Ven. Pope Pius XII Speaks to Mothers

Yesterday, Fr. Berg, the Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, visited our parish and offered Mass for Good Shepherd Sunday. Before beginning his sermon, he wished all of the mothers a happy Mother's Day, quoting a little bit from Pope Pius XII. This morning my curiosity got the best of me and I did a Google search for Pope Pius XII and mother. The first document that popped up was Pope Pius XII Speaks to Mothers: Allocution of Pope Pius XII 'DAVANTI A QUESTA' translated by Canon G.D. Smith. I have printed Ven. Pope Pius XII's allocution and am looking forward to reading it when I have a little time on my hands.

I hope that everyone had a happy Mother's Day.

Pope Benedict XVI's Words

The Vatican is providing all of Pope Bendedict XVI's messages, etc. to the U.S. during his visit on their website. They can be found here.

Celebrate the Visit!

"The Pope in America 2008"

Thank you to the children's choir director at Holy Family in Seattle for sharing the above link which has "free reproducibles to use with children of many ages in celebration of our Holy Father's visit."

Pope Benedict XVI's Message to the U.S.

He is looking forward to his visit. I wish that my family could be in New York or Washington. I would so like to see Pope Benedict XVI.

John Paul II was “a sign and witness of the Resurrection of Christ,” says Pope

Vatican City, Apr 2, 2008 / 10:41 am (CNA).- Recalling with emotion the passing of Pope John Paul II three years ago today, Pope Benedict said April 2 will remain imprinted on the mind of the Church as the day when the Servant of God departed from this world.

Thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for a memorial Mass in honor of the beloved pope, whose abiding memory continues to draw thousands of visitors every day to his tomb inside St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Benedict said that the life and pontificate, was as a whole and in many specific moments, "a sign and witness of the Resurrection of Christ."

John Paul II died on the eve of the second Sunday of Easter, the fulfillment of the "day that the Lord has made."

The Holy Father said, "Like three years ago, today we are not far from Easter. The heart of the Church is still deeply immersed in the mystery of the Resurrection of the Lord. Indeed, we can read the entire life of my beloved predecessor, in particular his Petrine ministry, as a sign of the Risen Christ.”

Recalling how today is the day John Paul II died, Benedict XVI said, "His agony was beheld by all this "day," in this space-time that is the new ' "eighth day," desired by the Holy Trinity through the work of the Incarnate Word, dead and risen.

"In this spiritual dimension,” the Holy Father said that “Pope John Paul II repeatedly demonstrated that he was some way immersed in this mystery during his life, especially in carrying out the mission of the Supreme Pontiff."

Since childhood, Karol Wojtyla experienced the truth of St. Paul's words, 'if we die with him, we shall also live with him. If we persevere with him, we also reign with him" (2 Tim 2,11-12), the Pope said.

Please visit the Catholic News Agency to read more about what Pope Benedict XVI had to say about John Paul II.

He's Coming to the United States

Pope Benedict XVI will visit in April 2008. Please visit Catholic World News for more information.

Happy Birthday, Pope Benedict XVI!

In your honor, I am reading Deus Caritas Est again. I have also been looking at EWTN.

Remembering Il Papa

April 2, 2005, my dad phoned and quietly told me, "Pope John Paul II has died." I remember going to Mass the next day and our pastor, Fr. Piotr Dzikowski (who had visited Pope John Paul II on numerous occasions), giving a beautiful homily, reminding us in Pope John Paul II's own words, "Be not afraid!" I remember the days which followed, the funeral we watched, the magazines we looked at, the e-mails we received, and the links we followed. Those links, plus some new ones, are still readily accessible on our computer. A few of them are below:
John Paul II: With These Hands
Rome's Repose
We Remember

Pope John Paul II died on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday. A feast which he had established and which I hold close to my heart. His death came eight days after Good Friday. It came eight days after Pope John Paul II handed the crucifix that he was carrying to then Cardinal Ratzinger. He and our pastor said, "Be not afraid!" and they were so right.

Today, I am thankful to be a parishioner at a Polish parish, where, after each Mass, we kneel and pray the Angelus for the beatification of John Paul II.

The Angelus

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.

Hail Mary...

V. And the Word was made Flesh.

R. And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary...

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

LET US PRAY

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts,

that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known

by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross

be brought to the glory of His Resurrection.

Through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.