Homily for Solemnity of St. Patrick

Homily for 
the Solemnity of St. Patrick

March 17, 2026
Collect
Matt 28: 16-20
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

(at OL of the Valley
Orange, N.J.)

God chose St. Patrick to preach his glory to the Irish.  We give God glory for that as we pray to share in the divine glory because we’re Christians and, by God’s gift, continue Patrick’s mission of proclaiming God’s wondrous deeds to all (Collect).

Patrick’s story itself is wondrous—how God brought him to Ireland, guided his escape, and brought him back to the Irish; how God used him to win them, bringing more than a year of favor from the Lord (Is 61:2); how God enabled him to forgive both those who’d enslaved him and a false friend who later grievously betrayed him; and how God planted the faith so deeply in Ireland that Patrick’s spiritual offspring have fulfilled Jesus’ command to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19).

All of us are directly or indirectly Patrick’s offspring—some by national heritage, others in virtue of the labors and the wisdom of Irish missionaries, missionaries to Europe in the so-called Dark Ages and missionaries to the farthest reaches of the world in recent centuries—not least to this part of that world, as the necrologies of every diocese in the Northeast bear witness.  In my home diocese of St. Augustine (which covered 90% of Florida at the time), the FBI clergy, foreign-born Irish, outnumbered all others.  My early parish priests were Frs. McLaughlin and Casey, and the bishop was Joseph Patrick Hurley.[1]

Jesus promised his apostles to be with them always (28:20).  The world needs his presence as much now as it did in the Dark Ages or the age of exploration and conquest.  May St. Patrick’s “merits and intercession” recall our troubled world to God’s glory, rather than to MAGA, and the hope for glory that Jesus offers to all who bear his name and observe his commands (28:20).

---

[1] Who was the son of Irish immigrants.

Berkeley Meeting Prepares Missionaries for Salesian Mission Day 2026

Berkeley Meeting Prepares Missionaries for Salesian Mission Day 2026

(ANS – Berkeley, Calif. – March 16, 2026) – On March 11, Salesian missionaries serving across the Western United States gathered in Berkeley, Calif., for a day of reflection, formation, and fraternity in preparation for Salesian Mission Day 2026. Coordinated by JC Montenegro, delegate for mission animation, Fr. Fabian Cardenas, delegate for youth ministry, and Luis Chacon, coordinator of the Salesian Missionary Volunteers, the meeting brought together missionaries from various countries serving young people thruout the province. Fr. Alejandro Rodriguez opened the day with a spiritual reflection on missionary identity within the Salesian charism, recalling the early expeditions of St. John Bosco and the first Salesians who arrived in the United States. Participants reviewed the “Welcome Manual for Salesians” arriving from abroad, a resource designed to support their integration and accompaniment. A shared breakfast preparation reflected the spirit of fraternity, while a Zoom session with Marco Fulgaro from the Congregation’s Mission Dept. in Rome offered insights into discernment and missionary formation. The day concluded with fellowship, a walk among the redwoods, and the presence of Fr. Mel Trinidad, provincial, reaffirming that the missionary spirit remains central to the Salesian vocation.

Homily for 4th Sunday of Lent

Homily for the
4th Sunday of Lent

March 15, 2026
Eph 5: 8-14
John 9: 1-41
Villa Maria, Bronx
Our Lady of the Assumption, Bronx
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx

(by James Tissot)

“Live as children of light” (Eph 5: 8).

Today’s the 2d of 3 Sundays when we break from St. Matthew’s Gospel and take up 3 important (and long) stories from St. John which have to do with water, light, and life.  They’re preparing the Church’s catechumens for Baptism and preparing the rest of us to renew our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus.

Last week’s gospel of the Samaritan woman at the well focused on the living water that Jesus offers to believers—the living water of the Holy Spirit, who enables us to worship God in spirit and truth.

This week’s story features an anointing, washing, and light.  “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’  So I went there and washed and was able to see” (John 9:11).  How baptismal is that?

The reading from 1 Samuel also involved an anointing, “and from that day on, the spirit of the Lord rushed upon David” (16:13), which I think is one of the most magnificent lines in the entire Bible.

