A fortnight to remember indeed!!!!!
Dear Reader,
I have to say that the hype of the last two weeks have been felt by me in a a few ways, Shock (alone with the whole world?), betrayal, sadness, admiration, more sadness and I think finally, loss. I am not going to pretend that I can give any any answers for what happened, I do not believe I would be expected to nor would you be interested due to the amount of press it has gained since His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI P.M. abdicated/resigned from the Chair of Saint Peter and the See of Rome.
The 11 of February will from now on be fixed in my memory. Pope Benedict was, and will always be, an exemplary example of the holy Christian faith. a Father, an Academic, a Bishop and above all a God fearing individual. He could break down the most complicated theological concepts to laymen's terms, all the while still educating the world and bringing them, calling them to a higher standard of living. Blessed John Paul II was a spiritual father, and we still have a spiritual teacher. we should be clinging onto ever word he has uttered, for much in the tradition of the early Church Fathers and Desert Fathers, Pope Benedict is at his best when preaching and giving instruction.
I was at the coffee bar at university on the 11th of February , meeting a classmate and his friend during a lecture at about 11:45 AM (I skipped it yes but keep reading). see god is strange in his works and mystery is not even the right word to describe it. Another friend burst into the bar and pulled me outside, mobile phone to his ear and uttered the words, "the Pope is resign!" Doubt, disbelief and a few cuss word were what meet my friend, but in a matter of seconds, we had double, triple and quadruple checked that this ominous occurrence had happened. My friend who announced the news to me and the Bar, carried me to Santa Maria Maggiore where we both knelt before the Blessed Sacrament and offered the Most Holy Rosary for the intention for the Holy Father. Not long after, we came back to the university to Pray and also to find out more information. That evening, there was no way I could go home, so I remained in the city with my friend and his Spiritual Father, a rather holy and devoted priest. we made our way to the Basilica of San Nicola in Carcere, a very nice little church, while both he and I assisted at mass in the side altar of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Long story Short, much confusion ensured, rumours, some reasonable and the others heinous, sprang to life. and the media circus to follow, descended on Rome, which is quiet funny seeming that they are never here when he, the Pope of Rome, has anything worthwhile to say. I guess a dog barking the national anthem has the ability to pull more views then the Holy father talking about the salvation of souls?
The emotional roller coaster to follow for me was weird. if you comment, I would be more then happy to have a little discussion with anyone about the whole thing.
I am sorry for the Long Pause, but my life was a little hectic before and I was not sure whether to continue, but after a little discernment, it felt right to.
I found a prayer card from '58 with a pray about or to Ven. Pius XII in the chapel, it was in Italian and had a 3rd class relic on it. I have a little devotion to Pio XII, so I pray the prayer very often, and now I decided to share it with you, the translation is a little ad hoc, but i think the words run true for any Pontiff, particularly the next one, whoever he may be. I pray the college of cardinals are enlightened by the Holy Spirit to elect an Worthy Successor to the Chair of Peter.
O Jesus, eternal Pontiff, who deigned to raise the supreme dignity of your Vicar on earth, your faithful servant Pius XII (N.), and that He be granted the grace of being a fearless defender of the faith, a valiant champion of justice and peace , glorifying as a devotee of your Most Holy Mother, and a shining example of charity and all the virtues, deign now, in view of his merits, to grant us the graces we ask, so that, made certain of his efficacious intercession with you, we can see the day of the glory at your altar.
GOD BLESS YOU HOLY FATHER, BENEDICT XVI, AND THANK YOU. WE WILL MISS YOU!
Oh and go give Fr. Z some traffic, he has a few posts a day and he is super! http://wdtprs.com/ Trawl through his posts over the last two weeks!!!!! Great reading!
Vale Amicus, Till next time.
I was at the coffee bar at university on the 11th of February , meeting a classmate and his friend during a lecture at about 11:45 AM (I skipped it yes but keep reading). see god is strange in his works and mystery is not even the right word to describe it. Another friend burst into the bar and pulled me outside, mobile phone to his ear and uttered the words, "the Pope is resign!" Doubt, disbelief and a few cuss word were what meet my friend, but in a matter of seconds, we had double, triple and quadruple checked that this ominous occurrence had happened. My friend who announced the news to me and the Bar, carried me to Santa Maria Maggiore where we both knelt before the Blessed Sacrament and offered the Most Holy Rosary for the intention for the Holy Father. Not long after, we came back to the university to Pray and also to find out more information. That evening, there was no way I could go home, so I remained in the city with my friend and his Spiritual Father, a rather holy and devoted priest. we made our way to the Basilica of San Nicola in Carcere, a very nice little church, while both he and I assisted at mass in the side altar of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
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