The last words in the February issue of First Things were written by Richard J. Neuhaus as he came to grips with the cancer that would lead to his death on January the eighth. Father Neuhaus wrote:

Who knew that at this point in life I would be understanding, as if for the first time, the words of Paul, "When I am weak, then I am strong." This is not a farewell. Please God, we will be pondering together the follies and splendors of the Church and the world for years to come. But maybe not. In any event, when there is an unidentified agent in your body aggressively attacking the good things your body is intended to do, it does concentrate the mind. The entirety of our prayer is "Your will be done" -- not as a note of resignation but of desire beyond expression. To that end I commend myself to your intercession, and that of all the saints and angels who accompany us each step through time toward home.