Five Ways – Feb 26

Posted on February 20, 2026 by Harry Winter, O.M.I.

February 19, 2026

Joy from Children: “Children laugh, on average, 150 times a day. Adults laugh, on average, only six times a day. Jesus tells us to be more like children.” From the Joyful Noiseletter, vol. 41, Jan. 2026, newsletter of the Fellowship of Merry Christians, highly recommended.
The attachment below is from a very dear friend, the Ecumenical Officer of the Diocese of Charlotte, NC, Father Ben Roberts. Due to the bad weather over much of the United States during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 18-25, practically all of the services in the USA were cancelled. But the weather was good in Mint Hill, NC on Jan. 20 and the inspiring and beautiful service was held. I welcome any comments on the way that during Lent, we must pray with and for other Christians, to promote evangelization.

Father Ron Rolheiser O.M.I., in addition to his weekly column, is now doing a short, weekday item on Facebook. The one for Feb. 6 regards the Eucharist. “During my theological training I took three major courses on the Eucharist and, afterwards decided that I didn’t understand the Eucharist. But the fault was not in courses, which were excellent. The fault, which is not a fault at all but a marvel, lies in the richness of the Eucharist itself. In the end, it defies not just theology professors, but metaphysics, phenomenology, and language itself. There is no adequate explanation of the Eucharist for the same reason that, in the end, there is no adequate explanation of love, for embrace, and for the reception of life and spirit through touch.”
One of the problems is that we listen so often to Eucharistic Prayer 2, which is the shortest. We get to accustomed to it. During Lent, I want to use especially Eucharistic Prayer 4, and the two Eucharistic Prayers for Reconcilaition., and even the long, older Eucharistic Prayer One. Please join me in trying to listen attentively to the language of the Mass, so as to begin to appreciate the Eucharist better as we prepare for Easter.
Many thanks to those who commented on the Five Ways of Jan. 22. May Lent bring us all closer to Jesus.

In His love,

Father Harry Winter, O.M.I.