Has the Pope's visit touched you spiritually in any special way?

[Songcatcher]

I have been rather delightfully surprised how touching and moving this visit has been for me. I sometimes look at the Pope, embracing children, meeting with the homeless, asking people to pray for him, addressing the congress…on and on…and I find I am so moved by this man. I have been on a faith journey towards the Catholic Church for so long now and this visit, this Pope, has touched me profoundly. I have tears as I type this and it is not the first time in the past few days I have been moved to tears.

I have had a few reservations about my journey, not with the church but with myself-areas that I don’t understand or that go against other things I believe. This visit, I have found myself questioning, not the church, but myself. The Holy Father is so wise, such a beautiful embodiment of Christ’s teaching, I find I hang on his every word seeking answers but also just soaking it all in and learning and, hopefully, growing in my faith.

I almost embarrassed that I typed all of this. Even that feels like a huge spiritual moment for me in that I felt I was bursting with this and wanted to share it. I feel a sense of joy and peace and wonder that has been missing from my life for sometime.

Has anyone felt any of this? I have found myself being almost jealous of official Catholics as I would be so proud to have this man as my spiritual leader. I would love to hear any stories you might have to share about what this visit has meant to you, how it has moved you, maybe even transformed you.

Thanks in advance! :getholy:

 

[Casilda]

Not just because of this visit, but since it was announced that the next Pope would be from Argentina, I have had my spirits lifted. I find it most comforting to be able to listen to him in my first language, Spanish. I listened to his arrival speech in Cuba in its entirety. There is always something LOST in translation, plus his English is heavily accented.

I envy the little children getting hugs, the ones in Cuba who received their first communion by the Pope, what a special memory. May that awaken the church (people) there.

I don’t like the pseudo-Christian/Catholic talking heads commentaries telling us what the Pope is going to say/explaining what he said, I like to hear what he said for myself. I am okay with official Vatican text releases. So what I have seen on the news, I turn the volume off. He looks tired, he looked tired in Cuba. He has repeatedly asked the people to pray for him.

Thank you, Lord for giving us Pope Francis, watch over him, may he accomplish your mission here, and bless him with a safe trip home.

 

[lax16]

I have been rather delightfully surprised how touching and moving this visit has been for me. I sometimes look at the Pope, embracing children, meeting with the homeless, asking people to pray for him, addressing the congress…on and on…and I find I am so moved by this man. I have been on a faith journey towards the Catholic Church for so long now and this visit, this Pope, has touched me profoundly. I have tears as I type this and it is not the first time in the past few days I have been moved to tears.

I have had a few reservations about my journey, not with the church but with myself-areas that I don’t understand or that go against other things I believe. This visit, I have found myself questioning, not the church, but myself. The Holy Father is so wise, such a beautiful embodiment of Christ’s teaching, I find I hang on his every word seeking answers but also just soaking it all in and learning and, hopefully, growing in my faith.

I almost embarrassed that I typed all of this. Even that feels like a huge spiritual moment for me in that I felt I was bursting with this and wanted to share it. I feel a sense of joy and peace and wonder that has been missing from my life for sometime.

Has anyone felt any of this? I have found myself being almost jealous of official Catholics as I would be so proud to have this man as my spiritual leader. I would love to hear any stories you might have to share about what this visit has meant to you, how it has moved you, maybe even transformed you.

Thanks in advance! :getholy:

Songcatcher - thank you for sharing!

I am enjoying all of the festivities myself, but am finding non-Catholics are particularly interested in his visit.

My Jewish mother-in-law told me last night “I love Pope Francis. I had a dream that he got in my car and rode with me to synagogue for Yom Kippur services. When I arrived, people asked me why I was with the Pope. I answered, because he is my friend!”

