The Supreme Executive Committee was poring over the Supreme Pontiff’s latest missive, Evangelii Gaudium. We Supremes like to keep an eye on what the others are doing. For example, we are considering adopting purple robes along the lines of those worn by the Supreme Court.
Pope Francis wears his Lent Madness fan chasuble.
Anyway, our eyes perked right up when we realized that Pope Francis had endorsed Lent Madness. From paragraph 6, “There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter.” He goes on to say, “I realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty. Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved.”
So even amidst Lent, we are to experience joy. That is surely a solid, if tacit, endorsement of Lent Madness. We could not agree more, because that’s exactly why the SEC promotes levity alongside penitence. Life is too short to deny joy, even for a moment, let alone forty days and forty nights.
We’re glad to accept the Pope’s endorsement, and the SEC would be happy to concelebrate a festive mass at St. Peter’s on any day of the Holy Father’s choosing during Lent 2014. While we’re in Rome (we’ll be happy to stay in the Apostolic Apartments, since we hear they’re vacant), we’ll console Pope Francis on his namesake’s loss in the Faithful Four of Lent Madness 2010.
Keep doing a good job, Your Holiness, and you might make it into the bracket one day in the life to come — or perhaps, in this life, onto the SEC as an Honorary Supreme. But probably not.
I just wouldn’t point out that Francis didn’t win. Let bygones be bygones. Buy him a beer. He looks like a beer kind of guy
At little early for purple Francis…It’s not Advent until December 1.
ARE YOU KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s NEVER the wrong time to wear purple.EVER.
Well, well, well……That’s really stretching it a bit..pandering to the Pope, are we? Well, are you.or y’all…all-a y’all ?
Letting the SEC stay in the Apostolic Apt would certainly be a historic event and speak strongely towards becoming one Church… even if he charged you a few Euros. Think about it. He could raise a ton of money to support the needs of the poor by renting out those digs. Of course, he’s probably going to have his own Lent Madness Bracket amongst the College of Cardinals… Cause I’m pretty sure they don’t really think ND, St. Johns or any of the other RC colleges or Universities of the NCAA have a chance in March Madness…
Wow, this guy keeps giving me reasons to like him( and, considering I’m a lapsed Catholic, that is no mean feat)!
YOU GO, FRANCIS!
If Pope Francis was a candidate for Lent madness , he would sure get my vote.
Let us know when you’ll be celebrating at the Vatican. We’ll all be there – on LM’s lira, of course!