The 1st and essential part of Baptism is being washed with water and the Holy Spirit (cf. John 3:5).  But almost as important is the anointing with sacred chrism, an anointing repeated in Confirmation—another sacrament of our initiation into Christ.  As the name suggests, chrism conforms us to Christ, the Anointed One of God; it indicates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Christian—one who bears the name and sacramental seal of Christ—just as the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism.  That was his anointing for his sacred ministry as the Father’s beloved Son.  When he pours that Holy Spirit onto us, we become the Father’s beloved children.

The blind man who was anointed and then washed had his eyes open to the light.  His perception gradually enabled him to see who Jesus is:  the man called Jesus, a prophet (9:17), a man from God (9:33), and the Son of Man who is to be worshiped (9:35-38).

The Eastern Catholic Churches, and the Orthodox also, have a 2d name for Baptism:  enlightenment or illumination.  The Holy Spirit gives light to our eyes to recognize and follow Christ.

That recognition is only the beginning.  It has to lead us to worship the Father and Jesus in Spirit and truth, as it did the man born blind.  St. Paul tells us that we “were once darkness,” i.e., dead in sin, “but now you are light in the Lord.”  Consequently, we must “live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth” (Eph 5:8-9).  Darkness no longer belongs in our lives:  “take no part in the fruitless works of darkness” (5:11):  in lies, theft, impurity, greed, rash judgment, slander, and gossip.  “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead” (5:14), and walk in Christ’s light.  Speak truth, be honest, pray, treat everyone with respect, offer your bodily and spiritual sufferings to God as sacrificial offerings, imitating Christ our life.  Cling to him as the man born blind did, even at the cost of a social penalty:  “they threw him out” (John 9:34).  People who adhere to Jesus’ teachings—and the Church’s—don’t ordinarily walk in elite circles, as for example, the powers-that-be ignore the Pope and bishops when they teach about war and peace and human dignity.

But “Christ will give you light” (Eph 5:14)—eternal light, eternal peace, eternal life.

 

 

Appeal for Prayer from Salesian Middle East Provincial

Appeal for Prayer from the Salesian Middle East Provincial

(ANS – Beirut – March 13, 2026) – With a brief and direct message, yet one filled with emotion, the Salesian superior of the Middle East Province (MOR), Fr. Simon Zakerian, invites the entire Salesian Family worldwide to support with their prayers the peoples who live in the tormented lands of the Middle East.

Fr. Zakerian weighs his words carefully in the video he has released. Certainly, because he speaks in Italian, a language that is not his mother tongue, being originally from Syria; but above all, because he tries to convey fully the suffering, fears and, at the same time, the hopes and desire for normality of entire populations tried not only by the latest war events but, above all, by years and years of almost uninterrupted conflict.

“Our young people in the Middle East have been dreaming of days of peace and stability for many years, just so they can live their lives normally. Alas, this does not happen: one war ends in a Middle Eastern country, and another war begins!” says Fr. Zakerian.

His message is a simple one, aimed solely at expressing gratitude for the prayers already offered to God to implore peace for the Middle East; and at the same time, encouraging people not to stop doing so, so that those who live “in anxiety, worry ... and fear” do not feel alone, forgotten and abandoned.

The complete video with the message from the provincial is available in the original Italian version on ANSChannel, the YouTube channel of the Salesian Info Agency.

Below is the full transcript:

Dearest members of the Salesian Family,

Many of you have written to me and sent me messages to find out a little about the situation we are experiencing in the Middle East at this delicate and difficult time. I am speaking to you from Don Bosco House here in Lebanon, where the situation is very serious, very difficult, and very delicate, as it is throughout the Middle East. People are still frightened: there is a lot of fear about this cruel war, this war that is causing suffering to young and old alike. Here in Lebanon, there have been no classes for days, neither in schools nor in universities, but there are many dead and many wounded. Throughout the Middle East, bubbles of revenge, war and hatred are growing. It is something that makes the heart weep; unfortunately, it is something very difficult. For many years, our young people in the Middle East have been dreaming of days of peace and stability, just so they can live their lives normally. Alas, this does not happen: one war ends in a Middle Eastern country, and another war begins.

