On Ash Wednesday, March 5, this coming week, the Catholic Church throughout the world will begin the solemn season of prayer, fasting, penance, and almsgiving known as Lent.

Every word of Jesus in the Scriptures touches us deeply because He speaks to us from His relationship with His heavenly Father.

In preparation for a Catholic Funeral Mass the family is given the chance to pick the Scriptures that will be read. Over the years I have noticed that often they will pick the Beatitudes.

In the Archdiocese of San Francisco there is a great devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. The archbishop has led many pilgrimages there.