Holy Father Friday
And on such a momentous day too. To think that we have Our Holy Father in the United States: what a gift!
On a local radio station (104.5) I understand from my teenage children there was a ticket giveaway. The winners could choose tickets to a Bon Jovi concert (the horror!) or tickets to the Papal Mass. The winner was the Papal Mass for every phone call that they heard.
(It's nice to know there is some sanity in the world, however fleeting.)
For the past few days there have been calls, from the press, for Our Holy Father to "meet with abuse vicitms". Well, he did and took the wind right out of the sails of the press too.
And I'm thinking back to the days following the death of Pope John Paul II. And the momentous, historic speech of (then) Cardinal Ratzinger and especially this line, "filth of the priesthood". And at the time it was made, one could say, "how impolitic". How disloyal? How career-ending. And then the next thing you Joseph Cardinal Ratizinger had been elected Pope of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
The Holy Father released an Encyclical, "God is Love" and then "God is Hope". The Holy Father freed the Mass and affirmed that the Traditonal Latin Mass was never abrogated.
I have been impressed with the Holy Father's ability to approach critics "head on". Controversies. Difficulties. He has met courageously and without flinching. Our Lord knew what the world needed at this moment in history.
Fearless would I think be a good adjective to describe the Holy Father, Pope Benedict.
The Holy Father said Mass for 46,000 souls today in Washington, D.C.
Let us all say a Memorare for the Holy Father, his safety and his message of salvation for the United States over the next few days. And while he is on United States soil, let there not be daylight between we Faithful Catholics and our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.
Comments (6)
There was a ticket giveaway on a pop music station? I had hoped that the Church would try to limit Mass attendance to practicing Catholics. Communion-in-the-hand makes sacrilege so easy, and a papal Mass is all the more attractive to act-up types. Recall that a Sacred Host from a papal Mass was auctioned on E-Bay in 2005.
Posted by Cyprian
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April 18, 2008 6:54 AM
Posted on April 18, 2008 06:54
"I had hoped that the Church would try to limit Mass attendance to practicing Catholics."
And yet Our Lord preached to the 5000.
Posted by staff
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April 18, 2008 7:22 AM
Posted on April 18, 2008 07:22
Taking the wind out of reporters' sails reminds me of when His Holiness knocked the wind out of the editor of CWNews.com, Phil Lawler. Phil is an exemplar Catholic and is very respectful of the Holy Father. Phil is also very knowledgeable about the abuse scandal, having just completed a book about it that I want to read. So, when Pope Benedict appointed then-archbishop Levada to head the Holy Office, Phil was incredulous, but found a tactful way to say that it wasn't a good decision. Quite an article.
Unfortunately, the problem won't be solved until the hierarchy decides to exclude all effeminates from the seminary.
Posted by Cyprian
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April 18, 2008 9:58 AM
Posted on April 18, 2008 09:58
I highly recommend the book Faithful Departed and there is a blog discussing it www.thefaithfuldepartedbook.blogspot.com.
Posted by staff
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April 18, 2008 10:00 AM
Posted on April 18, 2008 10:00
I just read about the Mass yesterday, and it seems that our hierarchy extended a rousing slap in the face to His Holiness. Reports have it that the music was terrible: http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/2008/04/music-for-dc-mass-end-of-era-and.html Even Raymond Arroyo and Fr. Richard Neuhaus expressed astonishment on EWTN.
What an insult to the Vicar of Christ! Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum.
Posted by Cyprian
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April 18, 2008 8:09 PM
Posted on April 18, 2008 20:09
One positive point made about the Papal Mass in Washington...the Holy Father now knows what many U.S.Catholics are subjected to every Sunday.
I also heard (hope it's just a rumor) that Senators Dodd and Kerry were present at the Mass and had the nerve to receive Holy Communion!
Posted by Annunciata | April 18, 2008 9:44 PM
Posted on April 18, 2008 21:44