For this reason, I ask you for a special prayer, dear friends, on behalf of all the Salesians in the Middle East and the entire Salesian Family: young people, children and teenagers. Pray! The most beautiful thing you are doing and continue to do is pray: let us pray for peace, as Pope Leo XIV asked us to do and as the Catholic patriarchs and bishops of the Middle East have asked us to do. Let us pray for peace, because in the Holy Land, our situation is very difficult: frightened by so many missiles, all our homes and all the simple people live in anxiety and worry. And then, in Lebanon, in Iran, throughout the region, so....

This message has only one purpose: to thank you for all the affection, closeness, and prayers of the entire Salesian Family, and beyond; and second, please continue to pray with us for peace, asking and saying: “Lord, give us your peace, you who are the King, the Prince of Peace,” asking for the intercession of Mary Most Holy, Help of Christians, Queen of Peace, Mary our Mother.

General Council 2026 Work Begins at Salesian GHQ

General Council 2026 Work Begins at Salesian GHQ

(ANS – Rome – March 11, 2026) – The first plenary session of the general council for 2026 opened on the morning of Monday, March 9, at Salesian Headquarters in Rome and will continue until April 17. With this meeting, the members of the general council, led by the rector major, Fr. Fabio Attard, are embarking for the first time on a new cycle of assembly meetings, no longer on a half-yearly basis (summer-winter), but on a 4-monthly basis (March-April; July-August; November-December), with shorter but more frequent meetings, aimed at giving a renewed and more agile rhythm to the most important decisions of animation and government, which require the presence of the entire general council.

The general daily program

The session includes almost 30 days of work, divided between council meetings, community moments, and institutional visits, and the presence of all the councilors at the Generalate for over 5 weeks guarantees the continuity of discussion and community discernment that characterizes the working method of the rector major and his council.

The specific program runs over 6 weeks, with daily morning and afternoon council meetings, interrupted only by the liturgical solemnities of Lent and Easter. There will also be opportunities for fellowship and fraternity with other communities in Rome, both Salesian and non-Salesian, and in the week after Easter, starting on Easter Monday, there will also be community retreat, led by the rector major emeritus, Fr. Pascual Chavez.

Ordinary activities

As usual, the plenary session will focus on 3 fundamental areas: the appointment of new provincials; the study of the reports of the extraordinary visitations; and issues of particular relevance and importance for the institutional life of the Congregation.

On the first point, the agenda concerns the appointments of superiors of: Argentina North, United States West, Central Africa, Piedmont-Valle d'Aosta, and Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

As for the extraordinary visitations carried out by the councilors in the previous months to be evaluated, there are 8, concerning: Portugal, Warsaw, Ireland, Recife, Peru, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, Equatorial Tropical Africa, Ethiopia-Eritrea, and Sri Lanka.

Through the study of these reports, the general council has at its disposal a fundamental tool for gaining direct knowledge of, and thus accompanying, the local realities of the various provinces and visitations.

As for other strategic issues for the journey of the Congregation, topics of study include consultation on the canonical form of the UPS vice province and related discernment, the pastoral projects of the council, updating the Colle Don Bosco and Salesian Places project, the Statute and Regulations of the Central Archives, the sdb.org website, and the final balance sheet.

The council's upcoming commitments

At the end of this plenary session, the general council will meet again for the summer plenary session scheduled for August 6-7.

Salesian Missions Helps Construct Technical-Vocational Center in Madagascar

Salesian Missions Helps Salesian Technical and Vocational Center Construct New Building

Photo © Salesian Missions

(ANS – Mahajanga, Madagascar – March 12, 2026) – Students attending the Salesian technical and vocational center in Mahajanga, Madagascar, will benefit from newly constructed facilities. The funding has come from Salesian Missions of New Rochelle. The work began in March 2025 and continues.

The project will benefit 400 students with the Salesian community as well as those living in the broader community who will have access to the education offered.

The TAFITA Enterprise is responsible for the construction of the first and second floors of the building. The Salesian community has made the effort to increase its participation to cover certain expenses such as transport of materials, water, and electricity, as well as other accessories for construction.

