some pictures of him HERE.
Second, are you ready for Leap Day? We get the blessing of an extra day, Thursday, February 29th! God is giving us a whole extra day, what will you use it for?
Third, let’s pray more! I kind of got nothing at this moment, so I will share a Lenten prayer I came across that is worth praying!
Prayer for Lenten Simplicity:
Free me, Lord Jesus, from anything that obstructs my way to you.
Clear away the clutter of petty grudges.
Remove smudges of resentment and bitterness.
Cleanse me of thoughts filled with anger, envy, or self-pity.
Create space in my life for more kindness and less spitefulness, greater generosity and few self-centered needs, stronger compassion and weakened judgement of others.
Enlarge my heart with a spirit of gratitude this Lent, so that I recognize the simple gifts that lay in abundance all around me.
In your sacred name, I pray. Amen.
Peace,
Fr. Greg