ADDRESS OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

WELCOME CEREMONYTHE WHITE HOUSE, SOUTH LAWN

WASHINGTON

16 APRIL 2008

Mr. President,Thank you for your gracious words of welcome on behalf of the people of the United States of America. I deeply appreciate your invitation to visit this great country. My visit coincides with an important moment in the life of the Catholic community in America: the celebration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the elevation of the country’s first Diocese – Baltimore – to a metropolitan Archdiocese, and the establishment of the Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville. Yet I am happy to be here as a guest of all Americans. I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society. America’s Catholics have made, and continue to make, an excellent contribution to the life of their country. As I begin my visit, I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the Church in the United States, and strengthen the resolve of Catholics to contribute ever more responsibly to the life of this nation, of which they are proud to be citizens.

From the dawn of the Republic, America’s quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction

that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. The framers of this nation’s founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the “self-evident truth” that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature’s God. The course of American history demonstrates the difficulties, the struggles, and the great intellectual and moral resolve which were demanded to shape a society which faithfully embodied these noble principles. In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideals and aspirations.

In the next few days, I look forward to meeting not only with America’s Catholic community, but with other Christian communities and representatives of the many religious traditions present in this country. Historically, not only Catholics, but all believers have found here the freedom to worship God in accordance with the dictates of their conscience, while at the same time being accepted as part of a commonwealth in which each individual and group can make its voice heard. As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society.

Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience – almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good (cf. Spe Salvi, 24). Few have understood this as clearly as the late Pope John Paul II. In reflecting on the spiritual victory of freedom over totalitarianism in his native Poland and in eastern Europe, he reminded us that history shows, time and again, that “in a world without truth, freedom loses its foundation”, and a democracy without values can lose its very soul (cf. Centesimus Annus, 46). Those prophetic words in some sense echo the conviction of President Washington, expressed in his Farewell Address, that religion and morality represent “indispensable supports” of political prosperity.

The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a world ever more worthy of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26-27). She is convinced that faith sheds new light on all things, and that the Gospel reveals the noble vocation and sublime destiny of every man and woman (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 10). Faith also gives us the strength to respond to our high calling, and the hope that inspires us to work for an ever more just and fraternal society. Democracy can only flourish, as your founding fathers realized, when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.

For well over a century, the United States of America has played an important role in the international community. On Friday, God willing, I will have the honor of addressing the United Nations Organization, where I hope to encourage the efforts under way to make that institution an ever more effective voice for the legitimate aspirations of all the world’s peoples. On this, the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the need for global solidarity is as urgent as ever, if all people are to live in a way worthy of their dignity – as brothers and sisters dwelling in the same house and around that table which God’s bounty has set for all his children. America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes. I am confident that this concern for the greater human family will continue to find expression in support for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress. In this way, coming generations will be able to live in a world where truth, freedom and justice can flourish – a world where the God-given dignity and rights of every man, woman and child are cherished, protected and effectively advanced.Mr. President, dear friends: as I begin my visit to the United States, I express once more my gratitude for your invitation, my joy to be in your midst, and my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and its people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. God bless America!

The Pope at the White House

The Following is an AP story on President Bush's White House reception for the Holy Father. The White House went all out for this event even pulling out the fiddle and drum corp for a rendition of Yankee Doodle Dandy. Following the exchange of speeches, the Pope and President went into a private office to meet. Simultaneously, Condoleza and Cardinal Bertone met to discuss state affairs. I've added some emphasis throughout the story.

