A few thoughts on the Pope
8 April 2005 12:18 pmJust finished watching the Pope's funeral a little while ago. And although very grand and spectaclar, with so many cardinals, heads of State and thousands and thousands of people, I found it very comforting and familiar. This is probably a Catholic thing - a Mass is a Mass no matter where it's said or whom it's attended by. It is so well known and intimate, that although mostly in a different language, it did not feel foreign at all. It was fitting and beautiful - there is great comfort in ritals and ceremonies, the way they lead you by the hand and pay respect to a life.
Last night our parish church held a requiem Mass for the Pope, and it was crammed full of people - it was really a most wonderful tribute. And we were given the prayer that the Pope wrote for his household before he died, almost a sort of last will:
A Final Prayer
Jesus said: "Abide in Me, and I in you... for apart from Me you can do nothing." JOHN 15:4-5
I leave you now with this prayer: that the Lord Jesus will reveal Himself to each one of you, that He will give you strength to go out and profess that you are Christian, that He will show you that He alone can fill your hearts. Accept His fredom and embrace His truth, and be messengers of the certainty that you have been truly liberated through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This will be the new experience, the powerful experience, that will generate, through you, a more just society and a better world.
God bless you and may the joy of Jesus be always with you!
Since I can't seem to find any words of my own, I'll have to borrow some.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fishsanwitt posted this article from The Washington Post a few days ago, and she very kindly said that I could copy it. It is, as she said, a wonderful overview of the Pope's life and accomplishments.
( Read more... )
Last night our parish church held a requiem Mass for the Pope, and it was crammed full of people - it was really a most wonderful tribute. And we were given the prayer that the Pope wrote for his household before he died, almost a sort of last will:
A Final Prayer
Jesus said: "Abide in Me, and I in you... for apart from Me you can do nothing." JOHN 15:4-5
I leave you now with this prayer: that the Lord Jesus will reveal Himself to each one of you, that He will give you strength to go out and profess that you are Christian, that He will show you that He alone can fill your hearts. Accept His fredom and embrace His truth, and be messengers of the certainty that you have been truly liberated through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This will be the new experience, the powerful experience, that will generate, through you, a more just society and a better world.
God bless you and may the joy of Jesus be always with you!
Since I can't seem to find any words of my own, I'll have to borrow some.
fishsanwitt posted this article from The Washington Post a few days ago, and she very kindly said that I could copy it. It is, as she said, a wonderful overview of the Pope's life and accomplishments.( Read more... )
