Cardinal Edward M. Egan, who will turn over the reins of the Church of New York on Wednesday to Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, celebrated his final Easter Mass as archbishop of the Big Apple, after some fears that the stomach virus that waylaid him in the hospital for a few days would cause him to miss his last hurrah at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
The cardinal used the opportunity to urge the 2,700 in attendance and all New Yorkers to remain hopeful despite a dismal economy.
"This is not all that there is to life. We are here for a passing moment of eternity, and we are destined to live forever in the presence and the embrace of a loving creator and savior. And this is what Easter is all about," Cardinal Egan, 77, told the packed cathedral. "Life can appear unfair and pointless, but Easter gives meaning to the reality of life."
Cardinal Egan missed Palm Sunday Mass at the cathedral after a gastrointestinal virus and the possiblity of pacemaker surgery landed him in St. Vincent's Hospital. Now all eyes are on the other big event this week.
I will be at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Wednesday when Archbishop Dolan is installed, so stay tuned for my report on the happenings of the day.
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