And I’m Off!
When in April the sweet showers fall And pierce the drought of March to the root, and all The veins are bathed in liquor of such power As brings about the engendering of the flower, When also Zephyrus with his sweet breath Exhales an air in every grove and heath Upon the tender shoots, and the young sun His half-course […]
» Read moreThe Hosts of Heaven Exult!
Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven, exult, let Angel ministers of God exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King’s triumph! Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad, knowing an end to gloom and darkness. Rejoice, let […]
» Read more24 Hours
In less than a day, my flight will be taking off. I’ve gone through various stages of nervousness, elation, and even fear in the past few days. More than once I’ve asked myself, “what, are you crazy, Thom?” Add to that the emotions that inevitably come with Holy Week – the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Stations of the Cross, […]
» Read morePacking!
Time grows short! We`re back from Stations at church and doing all sorts of last minute errands. Among these are the dreaded final packing. I like to be all packed for trips at least a full day before going somewhere. This way, I tend to discover all the things I forgot still laying about the house. This post is also […]
» Read moreGod is Dead
Today is Good Friday: the commemoration of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Ecce lignum Crucis, in quo salus mundi pepéndit. Veníte adorémus. Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the salvation of the world. Come let us adore. (Missale Romanum: Friday of the Passion of the Lord) He was condemned by his own people, […]
» Read moreHoly Thursday: “I am the Bread of Life”
Our Lenten pilgrimage comes to its end this evening, as we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This celebration commemerates the institution of the Eucharist, the source and summit of Church life. Unlike most Protestants, the Catholic and Orthodox (and others of the Apostolic Tradition) believe that God is really there, wholly present in the consecrated bread and wine. […]
» Read moreA Pair of Popes
Now here’s something you don’t see every day: two popes chatting. Yesterday, the two Popes – the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis now gloriously reigning – met for lunch at Castel Gandolfo. They went to pray together in the private chapel there, and …the Pope emeritus offered the place of honor to Pope Francis, but he said: “We […]
» Read moreAn Intentional Camino Day
Back in August, a buddy and I had what I called “an inadvertent Camino day”, where we sort of accidentally walked 25km. While there’s no such thing as a “typical” day on the Camino, 25km is a pretty fair shot at it. Well, today I intentionally walked 25km with full pack. Francine (who is a couple of weeks behind me […]
» Read moreBoth Lungs
Blessed John Paul II famously said “Europe has two lungs, it will never breathe easily until it uses both of them” (Euntes in mundum, 1988). He was referring to the division between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, split in about the year 1054 over matters more relating to politics and misunderstanding than to doctrine or dogma. Over a […]
» Read moreFollow-Up: Papal Arms
Official versions of the Papal coat of arms of Pope Francis have now been released. I note they’ve retained the weird “triple mitre” from the arms of Pope Benedict XVI. There’s been a minor kerfuffle about how to translate the motto, with the Vatican spokesman offering a version that was clearly not well thought out. When you need your Latin, […]
» Read moreFrancis on Saint Joseph the Protector
How does Joseph exercise his role as protector? Discreetly, humbly and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when he finds it hard to understand. From the time of his betrothal to Mary until the finding of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, he is there at every moment with loving care. As the spouse […]
» Read morePapal Installation
The Vatican has published the programme for the Mass of Coronation Installation Inauguration, and boy howdy does it have a lot of chant in it! I also note that the Gospel will be read in Greek, rather than in Greek and Latin, as was the custom. Mass for the inauguration of the Pontificate: Booklet for the Celebration (PDF) After assorted […]
» Read moreMany Blessings
Blessing of the “Rucksacks” This past weekend was a crazy whirl of last minute errands and bon voyages. Although I’m not leaving until Easter Sunday, and Francine not until the 17th of April, we thought it best to avoid the rushing around the week before Easter. We topped up our equipment at the REI sale in Tacoma on Saturday. Some […]
» Read moreThe Pope’s Arms
The Vatican Press Office (VIS) has announced Pope Francis’ new papal coat of arms. They are identical to those he used as bishop. The image here is not official, but it’s based on the Pope’s old arms and the description given by the press office. Only the motto is missing. The shield has a bright blue background, at the centre […]
» Read moreCredencial
Pilgrims on the Camino carry a Credencial, or pilgrim’s passport. They are issued by various Confraternities of Saint James, and you can also get one at Cathedrals and other places along the Way. The idea is that you get it stamped each day – ideally several times a day – to record where you’ve been and to prove that you’re […]
» Read moreSnow!
The photo here was taken by a pilgrim yesterday at Roncesvalles. The passes are choked with snow, and at this point people have to walk on the highway to get from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Roncesvalles. And it’s taking them two days. I won’t have that kind of time, and I’m leaving in just over two weeks. Even assuming the snow is […]
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