Jesus Forgives Sins: a Reminder for Lent - Roman Feast of the Chair of Peter - Cardinal Collins

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, always pondering spiritual things, we may carry out in both word and deed that which is pleasing to you.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Today's gospel in which Jesus forgives the sins of a paralytic and the arrival of Lent this week on Ash Wendesday recalls the importance for one's spiritual life of regular use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (the Sacrament of Confession, Peace, Healing).

Question of the Day: Why not make the Lenten Confession early this year and tell all our friends (and family)?  This way we can encourage fellow Catholics (especially those who might have been away from this sacrament for some time) to meet the Son of Man in this beautiful spiritual experience of renewal of baptism, a dress rehearsal for our meeting with him at the end of our lives.

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THE CHAIR OF PETER AT ROME

The feast of the Chair of Peter at Rome falls on February 22, but this year Ash Wednesday displaces it in the liturgical calendar.  But today at St. Peter's in Rome (where the statue is normally decorated with vestments on this feast and on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29), in light of the consistory creating new cardinals yesterday and the concelebration by the new cardinals with the Pope at the Eucharist, I believe this feast will be observed on this occasion. 

Whether the statue will be "vested" will have to await publication of the photos. Meantime, here's a photo of our newest Canadian cardinal:

Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins
Titular Church of St. Patrick