New Year Blessing

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!
                                                                Nm 6:22-27       

At Mass tonight, Fr. Bob told us this reading reminded him of a practice in the French Canadian community of Central Falls in his early days as a priest where tradition was to visit your father on New Year's day to receive a blessing.  People traveled through all kinds of nasty winter weather to keep the tradition.