Bush welcomes pope and says US is open to his message
By JENNIFER LOVEN Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An enthralled South Lawn crowd of more than 9,000 sang "Happy Birthday" to Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday - twice - and President Bush said that the first papal White House visit in 29 years was a reminder for Americans to "distinguish between simple right and wrong."
"We need your message to reject this dictatorship of relativism and embrace a culture of justice and truth," Bush said in brief remarks welcoming Benedict to the White House. "In a world where some see freedom as simply the right to do as they wish, we need your message that true liberty requires us to live our freedom not just for ourselves, but in a spirit of mutual support."
The pontiff turned 81 Wednesday, the first full day of his first trip to the United States as leader of the world's Roman Catholics. His 90-minute stay at the White House - only the second ever by a pope - was accompanied by the kind of pomp and pageantry rarely seen even on grounds accustomed to routinely welcoming royalty and the world's most important leaders.
Lampposts fluttered with flags in the red-white-and-blue of America and yellow-and-white of the Holy See. The vast South Lawn was filled to nearly bursting with the largest crowd of Bush's presidency, requiring a large television screen so those further back could see. Groups of Boy and Girl Scouts in their uniforms and members of the Knights of Columbus wore their traditional brightly colored feather headgear. Thousands unable to get inside filled Washington's streets as well, playing music and waving banners as they waited for a hoped-for glimpse of the pontiff passing by later in his popemobile.
An almost serenely quiet papal arrival at the White House preceded the program as Benedict's limousine pulled up the driveway to a greeting from Bush and his wife, Laura. The two leaders strolled along a red carpet to a platform set up on the lawn, and sat side-by-side as the Marine Band played the national anthem of the Holy See while a 21-gun salute from the Ellipse sprayed gray smoke into the air. Famed American soprano Kathleen Battle sang "The Lord's Prayer." The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, dressed in colonial garb, marched past the two leaders.
The love in the audience was evident. A few yelled "Viva il Papa." Four toddlers sat on the grass with handmade signs, one reading "We love you pope of hope" and the other showing a birthday cake - chocolate - with an 81 on it. "Happy Birthday" was sung spontaneously at first early in the ceremony, and a formal, more full-throated version came at the end.
No less adoration was evident as the pope rode along historic Pennsylvania Avenue afterward, en route at midday from the White House to the Vatican Embassy. Thousands of people thronged along the streets to see him, and Benedict waved frequently to the crowds as the papal vehicle moved slowly along the street.
At the White House earlier, four toddlers sat on the grass with handmade signs. One read "We love you pope of hope" and other showed a birthday cake - chocolate - with an 81 on it. The crowd spontaneously sang "Happy Birthday" early in the ceremony, and a formal, more full-throated version came at the end.
"God bless America," said Benedict robustly, to cheers from the excited throng.
The pontiff has said he was looking forward to meeting a "great people and a great church" during his first papal journey to the United States. The six-day trip to Washington and New York City coincides not just with his birthday, but the three-year anniversary of his ascendancy to the Roman Catholic Church's top position. Nurturing the U.S. flock is a sensitive and important mission for Benedict at a time, not just of ongoing scandal in the American church but amid his campaign to tamp down secularism and re-ignite faith worldwide.
"I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the church in the United States and strengthens the resolve of Catholics to contribute even more responsibly to the life of this nation of which they are proud to be citizens," Benedict said at Bush's side.
Bush showed off America to its important visitor, ticking off what he said are its best virtues: a nation of prayer and compassion, a nation that believes in religious liberty and welcomes the role of faith in the public square, and one that is the most "innovative, creative and dynamic country on Earth" but also among the most religious.
"Most of all, Holy Father, you will find in America people whose hearts are open to your message of hope," Bush said.
But while acting the proud father, Bush also seemed to suggest that America could use a little tough talking-to by the pontiff.
"In a world where some treat life as something to be debased and discarded, we need your message that all human life is sacred and that each of us is willed, each of us is loved, and each of us is necessary," the president said, drawing sustained applause from the lawn.
Adela Arguello, a Department of Homeland Security worker from Miami flew in for the events. "We're living in very terrible times and any message like this is important," she said. "He needed to come."
"How often in life do you get to sing Happy Birthday to the pope?" said Brenda Hawk, a Sunday school teacher from Centreville, Va. "Even if you're not Catholic, it's darn cool!"
The president kicked off the unprecedented series of papal festivities on Tuesday, by motoring to Andrews Air Force Base just outside Washington to meet Benedict's plane, something he's never done for any leader. While the pontiff received a screaming, cheering reception befitting a rock star from hundreds of Catholic students and others on the tarmac, Bush stood back in the unusual role of second fiddle.
From the South Lawn, Bush and his wife, Laura, escorted the pontiff into the White House's Blue Room to introduce him to relatives and serve birthday cake. The leaders then strolled down the colonnade to hold talks in the Oval Office, the 25th meeting between a Roman Catholic pope and a U.S. president - sessions that span 89 years, five pontiffs and 11 American leaders.
In the evening, the Bushes are hosting a swank East Room dinner in Benedict's honor, complete with Bavarian-style food to celebrate his native Germany. But a meeting between Benedict and U.S. bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington was preventing him from dining with the president.
These two leaders share much common ground, particularly in opposing abortion, gay marriage and embryonic stem cell research. But there are plenty of differences.
They disagree over the war in Iraq, the death penalty and the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. Benedict also speaks for environmental protection and social welfare in ways that often run counter to Bush policies. And the pontiff told reporters on his plane that he planned to bring up immigration policy with Bush during their private Oval Office meeting. Benedict has talked forcefully in the past about the damage caused by punitive immigration laws.
White House press secretary Dana Perino predicted that Iraq would not "dominate the conversation in any way." If it comes up, it's likely to be focused almost exclusively on the fears of the Christian minority in Muslim-majority Iraq, she said.
Another topic that will get cursory attention, if any, is the clergy sex abuse scandal that continues to devastate the American church. Perino called it not "necessarily on the president's top priorities" for the meeting.
On his flight to the United States, Benedict said he was "deeply ashamed" by the scandal and "will do everything possible to heal this wound." No pope has been to the United States since the case of a Boston serial molester triggered a crisis that spread throughout the U.S. and beyond in 2002. © 2008 The Associated Press.

Ois Guade zu Deim Geburdstog!

Buon Compleanno!

And Shepherd One Touches down...

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

And so, the United States receives the Holy Father.

Many people were wondering why Benny did not kiss the ground upon arrival as was John Paul the Great's custom. Well, it was JPG's own custom and it is not part of any papal protocol.

Pope Benedict waves "hello" to the crowds gathered at Andrew's Airforce Base.

Pope Benedict was greeted on the tarmack by President Bush, the First Lady, and their daughter. As a point of interest, this is the first time "Dubya" has greeted a dignitary or head of state on the tarmack. When asked why, he replied that the "Pope is much more than a diplomatic figure, he is a spiritual figure".

Seen to the Pope's right are Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Pro Nuncio to the United States, and Papal Secretary, Monsignor Georg Ganswein

We thank the Lord for the Holy Father's safe arrival unto our land.

MSNBC Video worth watching

Benedict's trip to the US

Before I get to the arrival, I want to make mention of Benedict's press conference aboard the volo papale. Papa Ratzi did not dodge any questions, nor did he pussyfoot around difficult issues. Impressive. Indeed, I think this is yet another example of the gentle, but firm, guidance of Pope Benedict. Furthermore, this may also be an indication of the tone of his visit.

Below are some snips from the interview. CNR has a full transcript.

Q: Can you say something to us about your sentiments and your hopes with which your approach this trip, and what your fundamental objectives are?

Benedict XVI: My trip has basically two objectives. The first is a visit to the church in America, in the United States, and naturally also the entire country. There’s a particular motive, which is that 200 years ago the Archdiocese of Baltimore was elevated as a metropolitan archdiocese, and at the same moment two or three other dioceses were created … Philadelphia, Boston, Louisville. It’s a great jubilee for the church in the United States. It’s a moment of reflection on the past, but also on the future, on how to respond to the great challenges of our time that will present themselves in the future.Naturally, the inter-religious and ecumenical encounters are an important part of this trip, as is the encounter in the synagogue with our Jewish friends on the vigil of their Passover festival. That’s the religious and pastoral aspect … the church in the United States in this moment of our history, and the encounter with all the others in this common humanity which leads to a common sense of responsibility.At this point, I want to thank President Bush who is coming to the airport and has devoted considerable time to our meeting, and who is also receiving me on the occasion of my birthday.The second objective is the visit to the United Nations, and also here there’s a particular motive. This is the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It’s an expression of the founding philosophy of the United Nations and the human and spiritual basis upon which it’s constructed. Thus it’s a moment of reflection and to refresh awareness of this important moment in history, that in this declaration of human rights diverse cultures came together. There’s an anthropology that recognizes the human being as a subject of rights prior to all institutions, with a value that must be respected by everyone. This trip, given a moment of a crisis of values, gives us the opportunity to build upon what was begun in this moment and to exploit it for the future.

