Update on Pope's Condition

From the Vatican Information Service:



"The Holy Father's post-operative phase is taking place without complications.



"His general condition and biological parameters continue to be good.



"The Holy Father is eating regularly, spends some hours in an armchair and has begun exercises to rehabilitate breathing and phonation.



"The next communique will be on Thursday, March 3."

Pope Appears at Window, Blesses Crowrd

From ABC News: Pope Appears at Window; Aide Says Blessing for Him:

A weak Pope John Paul made a surprise appearance at his hospital window Sunday, reassuring Catholics around the world as an aide miles away at the Vatican presided for the first time at his weekly blessing.

Looking stiff and awkward, the 84-year-old Pope waved twice from the 10th floor window of the Gemelli hospital before aides wheeled his chair away.

He appeared for about two minutes with the windows closed and made the sign of the cross toward a small group of people below, some of whom broke into tears when they saw him.

The Angelus prayer usually takes place wherever the Pope is at noon Sunday. For John Paul to be elsewhere was a first in a 26-year-old papacy.

Still, the sight of the Pope, weak as he was, comforted the faithful. It was the first time he has been seen in public since he was rushed to hospital Thursday morning with acute breathing problems that necessitated a tracheotomy.

"I saw his hand raised. I'm telling you, I had faith. I'd been praying he'd come. The world still needs this Pope. I hope we'll see much more of him in the future," said Laura Tosti, an Italian waiting outside, her eyes welling up with tears. Minutes before the Pope appeared at the window, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri read his address for him in St. Peter's Square and delivered a blessing that he stressed was "in the name of the Holy Father."

Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem

From The Prayer of St. Ephrem:



"[The Prayer of St. Ephrem is taken in the Byzantine Church during the Liturgy of the Presanctified (Liturgy of Pope St. Gregory the Great, taken by both Catholic and Orthodox alike during this period), during all services of the Divine Office during Lent and at various other times during the day - recommended at morning, noon, evening - upon arising and before retiring for the night.]



{Making a prostration}



O LORD, Master of my life, grant that I may not be infected with the spirit of slothfulness and inquisitiveness, with the spirit of ambition and vain talking.



{Making a prostration}



Grant instead to me, your servant, the spirit of purity and of humility, the spirit of patience and neighborly love.



{Making a third prostration}



O Lord and King, grant me the grace of being aware of my sins and of not thinking evil of those of my brethren.



For you are blessed, now and ever, and forever.



Amen.



Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings, You have power over life and death. You know what is secret and hidden, and neither our thoughts nor our feelings are concealed from You. Cure me of duplicity; I have done evil before You. Now my life declines from day to day and my sins increase. O Lord, God of souls and bodies, You know the extreme frailty of my soul and my flesh. Grant me strength in my weakness, O Lord, and sustain me in my misery. Give me a grateful soul that I may never cease to recall Your benefits, O Lord most bountiful. Be not mindful of my many sins, but forgive me all my misdeeds. O Lord, disdain not my prayer - the prayer of a wretched sinner; sustain me with Your grace until the end, that it may protect me as in the past. It is Your grace which has taught me wisdom; blessed are they who follow her ways, for they shall receive the crown of glory. In spite of my unworthiness, I praise You and I glorify You, O Lord, for Your mercy to me is without limit. You have been my help and my protection. May the name of Your majesty be praised forever. To you, our God, be glory. Amen."

Pope Will Live ...according to prophetic stone

From Herald Sun: Stone carving says Pope will live [26feb05]:



"A STONE carving in one of Rome's biggest cathedrals may know what millions of Catholics around the world have been fretting about for the past two days: Will Pope John Paul II survive his latest health crisis?



The carved marble monument to Pope Sylvester II, who ruled the Catholic church 1000 years ago, is said to moisten when the death of a pontiff is imminent.



Today, a priest touched the carving in Rome's Basilica of Saint John Lateran and confirmed it was dry - good news for the Pope, who underwent throat surgery yesterday after being rushed to hospital with breathing problems."

Vision of Saint John Bosco and Pope John Paul II

Thanks to www.gospa.orgfor posting this:



"In a vision, the Lord showed St. John Bosco the dangers threatening the Church. He saw the Church, Ship of Peter, surrounded by a loyal flotilla, locked in mortal combat with superior forces which repeatedly brought it to the edge of annihilation. At a crucial moment, the Holy Father fell mortally wounded. The enemy, sensing victory, closed in for the kill.

Suddenly two columns surged from the depths of the ocean. One was surmounted by a monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament-:'Salvation of Believers;' the other by a statue of Mary Immaculate - 'The Help of Christians.'



The sight of the columns and the election of a new Pope caused the enemy to unleash a last blistering attack to prevent the Pontiff from anchoring the Church between the two pillars. The assailant's plan failed, and their attack turned into a rout and total disaster.



The Pope and his faithful defenders found safety anchored between the two columns. The winds subsided and the sea grew calm. The victory was complete."



Now think to two things that Pope John Paul II has done since the year 2000: given us new mysteries of the rosary and reawakened devotion to Mary in the process and written a beautiful encyclical on the Eucharist and declared a Year of the Eucharist. This will be his lasting legacy!

Pope-"What have they done to me?"

I've heard from a few people I know in Rome who claim that they have talked to "inside" people who are very close to the pope who've said in hushed tones "this is the end." Having said that I doubt they know what they are talking about--only God knows when the "end" of any of us will occur.



From Yahoo! News - Pope Breathing Unassisted, Advised Not to Speak:



"Navarro-Valls said that when he awoke from surgery the Pope asked for paper and wrote jokingly: 'What have they done to me.'



He also scribbled his Latin motto 'Totus Tuus,' (totally yours), a phrase about his devotion to the Mother of God. "

Blasphemy on Network Television

I didn't see this, but I think Donohue is being a little too forgiving with the priest in question. Even though to the viewer these "real life" episodes can seem natural--there is nothing natural about the lighting and television cameras that follow these people around. Why would a priest allow this at a funeral in the first place? Why wouldn't he take the time to educate himself on the characters and nature of the program? How would he not recognize a "host" from a cracker?



From CATHOLIC LEAGUE for Religious and Civil Rights:



"During the February 22 episode of the NBC-TV sitcom, "Committed," two non-Catholics are mistakenly given Holy Communion at a Catholic funeral Mass. Nate, who is Jewish, and Bowie, a Protestant, don't know what to do with the Eucharist, so they make several failed attempts to get rid of it. For example, they try slipping it into the pocket of a priest, dropping it on a tray of cheese and crackers, etc.



At one point, the priest, who is portrayed as not knowing the difference between the Host and a cracker, goes to grab the "cracker" from a tray of appetizers; he initially balks when he discovers that it is the last one. Then he changes his mind, saying, "Oh, what the hell." By far the most offensive scene occurs when Nate and Bowie accidentally flush what they think is the Host down the toilet. "