Ruminations of an Amateur Monastic
Brothers and sisters good evening. You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have gone almost to the ends of the earth to get him… but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome. First of […]
» Read moreAnnuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam; Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Georgium Marium Sanctae Romanæ Ecclesiae Cardinalem Bergoglio, Qui sibi nomen imposuit Franciscus.
» Read moreLet us pray together for the Cardinals as they go into conclave to elect the next Successor to Saint Peter: Heavenly Father, Give us a Shepherd after your own heart – endowed with supernatural wisdom and courage, with unshakable faith and deep humility, capable of sacrificial service. May he be zealous to defend Holy Mother Church, her sacred teaching, the […]
» Read moreFrancine and I were sick most of the week with a cold that would not quit. I stayed home Wednesday and Thursday. An attempt at working from home on Friday was a spectacular failure. Needless to say, our whole training schedule this week was a shambles. And by shambles I mean this: on Wednesday I walked a block to the […]
» Read moreAt the highest point of the Camino in Spain, upon the plateau of Monte Irago, is a cross. This cross, called Cruz de Ferro (literally, “iron cross”) is a tall oak post with a small iron cross attached to the top. All around the cross is a large pile of stones. Pilgrims have been laying a stone at Cruz de […]
» Read moreBenedictus vir, qui confidit in Domino, et erit Dominus fiducia eius. Et erit quasi lignum, quod transplantatur super aquas, quod ad humorem mittit radices suas: et non timebit, cum venerit æstus. Et erit folium eius viride, et in tempore siccitatis non erit sollicitum, nec aliquando de sinet facere fructum. (Jeremiah 17:7-8) In both the Ordinary and the Extraordinary Form of […]
» Read moreThank you from the heart, dear friends! I am glad to be with you, surrounded by the beauty of Creation. From eight this evening, I will no longer be Pontiff. I am simply a pilgrim who begins the final stage of his pilgrimage on this earth, but I still wish to, with my heart, with my love, with my prayer, […]
» Read moreAt 8:00 in the evening Roman time tonight, the Chair of Saint Peter falls vacant. Not since 1415 has a Pope abdicated, and not since 1294 has a former Pope been alive during the election of his successor. I say “his” successor, but of course under the language of the Church, each Pope is the direct successor of Saint Peter. […]
» Read moreFrom the Vatican, the full text of Pope Benedict’s final general audience: Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and in the Priesthood! Distinguished Authorities! Dear brothers and sisters! Thank you for coming in such large numbers to this last General Audience of my pontificate. Like the Apostle Paul in the biblical text that we have heard, I feel in my heart […]
» Read moreDom Alcuin Reid has a wonderful article on Pope Benedict XVI’s liturgical reforms. Here’s a taste: There was much noise before and after his historic 2007 ruling that the older liturgical rites were henceforth to be available without restriction. Yet in the midst of the cacophony the Supreme Pontiff took the trouble to write at length to the world’s bishops […]
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