The Epic Finale of the Papal Files

Well well well.  We meet again.  Only this time, I'm finished with all my finals.  haHA!  What I propose, then, is that we finish this story and move on to all the other ones you didn't hear about yet.  Although this is a great story, so still read it.

So.  In our last episode, we were just about to gather in St. Peter's Square at the conclusion of the second day of the conclave to view the results of the fifth round of balloting.  I had been there around 5:30ish to see if the 4th ballot would produce any white smoke.  It did not, so I hustled back to the College for evening prayer and hustled right back down afterwards amidst a mass exodus of Americans.  Had there have been a Red Sea between us and the Vatican, we may not have parted the waters, but we would have at least called the Marines to fly in some motorized dinghies.  Needless to say, people weren't entirely convinced we would see a new pope tonight, but they were darn sure they weren't going to miss anything just in case.  This is approximately 6:45 pm Rome time, which in March means that it was already dark.  As I may have stated before, though I can't remember: dealing with all the rain had its own advantages.  The principal advantage being that all the people were squeezed into the Square at umbrella-radius distances from each other.  Those latecomers such as myself, therefore, who had no propensity to melt in the rain like the Wicked Witch, could bob and weave underneath the maze of semi-wet rain jackets and still make our way fairly close to the Loggia. 

So here we are.  Role the eerie music as we duly note some similar circumstances:

There are still many people, with many umbrellas.  It is still raining.

The basilica is STILL THERE.

 

The new pope is still supposed to come out of that window when he is elected.

 
But this, good friends, is where everything went CRAZY.  Because the smoke came.  There was about a five second delay as the chimney puffed out a sort of grayish-white, but when everyone realized that the suspiciously light color was not darkening, the mob began to surge forward and squeeze up against the barriers in front of the basilica.  It was wild!!

It was most definitely white. Then the bells started ringing, and the whole city quickly bore down upon St. Peter's.

Mysteriously, several hundred flags came out of nowhere and started waving in the air.

Including American flags, no worries. But what makes me most proud of this picture is that other person who also had the great idea to take a picture of the American flags. lol!

This is the "I was really there" photo.

The perspective makes it hard to see, but this is about 30 feet back from the front barricade.  The Swiss guard is the regiment up there on the left, and the branches of the Italian military are up there on the right.

We waited over an hour between the white smoke and the pope's first appearance.  But no matter, the place was electric, and thanks to the Holy Spirit the drizzly rain stopped drizzling.  Eventually, the new pontiff was announced and he came out give everyone his first papal air high five!  You'll briefly see the cardinals come out at the adjoining windows, and you'll also see just how many people had their cameras at the ready!






It is hard to describe what it felt like in that moment.  I was so excited to have a new holy father, and what a sincere moment of grace it was to be able to witness it in person.  What most impressed me was the reality of history being made before my eyes.  Not because it was a noteworthy blip in the happenings of historical man, but because it was a concrete moment of divine history when the Holy Spirit breathed upon us in a special way to say, "This is my new Peter."  It was a moment of understanding more deeply just how much Jesus loves his Bride.

This is why we as Catholics make such a big deal about the pope!  Because Jesus did.  The papacy was instituted by divine command, from the lips of Jesus himself who said, "You are Peter".  In the good pleasure of his divine wisdom, Jesus built his Church by the power of the Holy Spirit upon the Rock of Peter; this, among other reasons, in order to show that as we are both bodily and spiritual creatures, so also his Church, his Bride, his Body, would not merely be a spiritual reality but a concrete, visible, historical reality.  That in the Church built upon Peter would be found the Church of Christ, that in the Church built upon Peter would be found the very keys to the Father's kingdom, that in the Church built upon Peter the gates of Hell would not prevail.  I mean, these are sublime truths to behold.  We call it Christ's Church because it is, but Jesus nonetheless willed that Peter and his successors should wield his own authority and power to teach, sanctify, and govern the Church Universal until Jesus returns on the last day.  How very important it is, then, for every follower of Christ, and especially every Catholic, to be united to Jesus in Peter.

Anyway, I love the pope.  I love the Catholic Church.  I could talk about these things all stinkin day.  But let's look at some more pictures first.

First photo of the new pope!

Afterward, about half the square was vacated, and half the crowd stuck around to celebrate and take it all in.

Me and my diocesan brother Dan

When we finally got back to the College, all the American cardinals were returning from the basilica as well, the camera crews and reporters were everywhere, and many of them had "post-conclave" interviews.  So we welcomed them back and were able to watch them meet the press.