A Salesian noted: “This project is essential for the education of youth in the region. There is little access to high-quality vocational and technical training so youths can learn the skills for employment. We had more students than could fit in the current center, and we need to expand to meet better the needs of the community. This construction project, once its finished, will allow us to provide better education to more students.”

The Salesians have 11 centers and work in several locations in the country, including the Don Bosco House in Ivato in the outskirts of Antananarivo. Salesians have been in Ankililoaka since 1982. They have constructed schools and churches, as well as a youth center. They are working to ensure quality education and make sure no student is left behind.

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. 70% of Madagascar’s almost 19 million people live in poverty; 5.7 million of those are youths between the ages of 10-24, according to UNICEF.

Source: Mission Newswire

Homily for Thursday, Week 3 of Lent

Homily for Thursday
3d Week of Lent

March 12, 2026
Jer 7: 23-28
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

“I commanded my people:  Listen to my voice.  Walk in all the ways that I command you” (Jer 7: 23).

Thru Jeremiah, the Lord laments his people’s infidelity, expressed in disobedience to his commands.  Obedience would express their faithfulness, obedience that not only hears and absorbs his commands but also carries them out.

Elsewhere in this chapter, Jeremiah identifies their infidelities:  idolatry, of course, but also oppression of resident aliens, orphans, and widows—the most vulnerable members of society; the shedding of innocent blood and unjust dealing with their fellow Israelites (7:5-6).

You and I can use Lent to resolve greater obedience to the Gospel and our rule of life:  faithful prayer, charity toward our brothers, moral support for the Congregation’s mission.  We can offer our Lenten sacrifices, however small they be, as atonement for the infidelities of Christians, which are numberless according to what we hear and read.

We pray to be faithful ourselves; the collect put it as “pressing forward all the more eagerly toward the worthy celebration of the Paschal Mystery.”  May this celebration of the mystery today both express and advance our faithful response to God’s love.

Pope Leo: Oratories Help Young People Overcome Isolation

Pope Leo: Oratories Are Vital in Helping Young People Overcome Isolation

Photo © Vatican Media

(ANS – Olgiate Comasco, Italy – March 9, 2026) – In a message signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the new complex in Olgiate Comasco named after St. John Bosco, Pope Leo XIV urged people to appreciate the role of oratories as “spaces of true fraternity” in the life of the Church and society. With this message, the first Augustinian Pope once again demonstrates his affinity with the thinking of Don Bosco, a trait that has already emerged several times in these first months of his pontificate, as well as his closeness to Don Bosco’s sons, whom he has already met several times during his travels and official engagements.

An opening that also gives pause for thought

The solidity of the foundation stone laid on the ashes of the old San Giovanni Bosco oratory in Olgiate Comasco, a small town in Lombardy just 5 miles from the Italian-Swiss border, is a sign of the vitality of these realities, which are essential for the life of the Church and society as a whole: places called to build “authentic bonds” capable of defeating “the isolation of our time,” especially that of young people.

Thus, in a message signed by Cardinal Parolin, Pope Leo offered his good wishes on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the new oratory, named after the founder of the Salesians, which took place on March 1 in the presence of Cardinal Oscar Cantoni, bishop of Como.

The oratory as a place of fraternity and formation

In the text addressed to the pastor of the church of Sts. Ippolito and Cassiano, Fr. Flavio Crosta, next to which the new youth ministry center will be built, the Pontiff expressed his hope that it would offer “spaces of true human fraternity and Christian formation.” Quoting one of the most famous sayings of Don Bosco, in his Sunday sermon the priest recalled how it is not enough for young people to be appreciated: “they must know that they are loved.”

The laying of the foundation stone also marked the “end of a long journey of waiting and complex steps”, which began with the closure of the old oratory in 2017--8 years marked by nostalgia for those who grew up cherishing the memory of the carefree days of childhood, until November 18 last year, when Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, gave his final approval for the construction of the new building.

The vision of an attentive youth; rediscovering community in the time of “Neverland”

The design of the new oratory, conceived and developed by architect Alessandra Mastrogiacomo and validated by architect Carlo Valentini, has transformed spaces that were once separate and sometimes non-functional into multipurpose and welcoming environments. The voluntary contribution of the “young people of yesterday,” now established professionals and young retirees, was also decisive. They generously put their skills at the service of the commission in support of the pastor.

