Timothy Cardinal Dolan shares childhood Easter memories
NY’s Cardinal Dolan readies for Easter festivities
Timothy Cardinal Dolan on His Eminence’s childhood Easter memories:
“I remember fasting. Thirsty. Giving up candy 40 days. Easter morning see a basket of chocolate eggs and jelly beans. That’s joy. New life. New shoes to wear to Mass. And going outside for the Easter egg hunt. Great holiday memories.”
What’s a grown-up Prince of the Church do now after prayers on Easter?
“Takes a nice long nap. I love my work. But it’s busy times. I don’t get to bed till after midnight. Tons of confessions. Visit the sick in nursing homes. Go to Rikers. Long ceremony at St. Patrick’s where I have to stand straight, not nod off. I only do that when sitting through sermons given by others.”
Looking ahead, when you retire, will you still wear religious clothing?
“It’s regular clothing, but I’m still a priest. Still a cardinal. Still duties to fulfill and certain protocol. But a much easier pace.”
Why are New York’s archbishops all Irish?
“The majority of US Catholics were once Irish. Now we’re blessed with Italians, Latinos and others so that Irish monopoly will be coming to an end.”
An American ever become pope?
“Not in the near future. St. Peter the pope’s successor must be neutral. A referee in world affairs. Objective. We call him Papa. Like ‘Dad.’ And we expect our dads to love his kids equally. A pope from Russia or the US might be compromised. Loyalty could be to their own country. Pope St. John Paul was criticised for being overly concerned about his country, Poland. It’s why many Italians, the capital of our church, can stay impartial.
“Right after we elected our current pope, who’s from Italian stock, he said he had to have his knees done. That’s why the poor guy’s limping. He’s had a bit of fragile health and periodically needs a wheelchair. But he’s a sturdy gritty guy. I think we’re going to have him a few more years.”
Egged on
Back to Easter, what’s with those painted hard-boiled eggs?
“Has to do with Passover. Jesus, a devout Jew, believed in that feast of gratitude and reverence. God, His Father, delivered the chosen from oppression and death in Egypt by the blood of the lamb.”
“Easter bonnets and parades share the same confusion we get at Christmas. What’s with all those trees and decorations? It’s gifts. Like for the new birth. Like Easter. We parade. Love flowers, love the little chicklet coming out of the egg. It’s newness. Freshness. It’s celebrating in clumsy human ways.”
Pet projects
We both remembered His Eminence blessing the animals at the annual event I organized for a dozen years. About 800 people with their pets every Christmas until the pandemic. We had a rabbi for the cats, birds, fish in bowls, Jewish dogs, and His Eminence for the Catholic ones.
Cardinal Dolan: “Yes. And I still remember the Catholic turtle that bit me.”
NOTE to p.r. types and everyone: Stop ID-ing your client as iconic. Stop saying your singer/actor/tryout’s iconic. They’re not — or you wouldn’t have to use that overworked term. Enough already!
Please. That weary phrase covers everything, anything. I got notes from three iconic authors for the fiction rights to their expense accounts.