This is our auditorium, Cardinal Dolan had his interview here.

Cardinal Dolan spoke for about 15 minutes or so.  I got to sneak in and watch the master in action.  It was pretty neat to be able listen to someone's firsthand account of everything.  You can see about a minutes' worth of it below:




It was a late night at the College, to be sure!  I don't think I got bed before 2 in the morning.  Couldn't miss all the action on such a momentous occasion.

Picture I took from the College right before going to bed.

The cherry upon the new papal cake was being able to be present for Pope Francis' installation Mass.  We were privileged enough to participate in the Mass as Communion distributor helper.. people.  Basically, we helped the several hundred priests distribute Holy Communion throughout the Square by following them around with umbrellas.  So the people knew where the priests were, and in order to keep things organized... That was such a cool thing to be a part of!! I will show you some pictures of the Mass with a few explanations along the way.

Leaving the College for Mass.  That's Paul Solomon sticking his tongue out.  He and I had our apostolate together this year at a homeless shelter of sorts run by the Missionaries of Charity.

Our official cards that say we are Communion Companions/Accompanists/Conductors

Walking into the Square from the side, we would sit there in that corner block of chairs until the Gospel reading.

Not a bad view!

The Mass booklet and official Pope Francis rookie card.

This is me taking a picture of Andy Mattingly taking a picture.

He thought it was funny.  He also wears an excellent beard.

The flags returned in force.

So about 45 minutes before Mass, the pope came out on his pope-mobile to greet the crowd!! Time for an explanation.

What I would like you all to note is the current position of my spot.  The pope is coming toward us, and what I decided to do, much like Pope Benedict's last Wednesday audience, was to film him passing by as opposed to take snapshots.  I specifically did this because I knew I would be sharing it with you on my blog.  I wanted you to see Francis in his close-up reel!  You will also note from the perspective of this photo that the geometry suggests his eventual passage to be within about 10 feet of my camera.  Indeed it was.  I took this one snapshot and then quickly switched it over to movie mode.  I was up on a chair and took a stand-by video of his passing that was... guys it was nothing short of poetry.  No flailing arms or cameras in the shot, no shaky hands.  Pure smooth close up of Francis' face, and he was even looking in our direction!

I was SO FRUSTRATED to discover after returning from Easter that I had inadvertently deleted this video in order to make room on my memory card for my Easter travels.  Nooo!  Blast!  Alas, it wasn't meant to be.  So use your imagination at this point and watch him mentally pass by RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

Now I'll share some photos I took of the Mass itself.  Generally I am of the opinion that photos shouldn't be taken after Mass begins.  But clearly, I was breaking my own rule for this one.  It was a very special occasion and I knew I would want to share this experience with you on the blog, so please forgive me any unintended offense!

At the start of Mass, he came out from inside the basilica.  The pope begins at St. Peter's Confessio, it's a little crypt just underneath the high altar and directly above St. Peter's bones.  There he prays with the Cardinals for himself and for the Church before being installed as the next successor of St. Peter

Pope Francis incensing the altar

Stopping by the statue of the Madonna and Child.

It was during the reading of the Gospel that we were marched up along the side of the Square behind the basilica, to receive instructions about how we were going to help with communion.

Ok so through that little tunnel there is looking back toward St. Peter's Square.  We are taking the back side stairs in order to get up into the narthex.  It is that outside vestibule place that is sort of like the "front porch" of a church.  We would stand there until the Eucharistic prayer.

Behind me. I am in the narthex looking inside the basilica toward the high altar.  You can see the baldacchino way up there on the left with the cross on top and the white high altar at the bottom.  St. Peter's Confessio is just beneath that altar.  You step down into it beneath this main level.

To my right.  Where we were walking from, so those stairs two pictures previous are in that direction.

In front of me.  Look at all the people!  That guard is looking in the direction of the pope, who is off to my right about 30 feet on the other side of that big pilaster / column.  I can't see him from here, but he is currently giving his first papal homily.  So cool!

SWEET.

The guys to my left.

They moved us down to the right side of the basilica while we waited with our yellow-and-white Communion umbrellas.

Several hundred priests stood in front of the outdoor altar and held individual ciboria filled with hundreds of thousands of hosts to be consecrated.  Whoa!

After Mass, we were herded out into the Square through the big walkways between the barricades.  The flags continue.

