I'm always reminded of people's horror stories of confessing to a priest who was hard of hearing, not that the pope is hard of hearing but that was the image that came to mind.
From MSNBC - Pope John Paul hearsGood Friday confessions:
"At the Vatican, the frail 83-year-old pontiff was wheeled into the basilica by aides and into a mahogany confessional booth near the main altar. He spent about an hour there, hearing the confessions of five men and six women of various nationalities.
In a taxing Holy Week schedule, John Paul, dressed in red vestments, presided over a late afternoon service in the basilica. The service commemorated the passion and death of Christ."
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Friday, April 9, 2004
Father Benedict's Good Friday Thought
From Letter 4/9/04:
"'Behold the wood of the cross.' All around you people are experiencing their personal Calvary. But when you think of it, this is true in any neighborhood, any family, any place where human beings gather. Even working in a business office there are people going through their personal Calvary or, unfortunately, their personal hell. And this is why the great message of Good Friday is charity. God so loved the world that He sent His Son, and His Son brought us salvation and the hope of eternal life. Even the criminals and sadists who led Christ to Calvary were included in His prayer: 'Father, forgive them.'"
"'Behold the wood of the cross.' All around you people are experiencing their personal Calvary. But when you think of it, this is true in any neighborhood, any family, any place where human beings gather. Even working in a business office there are people going through their personal Calvary or, unfortunately, their personal hell. And this is why the great message of Good Friday is charity. God so loved the world that He sent His Son, and His Son brought us salvation and the hope of eternal life. Even the criminals and sadists who led Christ to Calvary were included in His prayer: 'Father, forgive them.'"
Eucharist Necessary to Remain Attached to The Vine--Jesus
From Pope John Paul II's Holy Thursday Homily:
To remain faithful to this request, to remain in him as shoots united to the vine, to love as he loved, it is necessary to nourish oneself with his Body and Blood. Saying to the apostles: "Do this in memory of me," the Lord has united the Church to the living memorial of his Pasch. Although he is the unique Priest of the New Covenant, he wished to have men, consecrated by the Holy Spirit, act in profound union with his Person in distributing the food of life.
To remain faithful to this request, to remain in him as shoots united to the vine, to love as he loved, it is necessary to nourish oneself with his Body and Blood. Saying to the apostles: "Do this in memory of me," the Lord has united the Church to the living memorial of his Pasch. Although he is the unique Priest of the New Covenant, he wished to have men, consecrated by the Holy Spirit, act in profound union with his Person in distributing the food of life.
Flights Banned Over Vatican
From Bloomberg.com: Europe:
"Italy has imposed a no-fly zone over Rome and boosted security against a possible terrorist attack as tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists arrive in the Vatican City for Easter, Corriere della Sera reported, citing police.
Non-commercial flights will be banned from taking off or landing around Rome on Easter Sunday and Monday, the paper said. Streets around the Vatican City and St. Peter's square will be closed to traffic.
About 12,000 police and 4,000 military are being deployed through Monday, including snipers placed in strategic points and surveillance helicopters, Il Messaggero reported yesterday. Pope John Paul II will conduct Easter Mass on Sunday to a crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter's square. "
"Italy has imposed a no-fly zone over Rome and boosted security against a possible terrorist attack as tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists arrive in the Vatican City for Easter, Corriere della Sera reported, citing police.
Non-commercial flights will be banned from taking off or landing around Rome on Easter Sunday and Monday, the paper said. Streets around the Vatican City and St. Peter's square will be closed to traffic.
About 12,000 police and 4,000 military are being deployed through Monday, including snipers placed in strategic points and surveillance helicopters, Il Messaggero reported yesterday. Pope John Paul II will conduct Easter Mass on Sunday to a crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter's square. "
Thursday, April 8, 2004
Last Days of My Lenten Meditations
They can be accessed by clicking on the gate to the right. These have been a rough draft of a book that I am working on that will be available before next Lent. The last posting will be on Easter Sunday.
No Travel Time Credit For Bishop O'Brien
From KPHO Phoenix - No Travel Time Credit For Bishop O'Brien:
"No break from the Judge for retired Bishop Thomas O'Brien regarding his probation!
You'll remember the Bishop was convicted and sentenced to a thousand hours of community service in the run and run death of pedestrian Jim Reed last year.
We told you Monday O'Brien requested that his travel time be included in his community service requirement.
Late Wednesday night the Judge ruled O'Brien will receive NO credit for the time he must travel to his counseling appointments."
"No break from the Judge for retired Bishop Thomas O'Brien regarding his probation!
You'll remember the Bishop was convicted and sentenced to a thousand hours of community service in the run and run death of pedestrian Jim Reed last year.
We told you Monday O'Brien requested that his travel time be included in his community service requirement.
Late Wednesday night the Judge ruled O'Brien will receive NO credit for the time he must travel to his counseling appointments."
De-Coding Da Vinci--Amy's Zenit Interview
From Zenit News Agency - The World Seen From Rome:
Q: What are the most important assertions about Christian origins that author Dan Brown makes in this novel? What seems to be disturbing people the most?
Welborn: Brown makes several assertions, none of which would be taken seriously by real, as opposed to fictional scholars.
The basis of the book is that Jesus, a mortal teacher of wisdom, was intent on reintroducing the notion of the "sacred feminine" back into human consciousness and experience. He drew followers, and was married to Mary Magdalene, whom he designated as the leader of his movement.
This was opposed by another party -- the "Peter party" -- which worked to suppress the truth, which was ultimately achieved through the actions of Emperor Constantine who "divinized" Jesus at the Council of Nicaea in 325.
It is this suggestion that the Christian Church has been engaged in a destructive cover-up of the truth that has disturbed readers, as well as the idea -- propped up by Brown's assertions that "historians believe" -- that Jesus was not experienced as divine by his earliest followers.
de-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts Behind the Fiction of the Da Vinci Code
Q: What are the most important assertions about Christian origins that author Dan Brown makes in this novel? What seems to be disturbing people the most?
Welborn: Brown makes several assertions, none of which would be taken seriously by real, as opposed to fictional scholars.
The basis of the book is that Jesus, a mortal teacher of wisdom, was intent on reintroducing the notion of the "sacred feminine" back into human consciousness and experience. He drew followers, and was married to Mary Magdalene, whom he designated as the leader of his movement.
This was opposed by another party -- the "Peter party" -- which worked to suppress the truth, which was ultimately achieved through the actions of Emperor Constantine who "divinized" Jesus at the Council of Nicaea in 325.
It is this suggestion that the Christian Church has been engaged in a destructive cover-up of the truth that has disturbed readers, as well as the idea -- propped up by Brown's assertions that "historians believe" -- that Jesus was not experienced as divine by his earliest followers.
de-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts Behind the Fiction of the Da Vinci Code
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