But the contribution of today’s young people was also central. Demonstrating the human qualities that adults should bring out in them, they wanted to say a few words during the ceremony and left us with an intense and hopeful reflection: “Are we really lost? In the time of “Neverland,” we have rediscovered ourselves as a community. Without walls, we have learned to remain united; without a roof, we have learned to make ourselves at home. Because an oratory is not born of concrete, but of the gaze of those who know how to recognize in a young person something worth investing in.”

Leo XIV’s closeness to the Salesians

As for Pope Leo’s closeness to the Salesians, it is worth remembering that on several occasions (first during his meeting with the Salesian community at Castel Gandolfo, and then on Sunday, February 22, this year, at the Salesian basilica of the Sacred Heart in Castor Pretorio), the Pontiff jokingly revealed that in his youthful search for a vocation he had also visited a Salesian house, confessing: “You came second, I’m sorry!”

Even more interesting, however, is what he added afterward when speaking to the Salesians of the Sacred Heart community: “But perhaps there is something that has remained in my heart, also united with you, in the Salesian community.”

Source: Vatican News

Salesian Missions Highlights Programs for Women and Girls

For International Women’s Day, Salesian Missions highlights programs that educate and empower women and girls

Photo © Salesian Missions

(ANS – New Rochelle, N.Y. – March 6, 2026) – Salesian Missions of New Rochelle joined humanitarian organizations and countries around the globe in celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8. The day honors the economic, political, and social achievements of women while focusing the world’s attention on areas requiring further action.

This year’s theme #GivetoGain encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration. According to the International Women’s Day website, the theme “emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organizations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction, it’s intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise. Whether through donations, knowledge, resources, infrastructure, visibility, advocacy, education, training, mentoring, or time, contributing to women’s advancement helps create a more supportive and interconnected world.” 

Fr. Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions, explained, “Salesian missionaries living and working in more than 130 countries are focused on empowering young women and girls with targeted programs. These programs provide opportunities for education and training that lead to livable wage employment. The goal is to empower young women so they are able to make good life choices for themselves, have hope for the future, and achieve their dreams.” 

In honor of International Women’s Day, Salesian Missions is proud to share Salesian programs around the globe that educate and empower girls and women. 

ECUADOR

The Maria Auxiliadora Formation Center in Ecuador held training initiatives for women in Esmeraldas who face unemployment, lack of resources, gender violence, and abandonment, or who are heads of household. The training was taught by 3 lay professionals and included 12 courses over 6 employment sectors. 

A Salesian explained: “Providing this training has allowed women to gain the skills needed for employment. Some are able to find jobs after the training while others start a small business of their own. Most important, they are able to earn an income to become self-sufficient.” 

The center was launched 10 years ago in the San Rafael Valley, in the province of Esmeraldas, with the collaboration of the Salesian Ecuador Project and the Salesian San Juan Bosco Community in Esmeraldas. The mission was to support vulnerable populations in a place marked by violence, drug trafficking, poverty, and lack of opportunities. 

INDIA

Don Bosco Nava Nirman, located in Muniguda, India, provided scholarships for 32 girls thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The school was developed in 2010 after the Kandhamal violence in the region in 2008. One of the greatest contributions Salesians make in the region is through their education, especially for youths who are poor and marginalized.

A Salesian noted: “We have been concentrating on the education of girls and young women, which is an urgent need in this area. Generally, girls are marginalized by the parents as well as the society at large as they are not seen as potential earners in the workplace. Our entry into the education of the girls is in a way an attempt to transform this general perception. Today, thru support provided to us, we are able to educate many girls through our scholarship program.” 

Donor funding helped to offset the cost for hostel fees, as well as academic fees and book purchases. Although the school received funds for 26 scholarships, it was able to make scholarships available for additional children. In total, 32 children received financial support for their education.

MALAWI

Don Bosco High School, located in Nkhotakota, Malawi, has improved living conditions for 80 young girls thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The project funding was used to purchase 5 buildings as well as the adjacent land. The new area was also fenced for safety.