We were supposed to jet across to the left but got stuck.  This is the "we are stuck here" photo.

So we had to turn around and find another way.

All in all, the entire shebang was a smash hit.  The night of the election may have been the most memorable night of my life, one that will surely continue to shape my relationship with Christ and his Church.  I'm so happy that you FINALLY get to see all these photos and videos as well!  I have been trying forever to get these up here.  I appreciate all the patience and prayers as I worked through the final months of my first year here in Rome.

As we look forward to summer, hopefully I can continue to catch you up on the highlights of my year.  I'll be doing some pastoral work in Rome, Germany, and Sardinia between now and August, and will be doing some traveling as well.  Please keep praying for me!  And pray that I keep this blog updated as well!  God bless.

The Papal Files

Well folks, I started this post the day after our new Holy Father was elected pope.  Lol.  Suddenly a million years have gone by, and hear we are already approaching mid-May.  Apologizes to all for being a bit absent from this blog!  I will move through this as thoroughly and swiftly as I can to get you caught up on my life here in Rome.  Surely it won't happen in one post, but we'll see what we can do.  I have only three weeks left of class then three weeks of exams before finishing my first year.  Mucca Sacra! (that's how you say 'Holy Cow!' literally in Italian).  So little time and so many things to read and write for my classes!  Alas!  But no more of this rambling, we'll be talking the pope in this post.  Because I need to show you all of the SWEET photos and opportunities I had to participate in the whole shebang here in Rome.  So let's get right to it.

I was lucky enough to be in St. Peter's Square the night Pope Francis was elected!  Easily one of the most memorable nights of my life.  It was simply electric and filled with so much joy.  I was standing directly in front of the Loggia (the place where the pope came out above St. Peter's entrance for his first appearance) about 25 feet or so from the front barricades.  It was about as close as you can get!  The whole week surrounding this event was filled with hopeful anticipation, and there were cameras alllllllll over the place, but one of the most amazing parts was looking around the Square that night and sharing such a special moment in the life of the Church with tens of thousands of perfect strangers who in the very same moment were the familiar members of your own family waiting for Dad to introduce himself.  It is hard to describe with words, but it was one of the most concrete moments in my life of having experienced the corporeal reality of the 'Body of Christ'.  It certainly made an impression on me.

The days preceding the papal conclave were particularly furious here at the NAC as we hosted all of the American Cardinals and their secretaries.  It was super cool to be with such ordinary but holy men who have the awesome responsibility of leading the universal Church.  Just to be able to watch them with each other was a gift, seeing them prepare and open themselves to the Holy Spirit's work and asking Him to choose the next Roman pontiff.  These men literally had hundreds of millions of prayers flooding heaven on their behalf.  Talk about a sea of grace!

Everything officially began with the papal conclave Mass, in which all the voting cardinals (there are 207 in all, but only 117 of voting age--less than 80 years old), gathered inside St. Peter's basilica to celebrate the Eucharist and ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance in the choice of the 266th Vicar of Christ.  Our rector here at the College was able to secure tickets for us to go to that Mass, and we had just about the best view in the house.  I can't believe we were so fortunate.  Take a look!

Standing in line at about quarter to 8, before the basilica opened

Look at the first pic and you can see where the Sistine chapel chimney, pictured here, is located in relation to the basilica

My with my buddy Tyler Bischoff, we're standing right by our seats, and that's the main altar of the basilica behind us. Tyler is a fellow Michigander, a seminarian for the diocese of Gaylord, MI

This is what the papal crest looks like in the absence of pope.  The Vatican issues a short series of mailing stamps with this emblem during the time of the conclave.  They are much-sought-after by stamp collectors apparently.

Front of our Mass booklet, allows you to follow along because at various parts the Mass happens in several languages.  You can probably guess what that Italian title reads: "Holy Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff"

This is me looking up from my seat.  Basilica entrance to the right, out of the picture.

Ah, yes this is a better view.  I was in the third row of seats!  If you look at that double set of stairs and follow your line-of-sight to the right, you'll see a row of three chairs which comes into view----that area over there is where all of the non-voting cardinals sat for Mass.  This chair area here to the right is where all the voting cardinals sat.

Speaking of cardinals, here they all come!

I've never seen so much red all at once!