Q: Holy Father, I’ll ask my question in English. I know you will speak principally in Italian, but we would be grateful for at least a few words in English. The Catholic church in the United States is large and dynamic, but also suffering, above all because of the recent sexual abuse crisis. The American people are waiting to hear what you have to say on this subject. What will your message be?

Benedict XVI: It is a great suffering for the church in the United States, for the church in general, and for me personally that this could happen. If I read the histories of these victims, it’s difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betrayed in this way their mission to give healing and to give the love of God to these children. We are deeply ashamed, and we will do all that is possible that this cannot happen in the future.

I think we have to act on three levels.

The first is the level of justice, the juridical level. We now have also norms to react in a just way. I would not speak in this moment about homosexuality, but pedophilia, [which] is another thing. We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry, this is absolutely incompatible. And who is really guilty of being a pedophile cannot be a priest. So the first level is, as we can do justice and help clearly the victims, because they are deeply touched. So [there are] two sides of justice, on the one hand that pedophiles cannot be priests; on the other hand, to help in all the possible ways to the victims.

The second level is the pastoral level, the level of healing and help of assistance and of reconciliation. This is a big pastoral engagement, and I know that the bishops and the priests and all the Catholic people in the United States will do all possible to help assist and to heal, and to help that in the future these things cannot happen.

The third point [is that] we have made a visitation in the seminaries to also do what is possible in the education of seminarians for a deep, spiritual, human and intellectual formation –with discernment so that only sound persons can be admitted to the priesthood, only persons with a deep personal love for Christ and a deep sacramental love, to exclude that this can happen [again]. I know that the bishops and the rectors of seminarians will do all that is possible so that we have a strong discernment, because it’s more important to have good priests than to have many priests. This is also our third level, and we hope that we can do, and we have done, and we will do in the future, all that is possible to heal this wound.....

Q: I’ll ask the question in Italian, but we would love to have just a greeting in Spanish. With the enormous growth in the Hispanic presence, the Catholic church in the United States is becoming steadily more bilingual and bicultural. Yet there’s also a growing “anti-immigrant” movement in America. Do you intend to invite the United States to welcome immigrants well, many of whom are Catholic?

Benedict XVI: Unfortunately I’m not ready to speak in Spanish, but I offer a greeting and blessing for all the Spanish-speakers! Certainly I’ll talk about this subject. I recent had the ad limina visit from the bishops of Central America, also South America. I saw the scope of this problem, above all the grave problem of the separation of families. This is truly dangerous for the social, human and moral fabric of these countries.It seems to me that we have to distinguish between measures to be taken immediately, and longer-term solutions. The fundamental solution [would be] that there is no longer any need to immigrate, that there are sufficient opportunities for work and a sufficient social fabric that no one any longer feels the need to immigrate. We all have to work for this objective, that social development is sufficient so that citizens are able to contribute to their own future.

On this point, I want to speak with the President, because above all the United States must help countries develop themselves. Doing so is in the interests of everyone, not just this country but the whole world, including the United States.In the short term, it’s very important above all to help the families. This is the primary objective, to ensure that families are protected, not destroyed. Whatever can be done, must be done. Naturally, we have to do whatever’s possible against economic insecurity, against all the forms of violence, so that they can have a worthy life.I’d like also to say that although there are many problems, so much suffering, there’s also much hospitality [in America.] I know that the bishops’ conference in America collaborates a great deal with the Latin American bishops’ conference. Together they work to help priests, laity and so on. With so many painful things, it’s also important not to forget much good and many positive actions....At the beginning, Fr. Lombardi asked about my sentiments. I’d like to say that I’m going with joy. I’ve been in the United States several times, I know this great country, and I also know the great life of the church despite all the problems. I’m happy to be able to meet in this historical moment, both through the church and my visit to the United Nations, this great country.

Benny's US Visit

Pope Benedict XVI's Itinerary
Times are Eastern Daylight Time

Tuesday, April 15 • Washington, D.C.
4:00 p.m. - Arrival at Andrews Air Force BasePope Benedict XVI arrives at Andrews Air Force Base. He is greeted by President George Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush.

Wednesday, April 16 • Washington, D.C.
Pope Benedict XVI’s 81st Birthday
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. - Meeting with the President at the White HousePresident George Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush welcome Pope Benedict XVI to the White House. The welcome will be on the South Lawn of the White House before approximately 5,000 people. This is only the second time in history that a pontiff has visited the White House.
10:30 a.m. - Arrival of Pope Benedict XVI and South Lawn activities
11:15 a.m. - Pope Benedict XVI and President Bush meet for 45 minutes in private in the Oval Office
12:00 noon - Departure via popemobile - Parade route open to the general public. Click here for details.
5-7 p.m. - Vespers and Address to U.S. Bishops at the National Shrine
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States and North America, and one of the ten largest churches in the world. It is the nation’s pre-eminent Marian shrine, dedicated to the patroness of the United States: the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception. Backgrounder on the National Shrine.
5:15 p.m. - Parade to the Basilica - beginning at 3211 4th St. NE. At end of route, popemobile travels the circle in front of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
5:30 p.m. - Vespers in the Crypt (lower area of the Shrine) with the bishops of the United States. Vespers, also called Evening Prayer, is part of the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office.
6:00 p.m. - Address to the bishops by Pope Benedict XVI.
7:00 p.m. - Program ends.

