Ash Wednesday & Penance

We will be offering up some of our prayers and penance during this Lenten season for the election of a new Pope. Today was perhaps his last mass at the See of St. Peter. We were not expecting this news of his retirement--even though Joseph Ratzinger is 86 years old. We have admired the 8-years of service given by Pope Benedict XVI. His fortitude was expected, his loving kindness was a bonus. Even my non-Catholic friends were surprised and asked me for a reaction. Two days later, I can only say that I respect a man who knows his boundaries. (I am a big fan of the "Boundaries" series of books by Cloud/Townsend.)