Grazie Padre Santo!

"Grazie Padre Santo!  Le campane di Roma eterna rendono l'ultimo omaggio al dolce Cristo in terra.
Viva il Papa!"

-Fabio 

APOSTOLICAE SEDIS VACANTIS STATVS: Veni Sancte Spiritus!

Gratias Agimus Tibi, Beatissime Pater!

Sede Vacante: Oremus!

Rome Quotes

"Just said the Lenten preces for the first time ever without mentioning the Pope."

-Gregory

The See is Vacant

"Buia è per noi la notte del mondo, ma non è mai senza stella: c’è il Papa."  

-Card. A. Ottaviani

Hic Pastor et Vicarius: Altissimi Praelatus Est!

http://www.stpeterslist.com/10145/farewell-papa-5-graphics-to-share-in-honor-of-pope-benedict-xvi/

Apostolica Sedes Vacans Anno Domini 2013

Chiuso per Lutto.

The Duty of Confirming the Brethren!

To Bring Joy to a Sowerful Day: A Must See Video to Cheer You Up

Benedictus pp XVI: Renuntiat Ministerio Petrino

Noi Vogliamo Benedetto di Nuovo e Per Sempre!

Yours truly has been fortunate to have met Pope Benedict 9 times.

I am thinking of writing a reflection on my memories of his glorious pontificate - having been an eyewitness - on an often weekly basis.

If there were tears shed in the Sistine Chapel by J.A. Ratzinger on the 19th of April AD 2005, then there will be tears shed again by the same man of God as the cardinal electors elect him yet again for a second time.

No pope need feel alone.  Mai piu'!  The college of Cardinals can work together in unison with the popes to face this bolus of corruption in the Vatican.  Already this Pope has saved the day thanks to some recent crucial Vatican appointments. 

I always said my two great joys of living in Rome during this historic German pontificate were to hear a native-speaking German pontiff speaking his native German in St. Peter's Square as well as having had the honor to enter the Sistine Chapel many hundreds of times, often twice daily.  

"Benedetto, Wir Sind Papst!"

Forever Benedict: Pope of Social Media

Catholic blogs were really born during his pontificate. 

It has been a time of authentic growth and authentic renewal.

Long may he reign.

A Toast in Honor of Pope Benedict XVI: "Brindiamo!"

Grazie, Bao!

Spring Flowers in the Vatican: Primrose

Often the earliest spring flower planted in Europe.   

Nice to see the papal colours.

Our Favorite American Cardinal: Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke

I was first his altar boy in 1996 when he sang Pontifical Mass at the Church of St. Agnes in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  It was a proud moment.  He is the very finest. 

As the Cardinals Descend on Rome

Datum Romae. 

Salve Sancte Pater!

Thanks, Mark!

Vatican Life

Destruction

Image from the Internet. 

The Way It Is

Image from the Internet. 

Christians Persecuted: Fides Vincit

Image from the Internet. 

Traditional Habit

Lots of people Google this and now they will be led to this post.  

Seen in St. Peter's Basilica. 

Apostolorum Principem: Celsam Columnam Ecclesiae!

In Sancti Petri Cathedra: IL VERO PAPA BUONO

Image from the Internet. 

Caro Papa: Ci Mancherai!

Benedict XV and Benedict XVI: Pope of Peace and Pope of Christian Unity

The Coat of Arms of Pope Benedict XVI: a Tribute

World Over - 2013-02-23 - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Interview Special wi...

February 22: Chair of St. Peter - German Pope with German Music by Hans Leo Haßler

It was just gorgeous today to be treated to two separate renditions of Tu Es Petrus - as both an Offertory motet and a Communion motet - by Hans Leo Haßler and Clemens non Papa.  

My eyes filled with tears during the Hans Leo Haßler motet knowing what a historic time this has been for all people of German heritage.  This has been our moment - our German pontificate. 

Moving Thanksgiving Video for Life and Ministry of Pope Benedict XVI

Congratulations in Latin from the Vatican Secretariat of State

Pope says more or less, "Deus te filiamque uxoremque benedicat!"

Baby von Sonnen says more or less, "OPTIMUM EST!"

Santita', ti ringraziamo!  Gentilissimo!  E rimani con noi per sempre. 

Paintings of Pope Benedict XVI

Very nice.  Although obvious the artists are the ones who paint governors and senators.

Would be nice for us to make a return to the footprint of papal portraiture coming from, for example, the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. 