Thursday, April 17 • Washington, D.C.
10:00 a.m. - Mass at Nationals ParkThe Pope will celebrate Mass at the new Nationals Park in Washington. This will be the first non-baseball event in the park, which opened March 31.
5:00 p.m. - Address to Catholic Educators at The Catholic University of America (CUA)
6:15 p.m. - Departure - The Pope will enter the popemobile on the east (lower) side of the Przbyla Center and move through the campus of the Catholic University of America.
6:30 p.m. - Interreligious Gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural CenterThe Pope will meet with representatives of other religions on the theme “Peace Our Hope.”

Friday, April 18 • New York
8:30-10:00 a.m. - Movement to New York City
8:30 a.m. - Departure from Andrews Air Force Base.
9:45 a.m. - Arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport (Diocese of Brooklyn).
10:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. - Address to the United Nations at the United NationsDuring his scheduled three-hour visit to UN Headquarters.
6:00 p.m. - Ecumenical Prayer Service - Saint Joseph ParishSaint Joseph Parish
6:00 p.m. Greeting by Cardinal Edward M. Egan and Msgr. John Sullivan, administrator of Saint Joseph Parish.

Saturday, April 19 • New York
Third Anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s Pontificate
9-11:15 a.m. - Mass for Clergy and Religious at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
9:00 a.m. - Arrival and welcome at main entrance of Cathedral.
4:30 p.m. - Blessing of Youth with Disabilities at Saint Joseph Seminary.
5-6:30 p.m. - Rally with Seminarians and Young People at Saint Joseph SeminaryApproximately 25,000 young Catholics from throughout the United States.

Sunday, April 20 • New York
9:30 a.m. - Visit to Ground Zero - Site of the Former World Trade CenterThe Pope will visit the site of the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center, offer a blessing and greet representatives of the Port Authority, New York fire and police workers, those who survived the attacks, and family members who lost loved ones in the attack.
2:30 p.m. - Mass begins at Yankee Stadium
5:00 p.m. - Mass ends
8-8:30 p.m. - Departure from John F. Kennedy International AirportApproximately 3,250 guests will bid farewell to the Pope in Hangar 19 of JFK airport.
8:00 p.m. - The Pope arrives via motorcade.
8:30 p.m. - Departure via Shepherd One

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm tellin you why..."

Papa Ratzi is on his way...

Our prayers are with you Holy Father +

It's the Golden Pastorale...

In U.S. Masses, Pope to Carry Pastoral Staff of Blessed Pope Pius IX

By Cindy WoodenCatholic News ServiceVATICAN CITY (CNS) --

When Pope Benedict XVI processes to the altars where he will celebrate Mass in Washington and New York, he will be carrying the pastoral staff of Blessed Pope Pius IX. Msgr. Guido Marini, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, told Catholic News Service that the 19th-century pastoral staff, topped with a cross instead of a crucifix, "is becoming the usual one for papal celebrations."On Palm Sunday, March 16, Pope Benedict started carrying the older staff, which was used by every pope from Blessed Pope Pius to Pope Paul VI."This is the typical staff used by the popes because it is a cross without a crucifix," Msgr. Marini said April 10.It is taking the place of the staff with the rugged crucifix on top that was created by Italian artist Lello Scorzelli for Pope Paul in the mid-1960s.

The Vatican's yearbook, "Activity of the Holy See," includes a photograph of Pope Paul holding the Scorzelli staff on Easter 1965.But the piece has become closely identified with the pontificate of Pope John Paul II and is placed alongside a photograph of him in the renewed "Vatican Splendors" exhibit currently touring the United States.Msgr. Marini said there actually are two copies of the Scorzelli staff: the one in the exhibit, open in St. Petersburg, Fla., through May 11, and "the other which is here in the pontifical sacristy.

"The Scorzelli crucifix remains the model for the crucifix on the rosaries Pope Benedict gives to his guests.

Welcome Pope!

The Diocese of Orange has created the following video welcome message for Pope Benedict. Many dioceses have video welcomes which will be played before the Papal Mass at Nationals Park, Washington DC.




The following is Video Welcome Message put out by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. (Ours is much better)


In Other News...
KOCE-TV, one of the most watched PBS stations in America, is set to premiere a one-half-hour documentary that explores the role of Catholicism in shaping the cultural and community landscape of Orange County, Calif., and portrays the personal faith journey of many different people who make up the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. It first airs April 28, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. This original feature presentation titled Matters of Faith, takes an in-depth look at the history and growth, the multicultural mission and the far-reaching influence of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, currently the 10th largest Diocese in the nation with more than 1.2 million members and nearly 10,000 students enrolled in its extensive educational system.

Some pics... a follow up to the previous post.

Who can forget the Good Friday Liturgy? Paparatzi donned the red fiddleback and mighty, yet simple, mitre.























The old pastorale, staff, has been polished and it's looking good.
















Earlier this week he donned the Easter mozzetta (shoulder cape) made of white damask silk and ermine lined.

"This Old Thing?"

Okay, so there is no denying that I am excited about Pope Benedict's visit to the US in a couple weeks. I have been closely following the speculations, news, and chismes that surround the visit. One thing I am particularly excited about is what the Pope will wear. Msgr. Guido Marini, Pontifical Master of Ceremonies, has been reaching deep into the amoir of old (traditional) vestments and what-nots. Here is an article published in the LA Times.

Papal Dress Code
-When Pope Benedict XVI visits the U.S., what he wears could send a message to Catholics.
By Michael McGough April 6, 2008

When Benedict celebrates Mass in Yankee Stadium on April 20, he will be clothed in the raiment of his office -- a poncho-like vestment called a chasuble and the double-peaked bishop's cap known as a miter. Asking if the pope will be dressed up is like asking whether the pope's Catholic.

But the Catholic Church is a house with many rooms, and those rooms have different clothes hanging in the closets. To the delight of conservative Catholic bloggers, Benedict -- the pope who has ordered wider use of the Latin Mass of the Council of Trent -- has lately been donning elaborately embroidered vestments and miters in what is called the "Roman" style, in contrast with the neo-medieval "Gothic" style that made a comeback after the Second Vatican Council.The Gothic style features short, squat miters and full, flowing chasubles.

