Palm Sunday 2026

Hippolyte Flandrin, The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem, 1844.
Click to enlarge,

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the

Sunday of the Passion:  Palm Sunday

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race, you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Addendum, 3/20:  In his Palm Sunday homily, Pope Leo said God does not listen to the prayers of those who claim to wage war in the name of the Prince of Peace, quoting from the first chapter of Isaiah:

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Merry Christmas to All 2025

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Feast of

Christmas Day

Madonna and Child by Il Sassoferrato, circa 1650

Well, fellas, Christmas has come round again, with its timeworn message of peace, goodwill to men.  A message this old world desperately needs to hear - but is anyone listening?  

As I've been preparing this post, I've tried to think of how to express what Christmas means to me, but my sluggish old man's brain has been slow to respond.  However, I happily discovered that I already said those things in this Christmas post from 2022, if anyone cares to read it.

Sadly, Christmas at our house is not as merry and bright as it has been in Christmases past. For one reason or another, none of M.P.'s family are coming to enjoy the usual big Yule feast with us.  So no need for all that cooking, baking, and decorating: a single wreath over the fireplace is enough.  But M.P.  has begun preparations for our smaller Christmas dinner a deux, probably on Sunday, which will feature his luscious Red Cajun Duck, a real bell-ringer.  I do wish some of my truckbuddies lived nearer, so we could invite them over for a really festive dinner now and then. 

Anyway, I wish all my truckbuddies a very Merry Christmas with the ones they love.  Here's one of my favorite Christmas songs in a thrilling a cappella version by Heart that I just now discovered.  Crank it up, sit back, and enjoy.

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Bonus:  Pope Leo delivers a brilliant and beautiful homily during Midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica:

This is the Christian faith.

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Pleas for Peace: Senator, King, and Pope

For the record, I'm presenting clear sight and plain speaking from three good men - but who will listen?  The world has been warned.

1.  Senator Bernie Sanders, always a voice of reason and justice for all:

2.  King Abudllah of Jordan, who was educated in Britain and the United States, is the longest-serving monarch in the Muslim world and one of the most respected, and has always been a voice of tolerance and peace in the Middle East:

3.  Pope Leo also calls for peace, warning of a return to savage barbarism if peace is not preserved:

The world is sitting on the edge of a volcano. It's too awful to think about.  God help us all.

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Habemus Papam

What a surprise:  Leo XIV, the first American pope.

God cares for us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God's hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us move forward.

--from Pope Leo's speech today

Pope Leo XIV was proclaimed today from the balcony of St. Peter's Basillica as the new Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.  A native of Chicago, he has served as Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, and speaks English, Spanish, and Italian.  He was made a cardinal by the late Pope Francis in 2023.

Yesterday, I blogged about the dark forces that seem to be engulfing the whole world.  Perhaps Pope Leo will be one of the leaders of a countervailing force of light and peace.  Perhaps, with his diverse personal and pastoral background, he is the right man for these times.  Let us hope so.

Wikipedia article: Pope Leo XIV 

Pope Leo's first speech (in Italian, with English subtitles), ending wtih the traditional papal blessing urbi et orbi:

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