On my vacation to Chicago I met Cardinal George today after the morning Mass where he was the celebrant. As providence would have it, I was parking for the 11 a.m. Mass when we noticed the prior Mass ending and I told my wife that soon we will see the Cardinal. Sure enough, here he came with his two asssiting Deacons. I crossed the street and got in line and greeted him explaining that I'm visiting from New Orleans and a deacon for my Archdiocese. He immediately commented that I belonged to Archbishop Aymond, a good man! I echoed his sentiment and then went and met one of the Deacons still waiting by the Cardinal's side.
Meeting a Cardinal, one of the princes of the Church and a man who could be elected Pope, is a pretty big deal, especially in the USA. I'm doing this from memory but currently we have sitting Cardinals in Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago and Washington D.C. Retired but still serving are Cardinals in D.C., New York and Philadelphia. If I'm right that's 7 men in our country named Cardinals by either John Paul II or Benedict XVI.
I'm thrilled to have met Cardinal George and to have celebrated Mass in the Chicago Cathedral of the Holy Name. And just so all you guys know I'm grounded in my faith, hearing the Word of God and receiving Jesus in Holy Communion was the best part of this Sunday.
And sitting in the pew, next to and with my wife, was really nice to. I have no idea the last time that happened.
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