The Roman style, a product of the Baroque era, produced the super-tall miters beloved of anti-Catholic polemicists (the cartoonist Thomas Nast portrayed bishops as crocodiles, with the two points of their miters forming jaws) and chasubles reduced to the point that they resemble an embroidered sandwich board. This style of chasuble is known as the "fiddleback" because the front portion is shaped like a violin.Fiddleback chasubles and skyscraper miters were the norm in the Roman Catholic Church through the early part of the 20th century. The Gothic style, which hearkened back to the 12th century, was viewed with suspicion in Rome partly because it was favored by priests of the Church of England who wanted to reestablish their church's Catholic heritage. (Ironically, some of those "Anglo-Catholic" clergymen were imprisoned in the 19th century for wearing what Protestant-minded Anglicans regarded as the "rags of popery.")

But the Gothic revival was also supported by some Roman Catholic scholars, the same scholars whose studies laid the groundwork for the liturgical reforms -- including Mass with the priest facing the congregation -- that followed the Second Vatican Council. In a 1931 book celebrating Gothic vestments, the influential Benedictine monk E.A. Roulin fulminated against the "horribly heavy" and "vulgar" fiddleback chasuble.When I served Mass as an alter boy at in Pittsburgh in the early 1960s, the vestments were all Gothic, the fiddlebacks of the 1940s and 1950s having long been mothballed. I didn't realize, until I read Garry Wills' "Bare Ruined Choirs," that Gothic vestments were associated with liberal Catholicism.

After Vatican II, the pope caught up with Pittsburgh. When Pope Paul VI celebrated Mass in Yankee Stadium in 1965, he wore a flowing but not particularly elaborate Gothic chasuble and a mid-sized miter. His successors -- John Paul I and John Paul II -- also favored Gothic chasubles, though they occasionally donned skyscraper miters....Assisted by Archbishop Piero Marini, the papal master of ceremonies he inherited from John Paul II, Benedict sported Gothic vestments and modest miters for a while. But last year, the pope replaced Marini with a prelate with the same last name, Msgr. Guido Marini. With the assistance of Marini No. 2, Benedict has returned to his liturgical roots, sporting massive miters, celebrating Mass in the Sistine Chapel with his back to the congregation and leading Good Friday services vested in a fiddleback chasuble.

The pope's aides say that his choice of vestments is designed to demonstrate continuity with the church's past. Liberals are more inclined to see it as a slap at the spirit of Vatican II. Even some Catholics might wonder why so much attention is paid to the pope's preferences in vestments. If hemlines can rise and fall, why not miters? Besides, special robes for priests and bishops are a tradition, not a matter of faith, and whether Gothic or Roman, ecclesiastical vestments originated in the everyday civilian dress of the Roman Empire. "The first Christians were waiting for the second coming of Christ, which they expected in their own lifetime and so made no attempt to formalize their religion," writes Janet Mayo in "A History of Ecclesiastical Dress." "They certainly had no desire to adapt or create specifically Christian clothing."

One more video...

This one is from the Metro system in Washington DC. Needless to say,there were many who were offended by its irreverence and it was yanked from the airwaves. But alas, it's funny!

Consider what Benny himself said,

I'm not a man who constantly thinks up jokes. But I think it's very important to be able to see the funny side of life and its joyful dimension and not to take everything too tragically. I'd also say it's necessary for my ministry. A writer once said that angels can fly because they don't take themselves too seriously. Maybe we could also fly a bit if we didn't think we were so important.

Pope Benedict's Video Message to the People of the United States

As Benny's visit to the US quickly approaches, he is using the media as no other Pope ever has. Yesterday he released the following video message to the people of the United States.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the United States of America,

The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you! In just a few days from now, I shall begin my apostolic visit to your beloved country. Before setting off, I would like to offer you a heartfelt greeting and an invitation to prayer. As you know, I shall only be able to visit two cities: Washington and New York. The intention behind my visit, though, is to reach out spiritually to all Catholics in the United States. At the same time, I earnestly hope that my presence among you will be seen as a fraternal gesture towards every ecclesial community, and a sign of friendship for members of other religious traditions and all men and women of good will. The risen Lord entrusted the Apostles and the Church with his Gospel of love and peace, and his intention in doing so was that the message should be passed on to all peoples.

At this point I should like to add some words of thanks, because I am conscious that many people have been working hard for a long time, both in Church circles and in the public services, to prepare for my journey. I am especially grateful to all who have been praying for the success of the visit, since prayer is the most important element of all. Dear friends, I say this because I am convinced that without the power of prayer, without that intimate union with the Lord, our human endeavours would achieve very little. Indeed this is what our faith teaches us. It is God who saves us, he saves the world, and all of history. He is the Shepherd of his people. I am coming, sent by Jesus Christ, to bring you his word of life.

Together with your Bishops, I have chosen as the theme of my journey three simple but essential words: "Christ our hope". Following in the footsteps of my venerable predecessors, Paul VI and John Paul II, I shall come to United States of America as Pope for the first time, to proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture and social condition. Yes, Christ is the face of God present among us. Through him, our lives reach fullness, and together, both as individuals and peoples, we can become a family united by fraternal love, according to the eternal plan of God the Father. I know how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in your country. I am coming to share it with you, in a series of celebrations and gatherings. I shall also bring the message of Christian hope to the great Assembly of the United Nations, to the representatives of all the peoples of the world. Indeed, the world has greater need of hope than ever: hope for peace, for justice, and for freedom, but this hope can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God, which Christ brought to fulfilment in the commandment to love one another. Do to others as you would have them do to you, and avoid doing what you would not want them to do. This "golden rule" is given in the Bible, but it is valid for all people, including non-believers. It is the law written on the human heart; on this we can all agree, so that when we come to address other matters we can do so in a positive and constructive manner for the entire human community.

