By Michael Pakaluk, The Catholic Thing - Off the record – before his speech begins – to the press corps: (Biden says), “I would ordinarily be enjoying an ice cream cone right now – you know how much I love the stuff; I’ve got a whole freezer full. But I take my Catholic faith seriously, as you know. It’s Lent. I’ve been fasting. – (Laughs ) Yeah, me too! – Can I offer a personal confession? As president, I get briefed on a lot of bad things that the nation never hears about. I have no idea how I’d be able to do this job without the graces that come from prayer and fasting, even outside of Lent.”