Having lived in Rome you get a taste for the glory of papal portraits of old.     

African Pope

We have the idiot press reporting - as they did in 2005 - that the "first non-European" pope might be elected.  

Too funny.  We have had popes from all over.  Even Syria. 

TV ES PETRVS: AD MVLTOS ANNOS!

Image from the Internet. 

Arms of Benedict XVI with Tiara on New Papal Preaching Stole

Arms of Benedict with Tiara on Refashioned Portable Throne

Priests Who Inspire: Mons. Jerome Sommer (1915-2012)

Too often we do not even hear of them.

72 years a priest. 

97 years on the planet earth.

Ordained priest in 1940.

Requiem!

http://stlouisreview.com/article/2012-11-28/obituary-msgr-jerome

OGGI PIU' CHE MAI: Solidarietà e Vicinanza al Santo Padre!

Con il Papa, fino alla fine...  

Oremus pro Pontifice nostro!

Terra Tremuit - For This Difficult Time

In Tribute to Pope Benedict XVI: Long May He Reign

"Hence by divine institution he [the Pope] enjoys SUPREME, FULL, IMMEDIATE, AND UNIVERSAL AUTHORITY over the care of souls."

-Vatican Council II (Christus Dominus, 2).

Benedictus XVI

Thanks, Mark!

Where to Buy Pope Memorabilia

See here and show your support: http://www.zazzle.com/matthewalderman/gifts.

A worthy rendition by the North American artist, Matthew Alderman.  The original image was commissioned as part of another project done for Mr. Paul Tiseo of Theandric Music.  

Lenten Stational Churches in Rome: St. Anastasia, Pray for Us!

FERIA TERTIA POST DOMINICAM I IN QUADRAGESIMA

Statio ad S. Anastasiam

Introitus (Ps. 89, 1 et 2) DÓMINE, refúgium factus es nobis a generatióne et progénie: a saéculo, et in saéculum tu es. (Ps. ibid., 2) Priúsquam montes fíerent, aut formarétur terra, et orbis: a saéculo, et usque in saéculum tu es, Deus.

Oratio. RÉSPICE, Dómine, famíliam tuam: et praesta; ut apud te mens nostra tuo desidério fúlgeat, quae se carnis maceratióne castígat.

How to Say Happy Birthday in Latin

Felix dies natalis sit tibi.

"Viva il Papa" (Italian for "Long Live the Pope")!

Image from the Internet. 

The Creed - Credo!

The Ultimate Hand Missal for the Extraordinary Form: A Must See and Have

Bring Back the Sedia Gestatoria

E' meglio la sedia gestatoria e basta. 

Note to All: Read Catherine of Siena on the Papacy

Keep Calm and Catholic On

http://www.stpeterslist.com/

John Paul II in Cappa Magna

Karol Cardinal Wojtyla in cappa magna at his titular church in Rome, San Cesareo in Palatio. 

AD 1968. 

"Es Lebe der Papst" (German for "Long Live the Pope")!

Image from the Internet. 

First Sunday of Lent

Prayers for His Holiness the Pope, and his private intentions. 

Old Roman Catholic Chant - First Sunday of Lent

The Way It Is by Rex Murphy

A must see on the papal resignation: http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows/The+National/ID/2335264606/.

Knowing Latin Helps: "Qui Res Mundi Vellet Scire Linguam Latinam Cognosciat."

http://www.memoriapress.com/articles/1383

How Do They Choose the Pope?

Want to Study in Rome (for Free)?

Consider this very generous scholarship to study at Rome's Dominican university.

A wonderful opportunity.

Help spread the word:

 http://angelicumnewsletterblog.blogspot.ca/2013/02/berrie-foundation-webinar.html.

Rome Quotes

"As history in fact shows, whenever an individual Church has cut itself off  from the universal Church and from its living and visible center - sometimes with the best of intentions, with theological, sociological, political or pastoral arguments, or even in the desire for a certain freedom of movement or action - it has escaped only with great difficulty (if indeed it has escaped) from two equally serious dangers.  The first danger is that of a withering isolationism, and then, before long, of a crumbling away, with each of its cells breaking away from it just as it itself has broken away from the central nucleus.  The second danger is that of losing its freedom when, being cut off from the center and from the other Churches which gave it strength and energy, it finds itself all alone and a prey to the most varied forces of slavery and exploitation."

-Evangelii Nuntiandi, 64.