My view of the altar

The procession has started!  You can see those two big candle sticks sticking up in the air.  The cross is between them, but it's a bit hard to see in this picture

All the voting cardinals processed in and around the back, they went up and kissed the altar, then descended and walked over to the right, in that area designated for them

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who is the Dean of the College of Cardinals, was the main celebrant for the Mass

After the Mass, the 117 voting cardinals left for the Casa Santa Marta (their sequestered living quarters during the conclave) and the Sistine Chapel to begin their preparations for the start of voting.  With the exception of the very first vote, which takes place in the evening of the first day, all subsequent voting happens twice a day, and in each round they take two votes, so four votes a day.  In the last papal election, Pope Benedict was elected on the 4th ballot, the first round of the afternoon session on the second day of voting.  People were speculating about how many rounds of votes it would take to elect the new pope.  We all thought no more than three or so days of voting, maybe six or seven rounds max.  But all the anticipation was exciting nonetheless!  And so the continual march between the College and St. Peter's Square began.

We moved up community evening prayer by half an hour so we could all get to the square in time to see the chimney smoke!  It was a mass exodus of cleric-vested dudes walking briskly amidst the drizzly rain to get in on the party next door on the Vatican hill.

In the Square for the first vote!  Roof of the Sistine chapel is way up on the right over there, you almost can't see it.

This is me people watching.

More people watching, which just became easier because the rain stopped.  That bright set of bluish lights on the horizon of the crowd is a makeshift two story mobile news station.  There were about twelve slots for news channels, so that they could set up their news anchors to be facing away from the basilica, with the basilica directly in the background.  There were also more of those mobile stations on the roofs of all the surrounding buildings.

A few big screens were set up so you could see the chimney close-up 24/7.  Black smoke finally came out about 45 minutes late, no pope on the first ballot.

I was in class for the second ballot the following day, but came to the basilica for the third ballot, whose smoke was to go up around noonish.  Still drizzling rain.

More people watching.  News stations in the back there to the left, you can it better now.

Black smoke again. No pope!

This is about 5:30 in the evening of the second day of voting.  Fourth ballot time, still drizzling.

We didn't get any smoke, just this seagull.  No pope.

With no election after the 4th ballot, people finally started to settle in and get serious.  Most folks guessed it would be at least this many rounds of votes, and most also believed that the pope would be elected within the next 24 hours.  So I walked back to the College for evening prayer and came right back down to the Square to watch the smoke for the fifth ballot.  But in order keep this rolling, I will finish and publish this post right here.  I'll put up the rest of my photos and vids in the follow-up post which chronicles the epic finale of the papal election.  Hang in there!

Quick Commercial Break

Well, I know that our past Christmas holiday continues to retire further into the distance, but before I finish my Christmas story adventures--and for the sake of keeping things rolling--I just wanted to write briefly about my experience of being installed in the Ministry of Lector back in January, and post a few photo ops for your viewing pleasure.

The Ministry of Lector is one of the major steps a seminarian takes on his way to the priesthood.  In general, the rites and ministries that a seminarian completes during his time in seminary serve to help him learn to become a priest, as he publicly takes on the practical responsibilities of priesthood step by step.  Altogether they are:

Rite of Candidacy   (received 9 June 2012)
A seminarian publicly declares his intent before the Church to study and prepare for the vocation of priesthood; the Church (led by the local bishop) publicly accepts him as an official candidate for the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Ministry of Lector   (received 13 January 2013)
He publicly receives the Book of Scriptures from the Church and is called to increase his study of and devotion to the Word of God.  He proclaims the readings (except the Gospel) at public liturgies like the Mass, and is called to evangelize in charity with his knowledge of Scripture.

Ministry of Acolyte   (Spring 2014)
A seminarian is now called to be present in the sanctuary of the church during Mass, to aid the deacon and minister to the priest.  He attends to the service of the altar and the care of the Mass vessels.  When the need arises, he is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

Rite of Ordination to Diaconate   (Fall 2015)
The ordination to the diaconate sacramentally configures the seminarian to Christ the Servant.  Deacons serve the Church by preaching, prayer, and acts of charity.  They read the Gospel during Mass and can preach the homily, are ordinary ministers of Communion and baptisms, can perform weddings, funeral rites, and administer sacramentals.  Those in the permanent diaconate typically serve their local parish in some specific capacity, like ministry to jails, the homeless, the home-bound, RCIA etc.  Transitional deacons continue in seminary to prepare for priesthood.

