After 40 Years in the Desert........

This morning in Rome at St. Peter's Basilica, Archbishop Raymond Burke, head of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest Church court, celebrated a solemn high Latin mass in the old rite. While low masses have been said at times in side altars by visiting priests, the last time a solemn high mass occurred was in 1969. After 40 years in the desert, the Tridentine solemn rite has come home to St. Peter's. Seventy priests accompanied Archbishop Burke and the chapel was packed to overflowing to the point that some wishing to attend were turned away.

Forty is an important number in the Bible. Noah and his family listened to the rain beat against the ark for 40 days and 40 nights. It was another 40 days of waiting until Noah opened the window to release the dove. Moses spent 40 days on Horeb with the Lord and when he came down, his face shone with a heavenly light. The Israelites roamed for 40 years in the desert while the Lord cleansed them. The Philistines with their monster Goliath threatened Saul and his men for 40 days before young David slew him with a round stone and his sling. The prophet Elijah, on God's instruction, walked 40 days to Mount Horeb where he met the Lord, not in the storm, but in the small sound. Jonah warned the people of Ninevah that they would be destroyed in 40 days, and his warning brought their repentance. Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert before beginning his public ministry and after the Resurrection He appeared to His disciples for 40 days before ascending to the Father.

Forty days in biblical terms represents a time of trial and testing. That's why we have 40 days of Lenten penance. At the end of the trial and suffering comes the joy -- the entrance into the promised Land, the glory of Easter morning.

Like a lighthouse on a stormy night this event shines a beacon of hope to those who love the faith. We continue to struggle for God's will in this difficult world, where often our greatest enemies are the Judases in our midst.