Rome Quotes

"In our time more than ever before the greatest asset of the evil disposed is the cowardice and weakness of good men, and all the vigor of Satan's reign is due to the easy-going weakness of Catholics.  Oh!  If I might ask the divine Redeemer, as the Prophet Zachary did in spirit: 'What are those wounds in the midst of Thy hands?'  The answer would not be doubtful.  With these was I wounded in the house of them that loved me.  I was wounded by My friends, who did nothing to defend Me, and who, on every occasion, made themselves the accomplices of My adversaries.  And this reproach can be leveled at the weak and timid Catholics of all countries." 

-Pius X (Dec. 13, 1908). 

The Last Council on the Primacy of Peter the Roman

"In the Church the Roman Pontiff is the successor of Peter, to whom Christ entrusted the feeding of His sheep and lambs.  Hence by divine institution he enjoys SUPREME, FULL, IMMEDIATE, AND UNIVERSAL AUTHORITY over the care of souls.  Since he is pastor of all the faithful, his mission is to provide for the common good of the universal Church and for the good of the individual churches.  He holds, therefore, a primacy of ordinary power over all the churches."

-Christus Dominus (Decree on the Bishops' Pastoral Office in the Church).

Benedictus PP XVI: Now Gloriously Reigning

The best part of Benedict was that he knew how to speak to Europeans.  Because he had read and learned what had corrupted them - the modern and contemporary philosophers - "the great intellectuals".  

Benedictus Bis Eligendus: "Reelect Benedict"

Tip of the fedora to the famous Fr. Z.

Pope Benedict Today on the Last Council

"There was the Council of the Fathers – the true Council – but there was also the Council of the media. It was almost a Council in and of itself, and the world perceived the Council through them, through the media. So the immediately efficiently Council that got thorough to the people, was that of the media, not that of the Fathers. And while the Council of the Fathers evolved within the faith, it was a Council of the faith that sought the intellect, that sought to understand and try to understand the signs of God at that moment, that tried to meet the challenge of God in this time to find the words for today and tomorrow. So while the whole council – as I said – moved within the faith, as fides quaerens intellectum, the Council of journalists did not, naturally, take place within the world of faith but within the categories of the media of today, that is outside of the faith, with different hermeneutics. It was a hermeneutic of politics.

The media saw the Council as a political struggle, a struggle for power between different currents within the Church. It was obvious that the media would take the side of whatever faction best suited their world. There were those who sought a decentralization of the Church, power for the bishops and then, through the Word for the “people of God”, the power of the people, the laity. There was this triple issue: the power of the Pope, then transferred to the power of the bishops and then the power of all … popular sovereignty. Naturally they saw this as the part to be approved, to promulgate, to help.

This was the case for the liturgy: there was no interest in the liturgy as an act of faith, but as a something to be made understandable, similar to a community activity, something profane. And we know that there was a trend, which was also historically based, that said: “Sacredness is a pagan thing, possibly even from the Old Testament. In the New Testament the only important thing is that Christ died outside: that is, outside the gates, that is, in the secular world”. Sacredness ended up as profanity even in worship: worship is not worship but an act that brings people together, communal participation and thus participation as activity. And these translations, trivializing the idea of the Council, were virulent in the practice of implementing the liturgical reform, born in a vision of the Council outside of its own key vision of faith. And it was so, also in the matter of Scripture: Scripture is a book, historical, to treat historically and nothing else, and so on.

And we know that this Council of the media was accessible to all. So, dominant, more efficient, this Council created many calamities, so many problems, so much misery, in reality: seminaries closed, convents closed, the liturgy was trivialized … and the true Council has struggled to materialize, to be realized: the virtual Council was stronger than the real Council. But the real strength of the Council was present and slowly it has emerged and is becoming the real power which is also true reform, true renewal of the Church.

It seems to me that 50 years after the Council, we see how this Virtual Council is breaking down, getting lost and the true Council is emerging with all its spiritual strength. And it is our task, in this Year of Faith, starting from this Year of Faith, to work so that the true Council with the power of the Holy Spirit is realized and Church is really renewed. We hope that the Lord will help us.

I, retired in prayer, will always be with you, and together we will move ahead with the Lord in certainty. The Lord is victorious! Thank you."

Pope says goodbye to Roman priests, says he will be 'hidden from the world'

Oremus pro Pontificibus Nostris Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae: Cathedrae Veritatis!

Image from Facebook. 

Vivat Benedictus Magnus

Ad mvltos annos.