Today, we reach 300 episodes. In this show, we talk about Pope Francis, share a lot of feedback with questions about the Liturgical Reform and more!
– “Rejoice” by John Polce
– SQPN Giving Campaign
– cast (at) iPadre (dot) net
– Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373
iPadre App | Android App
Subscribe to Feed | Subscribe in iTunes
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this show, I give a recap our our Lenten meditation on 33 Days to Morning Glory. I also give a glimpse into Pope Francis’ devotion to and consecration to Mary.
– “Make My Heart Your Home” by Andrew Thomas, courtesy Musicalley.com
– MyConsecration.org
– 33 Days to Morning Glory
– SQPN Giving Campaign
– cast (at) iPadre (dot) net
– Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373
iPadre App | Android App
Subscribe to Feed | Subscribe in iTunes
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
EWTN did a 15 minute interview with Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires just six months ago. In the interview, he talks about the Year of Faith, and people’s false gods.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7A0PyKITdw
This is the fifth week of our reflection on 33 Days to Morning Glory. Focus is on Blessed John Paul and Vatican II theology of Mary. We also talk a little about our new Pope Francis, and Sarah Reinhard shares a Mary Moment.
– “Invisible People” by Ryan Meyers, courtesy Musicalley.com
– Vote for iPadre Podcast in the About.com 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards
– MyConsecration.org
– 33 Days to Morning Glory
– Catholic Mom Lenten Project
– cast (at) iPadre (dot) net
– Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373
iPadre App | Android App
Subscribe to Feed | Subscribe in iTunes
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Here is a great video from Grassroots Films.
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=tCKpuA9qdNc
This time with Pope Francis is draining me. We have had so much of an emotional ride since Benedict first announced his abdication on February March 11(half sleeping when I posted this) and the many events that followed, right up to the election of Francis and the many events that have and will follow. But, I could not help but notice how the Lord is in the details. Let me explain.
I thought it was very significant that Benedict would abdicate on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and like Bernadette, take up a life of prayer for the Church. On the day of the election, a seagull would not leave the chimney on the Sistine Chapel. It was as if nature was saying: “Come out Holy Father Francis!.”
Yesterday, in his simple but eloquent homily, Pope Francis gave the Church from the Cardinals on down a call to conversion. “Walk,” “build up,” and confess.” Along with all of this, God’s timing for it all strikes again.
On the day of Pope Francis’ election, the first reading for the Liturgy began: Thus says the LORD: “In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you; and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land and allot the desolate heritages.” It is as if the Lord heard the many prayers being offered for the Papal Conclave. We have all been concerned with the reports of corruption in the Vatican and the many other issues in the Church. The Lord appears to be announcing the “New Springtime of Faith”.
The first reading for yesterday’s Mass again rang out a loud note: ““Go down at once to your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved.” If this is not the call of a reformer Pope, I don’t know what is.
And finally, the first reading for today’s Liturgy show us the anger caused by those who are opposed to reform. “The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: ‘Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us.” We really need to pray for Pope Francis. His task is great. His current actions seem to display a decisive plan to put an end to the nonsense. The opening words of tomorrows 1st reading are: “I knew their plot because the Lord informed me.”
God is now speaking in a powerful way! One would have to be spiritually blind not to see it. Let us us unite in prayer and obedience to our Holy Father, Francis as he works to “separate the weeds from the wheat.” It’s going to be a rough ride folks, but we are on the side of Christ and “if God is for us, who can be against.”
Today, the media is all over Pope Francis. They proclaim how wonderful he is, his humility and great love for the poor. But, give it a few days and they will turn into vultures and rip him to shreds.
Don’t be like the media who converged on St. Peter’s in droves. The glory is gone and so are they. After the Solemn Mass of Inauguration on Tuesday, continue to support our Holy Father with your daily prayers. Begin today and every day, pray for the Pope!
℣. Let us pray for our Pontiff Francis.
℟. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him to be blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
Our Father, Hail Mary.
℣. Orémus pro Pontífice nostro Franciscus.
℟. Dóminus consérvet eum, et vivíficet eum, et beátum fáciat eum in terra, et no tradat eum in ánimam inimicórum eius.
Pater, Ave.