Dirijo un cordial saludo a los católicos de lengua española y les manifiesto mi cercanía espiritual, en particular a los jóvenes, a los enfermos, a los ancianos y a los que pasan por dificultades o se sienten más necesitados. Les expreso mi vivo deseo de poder estar pronto con Ustedes en esa querida Nación. Mientras tanto, les aliento a orar intensamente por los frutos pastorales de mi inminente Viaje Apostólico y a mantener en alto la llama de la esperanza en Cristo Resucitado.

[I cordially greet Spanish-speaking Catholics and manifest to you my spiritual closeness, especially to the young, to the sick, the elderly and those experiencing difficulties or who are most in need. I express my great wish to be present with you in this dear nation. In the meantime, I ask you to pray intensely for the pastoral fruits of my imminent Apostolic Voyage and to keep high the call of hope in the Risen Christ.]

Dear brothers and sisters, dear friends in the United States, I am very much looking forward to being with you. I want you to know that, even if my itinerary is short, with just a few engagements, my heart is close to all of you, especially to the sick, the weak, and the lonely. I thank you once again for your prayerful support of my mission. I reach out to every one of you with affection, and I invoke upon you the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Que la Virgen María les acompañe y proteja. Que Dios les bendiga.

May God bless you all.

Religious Education Congress Weekend

ONE of the highlights of my year is the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Religious Education Congress at the Anaheim Convention Center. It draws a crowd of over 40,000 people. To me, this event is like a big family reunion. Personally, it's my opportunity to see friends from the seminary days and people with whom I have developed friendships with throughout the years. Over the entire weekend, Friday to Sunday, goers participate in 8 workshops ranging from Liturgy to Catechesis, to Spiritual Formation. Each day concludes with liturgy(several styles of liturgy are offered to cater to as many tastes as possible). By far, the liturgies tend to be a little on the production side, but to their merit, they are well executed. Aside from the liturgies and the workshops, there is a huge exhibit (market area).

Some of my favorite presenters at the Congress were: Fr. Ron Rolheiser, Fr. Jim Martin, Fr. Tony Ricard, Dr. Greer Gordon, and Fr. J. Glenn Murray.

The parish purchased a new processional cross that will be used for the first time at the Triduum. I am writing a small blurb on the processional cross for later publication in the Sunday Bulletin and on this blog.

The highlight of the weekend for me was meeting Fr. Jim Martin, SJ. He is as great in person as he comes accross in his writing. We had a great chat. My impression of him is that he is very down to earth and honest with and about himself. It was an immense blessing to spend a few minutes with him. I attended both of his talks. One was based on his book, Becoming Who You Are. The second talk was on Catholic Laughter.

Below is a photo of Fr. Jim and I.

Some thoughts from the author of our current book.

Biography: Fr. Henri Nouwen was born in the Netherlands, where he was ordained to the priesthood and earned his doctorate in psychology. After nearly two decades of teaching at the Menninger Clinic in Kansas and at the Universities of Notre Dame, Yale and Harvard, he left to share his life with mentally handicapped people at the L'Arche community of Daybreak in Toronto, Canada. He is the author of many books on spirituality and psychology, including The Return of the Prodigal Son, In the Name of Jesus, and The Life of the Beloved.

"The Life of the Beloved"I would like to speak to you about the spiritual life as the life of the beloved. As a member of a community of people with mental disabilities, I have learned a lot from people with disabilities about what it means to be the beloved. Let me start by telling you that many of the people that I live with hear voices that tell them that they are no good, that they are a problem, that they are a burden, that they are a failure. They hear a voice that keeps saying, "If you want to be loved, you had better prove that you are worth loving. You must show it."

But what I would like to say is that the spiritual life is a life in which you gradually learn to listen to a voice that says something else, that says, "You are the beloved and on you my favor rests."

You are the beloved and on you my favor rests.

Jesus heard that voice. He heard that voice when He came out of the Jordan River. I want you to hear that voice, too. It is a very important voice that says, "You are my beloved son; you are my beloved daughter. I love you with an everlasting love. I have molded you together in the depths of the earth. I have knitted you in your mother's womb. I've written your name in the palm of my hand and I hold you safe in the shade of my embrace. I hold you. You belong to Me and I belong to you. You are safe where I am. Don't be afraid. Trust that you are the beloved. That is who you truly are."

I want you to hear that voice. It is not a very loud voice because it is an intimate voice. It comes from a very deep place. It is soft and gentle. I want you to gradually hear that voice. We both have to hear that voice and to claim for ourselves that that voice speaks the truth, our truth. It tells us who we are. That is where the spiritual life starts -- by claiming the voice that calls us the beloved.

I would like to talk a little about how to live the life of the beloved. There are four words that I want to use, words that come from the gospels, words that are used in the story of the multiplication of bread, words that are used at the Last Supper, words that are used at Emmaus and words that are used constantly when the community of faith comes together. Those words are: He took, He blessed, He broke, and He gave.

To be taken, to be blessed, to be broken and to be given is the summary of the life of Jesus who was taken, who was blessed by God, broken on the cross, and given to the world. It is also the summary of our life because just as Jesus, we are the beloved.

First, we are taken. Perhaps a better word would be chosen. We are chosen by God. That means we are seen by God in our preciousness, in our individuality. We are seen as precious in God's eyes.

In our world, when one is chosen it means for the others, "Too bad for us, we are not chosen." In God's mystery, being chosen doesn't mean excluding anyone. In fact, the more we know we are chosen, that we are seen in our preciousness, the more we will realize that our friends and all people are seen in their preciousness.

The people I live with sometimes have a very hard time believing they are chosen. They suffer, not so much from their mental handicap, but from the feeling of being not wanted, not desired. They have lost touch with the truth that they are chosen. It is hard for them to be in touch with that, precisely because often the people around them have said, "I don't want you around. I don't want you to be here. Why don't you go away?"

The life of the beloved starts by trusting that we are chosen in our uniqueness, that we are unique in God's eyes, precious.

The second aspect of the quality of the life of the beloved is that we are blessed. It is so important that you and I experience that we are blessed. The word benediction means blessing. Literally, bene means good and diction means saying. To bless someone means to say good things about them. "You are good." We need to know that good things are being said of us. We really have to trust that, otherwise we cannot bless other people. So many people don't feel blessed.

