Who is the Holy Father?
This morning we are up at 3:00am to head to the Nationals’ baseball stadium for the first public mass of the Pope’s visit to the United States. Here is a note I received from a friend of mine, a young man named Mathias in his second year of law school here in Washington D.C. I’ll post more later today from the stadium, but wanted to at least leave you all with this:
God bless, Father Jonathan
Who is the Holy Father? Before today, as a Catholic, I thought the answer was more-or-else straight-forward: the head of the Church and Christ’s vicar on earth. Today, I learned the answer was far, far, more simple.
It was about 5:20 when I had the opportunity to see the Pope pass by in his custom-built “popemobile”. He came by slowly. Inside the car’s glass bubble, this humble priest smiled and waved to the crowd, and since he drove slowly, he took the time to look at us each individually. His glance was full of life and his spirit radiated a glowing and unmistakable message: peace.
Today the Holy Father became for me a messenger of peace. So often political leaders and others talk of peace, but this man lives it. And it shines forth in his life. His predecessor John Paul II was a rockstar, and his example of faith drew an enthusiasm for Christ, especially for us, the young. Benedict’s personal presence makes a quiet invitation: to think, to reflect, and to attempt to live peace. His message has been so simple since the beginning of his papacy, and his theme for this trip, “Christ is Our Hope”. Nothing could possibly be more attractive.
Given this man’s wisdom, even more exciting than seeing him is listening to his words. And his message to the Bishops inside the Basilica was quite simple: pray, pray, and pray. And he preached by example tonight, leading the Bishops in the traditional prayer of psalms and hymns that all priests and many lay Catholics say daily.
That Christ’s messenger of peace would lead through the example of his life of prayer with all of us speaks volumes to me. It is a silent invitation that I know he invites each of us to share in our lives and with each other.
That’s who the Holy Father is: a man of prayer, a man of peace.
This is a great commentary on the Holy Father. It was an inspiration just to read this posting Thank you and God Bless
I thank the Lord for my/our blessings each and every day. Being led in prayer by the pontiff today is just one of the many blessings we’ll receive on this great day on his Earth.
God Bless us all.
We interupt this Holy Mass to bring you messages from our sponsors… and talk over to tell you what the message is about. What’s wrong with this picture?
God bless.
Actually, whenever there is a talk of the Pope, I always feel like crying. I even imagine myself coming up to him and making “mano” (a respectful gesture in Philippine Catholic culture: we youngins take the hand of an elder, bow, and place our heads lightly on their hands. Sometimes they return the gesture by placing their hands on our heads), and then crying. Only the Pope can bring me to my knees.
That only proves that even if I say that I’m a non-practicing Catholic, I have no power before the Lord and the steward of the Lord. I guess that no matter what I’m still a Filipino Catholic and abiding by Catholic teaching. Pope Benedict made me realize that just now. It’s amazing how the power of God’s love works.
If he were to come to the Philippines, I would like to meet him and tell him that I want to restart my life… or continue my life without regret, but with hope that one day I can be the best that I can be.
God bless America and the world.
Thanks for this post - Mathias, if you are reading these comments - well done! I love your simple eloquence and radiating joy.
I love Texas, but would give anything to be in Washington DC right now …
I’m starting to think maybe one of my prayers I said a while back ago, had anything to do with the popes coming. I remember praying to
god kind of frustrated, and I said, to send a messiah to the world, but like Jesus. And now the pope is here. But I said it because of how messed up the world is, because we need help.
Dear Father Jonathan,
Thank you for this information and for ALL that you do to inform and explain.
Just watching the telecast of the Pope gave me renewed hope for this very troubled world. And, faith
that my Catholic Church will take responsibility for the terrible mistakes made by some very bad
priests and their superiors. I believe that this is a new beginning for the Church.
God, bless you. And, God, bless us everyone.
Nancy Kennedy
There is NONE holy. NONE. Only God. Please stop calling him Holy Father. He is no different than you or I or my pastor. There is ONE who can be called Holy and that is God. Holy means WITHOUT sin. He sins, just like all of us, including my pastor and myself.
Thank you.
Patti, Wisconsin wrote: “There is NONE holy. NONE.” and “Holy means WITHOUT sin.”
Holy - adjective
“dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion”
I think petty semantic arguments to disparage other people’s religious practices are a waste of time and energy. They could be better spent upon meditation, reflection, or works of mercy. Seriously, I’ll never understand why people waste time trying to substitute out-of-context quotations from poor biblical translations or semantic tom-foolery (completely ignoring the dictionary) for honest-to-goodness theological debate.
We English-speaking Catholics will continue to address the Holy Father as “Holy Father,” please and thank you.
Vivat Jesus!
Marty Lund
After the Pope leaves, maybe those Americans who were ready to crucify Rev. Wright for some of his comments will be forgiving of the choice of words he used when speaking of America. I heard a Monsignor on Fox news and a fox commentator speak of how people turn to their faith when things are not good. Ironically, when Barak Obama made that comment, he was lableled as being out of touch. Bill OReilly has been critical & sarcastic about Rev. Wright (Obama’s former pastor) new home and how much money it is costing. Reverend Wright has the right to build a home wherever and for as much as he can afford. After all, I’m assuming the money is coming from his 40 + years of being a minister. Ironically, the Pope is in the U.S. this week and no one would ever question the fact that he lives in place that is worth much more than anything Rev. Wright is building. If one were to criticize the Pope or the Vatican, there would be outrage, yet all of the Pope’s teachings regarding compassion and forgiveness seems to be falling on death ears when it comes to how you treat other people.
Dee,
The Holy Father’s Papal Apartments are quite spartan, and hardly comparable to a ten million dollar home.
The Holy Father does not curse America. He blesses America.
The Holy Father preaches love, brotherhood and peace, not hatred, racism and division.
Moral relavency is indeed a cancer in our society.
Please give more information and/quotes on the Pope’s visit with youth. I am a widow, mother of five adopted chilren. I want to give them as much ”Catholocism” as possible. I have recorded much of this visit, but unfortunately was not able to record his visit with our youth.
Gratefully,
Carol Ann Allen
Please tell Shep to cut the chatter.
Catholics do not worship the pope, is that what you declared “father” Jonathan? well what was it that one of the commenters (Myta Santiago)wrote in this blog, and I quote, ” Only the pope can bring me to my Knees”. How about this from the writer, Alexander Adlai Arrinton, and I quote,” and I remember praying to god (his small g), kind of frustrated, and I said, send a messia to the world,but like Jesus, and now the pope is here”,
Here we have two practicing catholics from different parts of the world and it is very clear that they are engaged in idol worship, one who is willing to get on her knees in front of the pope, the other who sees this pope as messia and equl to the Lord Jesus, this is not only idolotry but blasphemy as well.
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Bruce / servant to King Jesus
If you really want to get to know this pope, google his name at your favorite bookseller and read a few pages of his writing. The man is an intellectual giant. Any book he has written is a workout for any mind.