Rite of Ordination to Priesthood   (Summer 2016)
A man ordained to the priesthood is configured sacramentally to Christ the Head and Shepherd.  In this way, he is set apart in order to be at the service of the whole people of God.  The priest "stands in the breach" (cf. Psalm 106:23) between God and man, bringing Him to them and them to Him.  Having received the power from God to act in persona Christi (in the person of Christ), the priest shepherds the pilgrim Church after the pattern of Christ during his earthly life.  Principally, this means that the priest effects the Sacraments, leads the Church in public worship, teaches, preaches, evangelizes, catechizes, prays, heals, forgives sins...in sum, he continues Christ's earthly ministry by becoming alter Christus ("another Christ").


As you can see, I have a little ways to go yet!  But all in good time.  For the Mass of my installation to the ministry of Lector, we had as our principal celebrant Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, who is the Cardinal Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.  He is an excellent preacher!  That particular Sunday was the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, so the Gospel reading was Luke's account of Jesus' baptism.  Cardinal DiNardo spoke about the divine sonship of Jesus, how at his baptism in the Jordan he basked in the Father's love, and related it to our own journey toward priesthood.  What animated Jesus' entire earthly mission, his fundamental mode of operation, was the knowledge of the Father's total and infinite love.  This, then, must be our fundamental perspective as well, because it is this knowledge which allows us to lay down our lives as Christ laid down his life.

Ok, enough talking (writing?), we all know that looking at pictures is the most exciting part anyway.  So here they are, in all their chronological glory:

We gather as a class before Mass to line up in the hallway.  Just like elementary school!  See, proof that you will need this skill later on in life.

We're so candid.  Except Rob on the right who's looking at the camera.  I'll give Garrett on the left the benefit of the doubt.

This is my buddy Paul.  You've seen him before at the beginning of the year when I posted the pic of us at St. Paul Outside the Walls.  Clearly, he's cheesing the camera and trying to make us think he's holy with his folded hands.

This is where my classmates and I were told to walk in a straight line as we processed in together.

Success.

Not only do these seminarians walk straight, but they kneel together and pray together as well.

Our celebrant Cardinal DiNardo giving the homily.

It is at this point in which the official rite of installation begins.  The introductory exhortation to us about to receive the ministry is:

To you, my dear sons in Christ who aspire for the ministry of Lector, through his Son, who became man for us, God the Father has revealed the mystery of salvation and brought it to fulfillment.  Jesus Christ made all things known to us and then entrusted his Church with the mission of preaching the Gospel to the whole world.

As readers and bearers of God's Word, you will assist in this mission, and so take on a special office within the Christian community; you will be given a responsibility in the service of the faith which is rooted in the Word of God.  You will proclaim that Word in the liturgical assembly, instruct children and adults in the faith, and prepare them to receive the Sacraments worthily.  You will bring the message of salvation to those who have not yet received it.  Thus with your help men and women will come to know God our Father and his Son Jesus Christ, whom he sent, and so be able to reach eternal life.

In proclaiming God's Word to others, accept it yourselves in obedience to the Holy Spirit.  Meditate on it constantly, so that each day you will have deeper love of the Scriptures, and in all you say and do show forth to the world our Savior, Jesus Christ.

At the end of the exhortation, as we all knelt in the center aisle, we received a final blessing before coming forth individually to receive the ministry of Lector.  The words of blessing are:

Lord God, source of all goodness and light, you sent your only Son, the Word of Life, to reveal to mankind the mystery of your love.  Bless + our brothers who have been chosen for the ministry of Lector.  Grant that as they meditate constantly on your Word they may grow in its wisdom and faithfully proclaim it to your people.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My turn!  Here as I receive the Book of Scripture the Cardinal says:

Take this Book of Holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the Word of God,
so that it may grow strong in the hearts of his people.

Mass continues as normal after the installation

Following Mass we all process out as official lectors!

Cardinal DiNardo ends with the post-Mass blessing, "Pro sit", a Latin phrase that means "May it (the sacrifice of the Cross) be to your benefit", to which all respond, "Pro omnibus et singulis", "For all and for each"

Where's Waldo?

This day was a great celebration for the whole Church as she received 55 new lectors, and a special day for me as I was able to receive this ministry on my way to priesthood.  It is always a great encouragement for me to experience the solidarity of brotherhood, and this Mass was certainly one of those moments.  I think above all it was a particular and important moment of knowing and receiving the Father's personal love, so that little by little I may learn to lay down my life after the example of Christ.