Mr. Wheat & I attended (with toddler in tow & while I was expecting #2 and miserably ill, no less) the first Pentecost gathering of the so-called "new movements." It was a moving experience, as Rome was so packed with joy-filled practicing Catholics, it really did put one in mind of Peter's preaching to the masses in Acts of the Apostles. The papal events (where the crowd spilled out of piazza s. Pietro down the via d. Conciliazone to the Tiber) were inspiring, but almost as amazing was the feeling that Rome had been taken over for a weekend by saints. The crowds were tremendous --we had to put the toddler on our shoulders so he could breathe-- but so was their spirit. I don't recall a cross word or even a frown or complaint amid all the jostling and long waits. And when no event was taking place, wherever you went in Rome you'd find some informal gathering of these great "families" of Catholics --each united in the same faith, the same love of the Church and the Holy Father, yet each with a distinctive characteristic, too. Besides the usual suspects, we learned there are many, many more movements than we knew, and by the end of the weekend we felt we could recognize the members of the respective groups not only by their color-coded scarves or t-shirts, but just by a certain spirit about them. They say a charism is more caught than taught, and I have to agree. I couldn't put into words the difference between a member of Emanuelle and C&L, but you can sense it as soon as you see them.
This year's theme is "the beauty of being a Christian and the joy of communicating this," which would have been an apt theme for the previous one, too. I'd give about anything to be there now, but will have to make do with the Vigil mass of Pentecost at the Basilica, hosted for new movements by Cardinal McCarrick. At least SingleGal is there, and presumably she'll fill us in when she returns. In the meanwhile, we can catch up with all things Benedict and hope she's drinking extra cappucini on our behalf.
From his trip to Poland:
- Homily at PIŁSUDZKI SQUARE. Posted previously, but here again because it's an excellent primer for Pentecost.
- Homily in Krakow. A lovely reflection on the Ascension (apparently the first time a Pope has celebrated Ascension Thursday on a Sunday, if you're keeping score).
we hear once again this question from the Acts of the Apostles. This time it is directed to all of us: “Why do you stand looking up to heaven?” The answer to this question involves the fundamental truth about the life and destiny of every man and woman. The question has to do with our attitude to two basic realities which shape every human life: earth and heaven. First, the earth: “Why do you stand?” - Why are you here on earth?
- Meeting with religious and members of movements in Poland; you may also be interested in John Allen's take on what the new movements mean to Benedict.
- Greeting "from the window" (as JP II used to do when he returned home).
- At Wadowice, with young people (don't overlook this one), with the sick.
- Cool photos here, especially this one from Auschwitz.
- The schedule of events for the movements all this week (see what they've been up to).
It's the feast of the Ugandan martyrs, chief of whom, St. Charles Lwanga, was slain chiefly for resisting the advances of a pederast king. Saints for our times?
- John Allen's interview with Cardinal Pell (wide-ranging --do go read).
- And Benedict meets with Tony Blair.