3 houses were renovated and adequately equipped. One house and another building were taken down because they were not in good condition. 7 toilets and 14 showers were constructed, as well as a stand for two 5,000-liter water tanks. Water and electricity were also connected.

A Salesian explained: “The main objective of the project was to create better safety and living conditions for the school girls. This was achieved, and as a result, the girls punctuality improved because of the availability of more showers, toilets, and water.” 

Jenallah Mkandawire is a teacher at the school. Before the project, she noted that the living conditions were not adequate for the girls. She explained: “Now the girls are on time and have adequate water for washing their clothes and sanitary needs. Since they have more places to wash themselves and to wash their clothes, the general hygiene of school has improved.” ,

SIERRA LEONE

Don Bosco Fambul, located in Freetown, Sierra Leone and one of the country’s leading child-welfare organizations, supports young women who have been victims of the sex trade by providing them with training in hotel, catering, tailoring, or hairdressing disciplines, or formal education. Recently, 35 school pupils and 50 skills-training students received financial aid, food, and clothing through support from donors including Medicor Foundation, Jugend Eine Welt, and the City of Vienna. 

Every beneficiary received a bag of rice to help meet her nutritional needs, a cash contribution to support daily expenses, and a packet of assorted clothing items to enhance her comfort and dignity. This support is crucial in improving the overall well-being of the youths and enabling them to thrive in their respective environments. 

Don Bosco Fambul also facilitates the Mobil Project, designed to identify areas where children living on the streets and girls involved in commercial sex work face significant risks. The project’s primary mission is to recruit youths in need into the program, provide them with rehabilitation and support, and reintegrate them into society as empowered individuals. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the Mobil Project proudly supported 55 students in grades ranging from primary and senior secondary school. The students received school bags, learning materials, and financial aid to cover their school fees and other associated expenses.

A Salesian said: “This crucial support ensures that these students can concentrate on their education without the burden of financial challenges. This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the generous contributions of our incredible donors. Their unwavering support is making a lasting impact, transforming lives, and paving the way for a brighter future for these children. We thank them for being a part of this journey.”

Homily for Tuesday, Week 3 of Lent

Homily for Tuesday
3d Week of Lent

March 10, 2026
Ps 25: 4-9
Dan 3: 25, 34-43
Matt 18: 21-35                           
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

3 youths in the fiery furnace
(Catacomb of St. Priscilla)

“Remember your mercies, O Lord” (Psalm Response).

The book of Daniel presents to us the plea for forgiveness and for the Lord’s kindness flowing from one of the 3 young men in Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace.  The youths have been faithful to the Lord, which is why they’re in the furnace, but Israel hasn’t been faithful.  So Azariah prays that the people be delivered from punishment.

Jesus’ parable also involves pleas for mercy; not for complete forgiveness but for temperance:  “Be patient with me, and I’ll pay you back in full” (Matt 18:26,29).  These pleas are Jesus’ response to Peter’s inquiry about forgiving someone who’s sinned against him (18:21), no doubt seeking some limit on forbearance.  Also no doubt, Peter speaks for most of us.

The responsorial psalm captures well Jesus’ message; we ask the Lord for that mercy he customarily bestows:  “Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your kindness are from of old” (Ps 25:6).

Most likely, no one here holds a long grudge against one of his brothers.  I suppose it’s possible, theoretically, someone might yet hold some old resentment against a superior.  In the nature of religious life, sometimes obedience or just daily life will irk us, fairly or unfairly.  Even as we desire to be treated kindly by our brothers and our superiors—and the Lord—we must be kind and patient with those superiors of yore and our present companions.

Ordinary daily life demands of us patience and mercy, all the time.  Brothers sometimes annoy us, sometimes persistently.  There’s the brother who sniffles constantly instead of blowing his  nose; the brother whose prayer is always a syllable or 2 behind everyone else’s; the brother who’s grouchy for no particular reason; the brother who can’t remember anything no matter how often he’s reminded.

May the Lord “teach the humble his way” (Ps 25:9), teach us compassion, patience, and forgiveness.