J+M+J THEN THEY CRUCIFIED HIM. (St. Mark 15, 24). This one sentence of four simple words is used by St. Mark to express the greatest act of love, the Passion of Christ. At that moment, three nails were driven into the body of JESUS leaving nail marks that remained even after the Resurrection. Lent 2021 arrives in the midst of our extended Lent of 2020 caused by the pandemic. How will we “celebrate” Lent this year? What will you do differently? I recall my Catholic school days when Sister Anicetta, F.S.S.J., the cafeteria manageress at Mater Dolorosa School, served fish cakes and homemade French fries every Friday, Lent or not. So, it wasn’t the menu that made the Lenten Friday after Ash Wednesday nor any other Friday in Lent unique. Rather, after lunch on that particular Friday of the “porch “ of Lent, Father Pastor came over to School to preside over the blessing of carpenter nails. Each student received three nails as a reminder of the nails that pierced the Precious Body of Christ. Students were instructed to carry these three nails on his or her person for all 40 days of Lent as a visual reminder of the Passion of Christ, the Lamb of God, whose unselfish sacrifice taught us to die to self so we might live the Gospel way of life as we ought. The Church Fathers teach that all are called to holiness. However, along the path of holiness, Christians with the help of God, must endure and fend off three great enemies: Satan, sin and death. Satan, sin, and death intensify their plan to turn the Faithful away from God and the Church especially during Lent. Thus, as instructed by Christ Himself in the 6th Chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel, it is fitting to…