Daily Archives: March 13, 2024

Folks, I live in the “path of totality” for the upcoming April 8 solar eclipse. Like most of the people in this part of the country, I can’t help but be excited about this. I’ve never seen a total solar eclipse. There’s the whole “once in a lifetime” aspect of viewing such a phenomenon. And I’m clearly not the only one expecting something big. Believe it or not, several school districts around here have already canceled classes that day and several counties have preemptively declared states of emergency owing to the fact that those places will be inundated with tourists and thus have their emergency resources stretched thin.

I have begun to notice an uptick in talking heads chattering about the impending “signs and warnings from heaven” associated with this eclipse. For reference, below are just three of unusual coincidences connected to the event.

• April 8 this year is the transferred feast of the Annunciation in both the old and new Roman calendars.
• The path of the eclipse supposedly takes the moon’s shadow over a number of towns named Nineveh.
• The path of the eclipse enters the US near a small town named Jonah which happens to be on the banks of the San Gabriel River.

I didn’t even mention in that list that the world and the Churxh are both in total disarray at present.

I think of Fatima and how Our Lord used the sun to convey His message of repentance and warning. I think of Good Friday and the darkening of the sun and total darkness into which the world was plunged. Obviously it is not out of the realm of possibility that God would use an eclipse to get our attention. Does this mean the world is coming to an end? The smart ass in me wants to say, “Check back in on the 9th and I’ll let you know.”

But if nothing else, should this not be a further nudge to get yourself to confession? Should we not all be practicing acts of penance and mortification?

Eclipse or not, this is still Lent, right?

I’ve been reading a book on the life of St. Joseph by Mother Maria Baij. I highly recommend it. I think the best course of action any of us can take in these or any other times is to do what Joseph did. He would frequently turn to the Mother of God for advice. She happened to be his spouse so her advice was likely more immediate to him. Nonetheless, even after Joseph’s death, his Foster-Son entrusted the whole human race to her right before a solar eclipse.

So turn to Joseph. Turn to Mary. Confess your sins and pray.

Whatever happens, these are never bad things to do.

And check back with me on the 9th. I’ll let you know how things went.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!