“So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).” (Jn 1:42)
During the first centuries of the Church, Popes were known by their baptismal name. However, almost every Pope has taken a “Papal” name since about the year 530 with the election of Mercurius who chose to be known as John II.
Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio has elected to take the name Francis. Until the Holy Father explains why he has chosen this name, there will be a lot of conjecture. So, I might as well add my own opinion.
I believe that Pope Francis I has taken the name Francis with two great saints in mind – St. Francis of Assisi and St. Francis Xavier. Both of these saints may summarize the work the Pope Francis is faced with.
Francis of Assisi was born in 1181 or 1182 to a very wealthy cloth merchant Pietro and Pica Bernadone. Francis lived the wild life and as many young men of his time desired to go off to the knighthood. However, during the war, Francis became ill and imprisonment, he returned to his parents home. It was during this illness that Francis Bernadone had a major conversion. Not long after Francis’ recovery he was at prayer in the now famous chapel of San Damiano. While Francis prayed, he heard our Lord’s voice coming from the cross say: “Go and repair my Church which is falling into ruins.”
Pope Francis faces the same situation. He may not have heard and audible voice or locution, but anyone who lives today knows the great problems that our Church faces. The new Holy Father is faced with the continuing problem of the abuse crisis, dwindling numbers of Catholics attending Mass regularly or receiving any of the Sacraments, the culture of death, the attack on the family, the secret file on the Vatican Leaks that awaits him in the safe in the Papal apartments, plus a whole range of other internal problems.
St. Francis Xavier, born in 1506, to a family of nobility. Francis’ meeting with Ignatius of Loyola changed his life forever. He was one of the founding members of the Jesuit order. The one desire of Francis Xavier was to evangelize the the peoples of the far east. He became a missionary to India and Japan. St. Francis Xavier is credited with converting over 40,000 people. Francis Xavier endured great personal sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel, a sacrifice that eventually took his life.
I believe Pope Francis also sees the importance of the New Evangelization. The work this Pope has to face is great. He will have to reform & renewal the Roman Curia and the entire Church while continuing to foster and strengthen the New Evangelization.
The good news is that Pope Francis I is not alone. Each one of us needs to reform our own lives and continue the work of the New Evangelization. Let us pray for Francis I, that he may have the courage to face the great task at hand!
This was an awesome Papal Conclave for a number of reasons.
First, I think it is awesome that the media has got it wrong again. How much speculation was there and not one of the frontrunners stood on the Logia of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Second, our new Pope chose the name Francis. We don’t know what Francis, but being in a time of great difficulty for the Church, when there are accusations of corruption within the walls of the Vatican, Pope Francis will have the same call as the humble Povarello to go and “Rebuild my Church, which is falling into ruins!” At the same time, if he chose Francis for the great Francis Xavier, he is looking at the great Jesuit evangelizer. Maybe Pope Francis was thinking of the two great men – Francis of Assisi and Francis Xavier. This is what the Cardinal electors were talking about before the Conclave. The new Pope would have to be a man of reform and evangelization.
And finally, this Conclave was very short. I think the Cardinals were moved with the urgency of our times. We are living in serious times. The Church has been shrinking in most place in the world, war is raging in many places, many world leaders appear to be on the verge of wiping out entire nations. We need a Pope who is ready to go ahead and proclaim the Gospel and reform the Church at the same time.
We are on the verge of entering Holy Week. This Pope will not have it easy. He will have enemies both within and outside the Church. Like Jesus who had Judas on the inside and the Pharisees on the out.
Maybe the Lord was speaking through nature. As we all looked and waited with anticipation, a seagull sat upon the smoke stack almost as giving us a sign that the Lord’s chosen one is sitting below.
Now we know our new Pope, Francis I. Let us pray for him, stand by him and work with him zealously for the reform of ourselves and the new evangelization.
Update:
In my excitement, I left out a few things.
He is the first Jesuit pope. What does this men? We’ll only see. And, he is the first pope from the Americas. I’m sure I’ll have more thoughts later.
No cell phones or iPads allowed in the Conclave, but Cardinal Dolan has found another way. In the picture below, Cadinal Dolan prepares to send another Tweet!
Cardinal Dolan tweets during the Conclave