I would like to tell you a little story about our community. There is one of my friends there who is quite handicapped but a wonderful, wonderful lady. She said to me, "Henri, can you bless me?" I remember walking up to her and giving her a little cross on her forehead. She said, "Henri, it doesn't work. No, that is not what I mean." I was embarrassed and said, "I gave you a blessing." She said, "No, I want to be blessed." I kept thinking, "What does she mean?"

We had a little service and all these people were sitting there. After the service I said, "Janet wants a blessing." I had an alb on and a long robe with long sleeves. Janet walked up to me and said, "I want to be blessed." She put her head against my chest and I spontaneously put my arms around her, held her, and looked right into her eyes and said, "Blessed are you, Janet. You know how much we love you. You know how important you are. You know what a good woman you are."

She looked at me and said, "Yes, yes, yes, I know. I suddenly saw all sorts of energy coming back to her. She seemed to be relieved from the feeling of depression because suddenly she realized again that she was blessed. She went back to her place and immediately other people said, "I want that kind of blessing, too."

The people kept walking up to me and I suddenly found myself embracing people. I remember that after that, one of the people in our community who assists the handicapped, a strong guy, a football player, said, "Henri, can I have a blessing, too?" I remember our standing there in front of each other and I said, "John," and I put my hand on his shoulder, "you are blessed. You are a good person. God loves you. We love you. You are important." Can you claim that and live as the blessed one?

I think it is very important that when we are in touch with our blessedness that we can then bless other people. People need our blessing; people need to know that their father, mother, brothers and sisters bless them.

Then we are broken. We are broken people. You and I know that we are broken. A lot of our brokenness has to do with relationships. If you ask me what it is that makes us suffer, it is always because someone couldn't hold onto us or someone hurt us. I know each of us can point to a brokenness in our relationships with our husband, with our wife, with our father, our mother, with our children, with our friends, with our lovers. Wherever there is love, there is also pain. Wherever there are people who really care for us, there is also the pain of sometimes not being cared for enough. That is enormous.

What do we do with our brokenness? As the beloved of God we have to dare to embrace it, to befriend our own brokenness, not to say, "That should not be in my life. Let's just get away from it. Let's get back on track."

No. We should dare to embrace our brokenness, to befriend it and to really look at it. "Yes, I am hurting. Yes, I am wounded. Yes, it's painful."

I don't have to be afraid. I can look at my pain because in a very mysterious way our wounds are often a window on the reality of our lives. If we dare to embrace them, then we can put them under the blessing. That is the great challenge.

Quite often we want to solve people's problems and tell them to do this or to do that, that we will help them out and let's get over it. The main task we have is to put our brokenness and the brokenness of the people with whom we live under the blessing. If you live your brokenness under the curse, even a little brokenness can destroy your life. It is like an affirmation that you are no good and suddenly you say, "You see what has happened? I lost my job. This friend didn't speak to me. He rejected me." We can hold on to it and see it proven that we are no good. We always thought so.

The great call is to put our brokenness under the blessing, to live it as people of whom good things are being said.

If we live our life as people who are taken, blessed and broken, then we can give ourselves. We are taken, blessed and broken to be given. I want to tell you something that may sound a little strange, but I really believe deeply that our greatest human desire is to give ourselves. Quite often we say that we want to have a lot for ourselves then we will give a little bit. No, I think the greatest fulfillment of our heart is in the giving, to give ourselves. It is letting go. The mystery is that as we let go for others our lives start bearing fruit. That is a great mystery.

Jesus says, "It is good for you that I die because when I die I can give you my spirit and you will bear much fruit in your life." I really believe that is the final call, to give ourselves.

Recently I was with a friend whose name is David. He had cancer. He was holding onto his life and he said, "I don't want to die." Gradually, he was able to let go. On the last day of his life he called his wife and children and embraced each of them and said, "I love you. I love you."

It was clear he was ready to let go. When he died, suddenly there was light for his wife and children because somehow David had given himself to them even as he was leaving them. Today they are still able to say, "Thank you for the life of David." The life of David will be more and more fruitful because he gave himself in life and even in death.

When we are people who are chosen by God -- blessed, broken -- we can give ourselves to others. Our life can bear immense fruit. The people who have lived as the beloved, continue to bear fruit generations after they have died. When we think about certain great people in history, they still give us life. They still give us hope because their lives became fruitful, fruitful in the giving.

That is really what I wanted to talk to you about. Maybe I can just remind you of that story of the multiplication of bread. You remember there was a little boy and everybody said that he was not worth anything. But, he had five loaves and five fishes. This little boy was received by Jesus and He took these five loaves and five fishes. He broke the bread after having blessed it, and He gave it, and in giving it multiplied and it was enough for everyone to eat.

That story says something about our lives. We are little people, but if we believe that we are chosen, that we are blessed, that we are broken, to be given, then we can trust that our life will bear fruit. It will multiply. Not only in this life, but beyond it. Many, many people will find strength by knowing that they are being given new life by those who lived as the beloved and they can become the beloved themselves.

From: http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/nouwen_3502.htm

After the hiatus...

Life has been a little hectic. Let me fill you in. Prior to the start of the new semester at MD, I was approached by my department chair and asked if I would consider changing my teaching schedule and take over a retiring teacher's schedule. After long hours of prayer and discussion with key people, I decided to take the opportunity. Mainly because I have always wanted to formally teach Social Justice. Currently I am teaching two Senior Level classes of Peace and Justice and three New Testament classes. I am very excited about this change. The Seniors have been great! I greatly enjoy the conversations and learning opportunities we share.

The hiatus came as a result of trying to adjust to the new schedule. I now have a "0" block which starts at 7:20-- this means I have to wake up much earlier (5:30AM). I am not a morning person and I am not a night person. I find myself going to bed at 8:30 some nights.

I think i finally got a hold on the new rythm of life. So... look for new stuff and keep reading my friends.