I absolutely love to hear stories such as these.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I am enjoying his visit, but I am selfish in that I wish he didn’t have to leave. I wish he could stay here forever! I hope his visit here will lead to many conversions!
I saw JPII years ago in the 80’s before I was Catholic. I converted a little more than 20 years later.
I wish I could be there in person. He has such a peaceful way and such a sweet smile.
The cathedrals and Masses are beautiful.

 

[Songcatcher]

He looks tired, he looked tired in Cuba. He has repeatedly asked the people to pray for him.

Thank you, Lord for giving us Pope Francis, watch over him, may he accomplish your mission here, and bless him with a safe trip home.

Yes, that’s another thing I’ve noticed. He does look tired and I have been very worried about him. When he was traveling on that open-sided car yesterday, I found myself holding my breath.

Thank you for your response and for sharing your thoughts and that lovely prayer.

 

[Songcatcher]

Songcatcher - thank you for sharing!

I am enjoying all of the festivities myself, but am finding non-Catholics are particularly interested in his visit.

My Jewish mother-in-law told me last night “I love Pope Francis. I had a dream that he got in my car and rode with me to synagogue for Yom Kippur services. When I arrived, people asked me why I was with the Pope. I answered, because he is my friend!”

I absolutely love to hear stories such as these.

That is a wonderful story! “Because he is my friend!” I feel that way, too.

 

[Songcatcher]

I am enjoying his visit, but I am selfish in that I wish he didn’t have to leave. I wish he could stay here forever! I hope his visit here will lead to many conversions!
I saw JPII years ago in the 80’s before I was Catholic. I converted a little more than 20 years later.
I wish I could be there in person. He has such a peaceful way and such a sweet smile.
The cathedrals and Masses are beautiful.

I wish he didn’t have to leave, too. I hope he takes a good, long rest after his return though. He must be exhausted!

I wish I could be there also. These past few days, I have found myself wishing so much that I could just sit quietly and talk to him for a few minutes.

 

[ProVobis]

No more so than if Pope Benedict had been the one visiting as was originally planned.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I wish he didn’t have to leave, too. I hope he takes a good, long rest after his return though. He must be exhausted!

I wish I could be there also. These past few days, I have found myself wishing so much that I could just sit quietly and talk to him for a few minutes.

We need to pray for his health and safety the remainder of the trip.

 

[Adonia]

Having once attended a Palm Sunday Mass at the National Shrine in D.C. which was officiated by the Papal Nuncio, I would have loved to have been there for the Pope’s Mass.

And today I felt goose bumps when I heard him thank all the women religious for all that they have done and continue to do on behalf of Our Lord. We have a good friend who is a nun and I thought about her at that very moment.

 

[Songcatcher]

We need to pray for his health and safety the remainder of the trip.

Praying especially hard today as I have had a bad feeling about Philadelphia. I do not in any way mean that as a slam on Philly, it’s just they are not use to dealing with the crowds and/or visiting dignitaries like DC and New York.

 

[Songcatcher]

Having once attended a Palm Sunday Mass at the National Shrine in D.C. which was officiated by the Papal Nuncio, I would have loved to have been there for the Pope’s Mass.

And today I felt goose bumps when I heard him thank all the women religious for all that they have done and continue to do on behalf of Our Lord. We have a good friend who is a nun and I thought about her at that very moment.

I missed the part where he thanked all the women. That would have touched me deeply, too. I have had the great fortune in my career to work with, and for, different Catholic charities so I know how much this will mean to the wonderful nuns I have known.

 

[kozlosap]

No more so than if Pope Benedict had been the one visiting as was originally planned.

I’m sorry that you don’t seem to be able to show a little bit of joy while watching Papa here in the States. Without a doubt, Pope Emeritus Benedict is happy for the reception of his predecessor.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Praying especially hard today as I have had a bad feeling about Philadelphia. I do not in any way mean that as a slam on Philly, it’s just they are not use to dealing with the crowds and/or visiting dignitaries like DC and New York.

Praying that the security in Philadelphia will be highly vigilant!