Vocation Reflection on 1 Samuel 3:1-30 for the YM Group

This month the church remembers to celebrate and pray for vocations. Specifically, we pray for vocations to the religious life and to the priesthood. I am sure that each of you, if you come to mass regularly probably hear the same message… How many of you have memory of the priest up here speaking to you about your vocation? My What?!?!?! Vocation?!?! Is that a disease?!?!?!

The word vocation comes from the Latin word VOCARE. It means “call”. In Catholic terms, the word vocation refers to God’s call for each person. There are four ways of living out God’s call in your life, according to Catholic tradition: Married life, priesthood, religious life and single-celibate life. So essentially, when it comes to the question of vocation in your life, the answer is multiple choice. But which choice is the best for you? A. Marriage, B. Priesthood, C. Religious Life, D. Single-celibate Life? Unlike the SAT’s and tests at school you cannot take a guess at the best answer in hopes that you get it right.

Scripture tells us that God speaks to us a specific vocation… and the answer comes when we stop and listen. In Samuel’s case, it was easy… he literally heard the voice of God. Today if anyone claims to hear the voice of God, people may look at you funny… But in essence, God does speak to us—in different ways.

The answer comes as the result of prayer.

I know that each of you have been asked, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” If you got a dollar each time you were asked that question then the world would be broke and you would be rich teens. Culturally, it’s important to ask that question… and sometimes parents answer that question for us. Remember your parents telling you when you were younger that you would be a doctor… a lawyer…

How many of you know what YOU want to do when you grow up? Are you sure? Have you ever considered that the answer may be more than just that? Perhaps the question we are asking is the wrong one. Perhaps we should not ask, what do YOU want to do… rather, we should ask… “What do you believe God is calling you to do with your life?

God longs to be here among us… will you let him be in the world? Will you respond through your life to do the work he wishes to accomplish in this world?

Let me be Eli, let me be the old man who says to you, "If you should hear the word of God, reply,'Here I am Lord'".

Saint Basil the Great & Saint Gregory Nazianzen

In celebrating the feasts of Saint Basil and Saint Gregory Nazianen on the same day, the Church extols a virtue which she has always esteemed, friendship. The friendship between Basil and Gregory was admirable. Born in Cappadocia around 330, they studied together in Athens and then returned to their homeland wehre they led a monastic life for several years. Their temperaments were very different. While Basil had qualities of a leader and a gift for organization that made him a legislator for monks in hte East, Gregory was a contemplative and a poet.

Although both were called to the episcopate, they did not succeed equally well in their charges. In Caessarea, his native city, Basil as an intrepid pastor. By word, in his writtings, and through many interventions, he defended the independence of the Church in the face of temporal power and recalled the dignity of the poor, who were too often ridiculed by the rich. Before all else, he safeguarded faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. As for Gregory, after he became bishop of a small town, he found himself promoted to the see of Constantinople, then in the throes of the Arian crisis (379). People deligted in his sermons and discourses, and saw in him the father of the poor, but as he was excessively impressionable, he could not cope with factions. In less than a yar and a half he returned to his studious retreat at Nazianzen. He was called, "the Theologian," a man who could speak of God, while Basil received from his contemporaries the title of "the Great". The Orthodox Church has placed Gregory and Basil with John Chrysostom in the first rank of ecumenical doctors. They are the "three Hierarchs". - Magnificat

January 1st: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

Today, January first, the Church celebrates Mary as the Mother of God. The title of Θεοτοκος - Theotokos in Greek-, Mother of God, was first declared at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. The Church fathers gathered to articulate a unified code of beliefs for Catholics in response to the many heresies that were going on (especially the heresy of Arianism which taught that Jesus was more than a man but less than God, and the heresy of Docetism which taught that Jesus was divine and not fully man) . By declaring Mary as the Mater Dei (Latin for Mother of God) the church acknowledged, affirmed, and declared the divinity and humanity of Jesus. This title of course also acknowledges Mary's role in the plan of salvation.

Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, also presented a problem at the Council of Ephesus. He rejected the idea that Jesus' humanity and divinity were inseparable. Instead, he believed that Jesus had two wills, two minds, and two natures. The Council declared him a heretic and condemned his teachings.

Most importantly, the Church fathers declared that although Jesus had two natures-- he is God and he is man- they both existed and are united within him. Nestorius also rejected the title of Theotokos for Mary. He taught and believed that Mary was only mother of the human Jesus, not the divine Jesus. This belief was also condemned and the council fathers declared that because Mary is the mother of God the Son, she is therefore duly entitled Theotokos.

Calling Mary the Theotokos or the Mother of God (Μητηρ Θεου) was never meant to suggest that Mary was coeternal with God, or that she existed before Jesus Christ or God existed. The Church acknowledges the mystery in the words of this ancient hymn: "He whom the entire universe could not contain was contained within your womb, O Theotokos."

The title of Theotokos is best translated as "the Bearer of God" or "the birth-giver of God". Both Theotokos & Mater Dei express the same belief about Mary.

Although Mary is the Mother of God, we hold that Mary is also our Mother. Through divine command from the cross, Jesus entrusted Mary to John and John to Mary. The command "John, behold your Mother" is extended to us to behold Mary as our own mother. By the same token the command to Mary, "Woman, behold [John] your son", is extended to us to be held in the eyes of Mary as her own children.

Mary's role as our mother reverberates through history. Mary is often referred to as the "New Eve" for she is the mother of the new creation that comes forth from the resurrection of Jesus. As children of Mary we are sons and daughters of this new creation in which eternal death is not the constant, but rather, the promise.

In 1531 Guadalupe, under the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe, asked the Aztec Juan Diego in response to his worries, "Am I not here who Am your Mother?"

Celebrating Mary as the Mother of God is a great way to begin the year. By remembering her as the Mother of God and Mother of us all we remember that we are united to Christ- as Mary is our common denominator.

My prayer is that this year we can draw closer to God through Mary. May our faith in God mirror her own faith so that in the same way we can also say to God, "Behold your servant, let it be done in accord to your will." Perhaps then, we may also, together with Mary, bear God to the world.