The Papal Mass in Munich, Germany

[rkberlin]

Peace!
I just got done following the papal mass on TV (unfortunately I couldn’t make it to Munich myself). Whew, it was quite something. Over a quarter of a million people showed up, they had over 900 acolytes, amazing. Our Holy Father gave a wonderful homily on the gospel reading of Mark. To me as a German it was just truly fascinating to see and hear a German pope address us all in our own language.
I got a little concerned, though, when I saw our “Papa Bene” look so very tired after distributing communion. I hope and pray for him that he will get some rest now so he can continue this afternoon with the celebrations in Munich’s cathedral.
The Bavarian governor Stoiber was the first to receive communion from the pope, and to see a Catholic not being able to do the sign of the cross was quite shocking to me (he went forehead, down, thenright first, and then to the left. Good grief, how embarrassing. Well, but anyway, nobody’s perfect, I guess. Anyway, I just wanted to share this with you all, I was touched.
The weather is beautiful here right now, it’s like God is sending the most gorgeous weather down onto our pope for his visit. (we’ve had lousy weather until yesterday!)
May God bless you all, have a wonderful Sunday!
happy

 

[JohnS72]

I LOVE this Pope Benedict XVI - I can’t say enough great things about him. I wish he could stay around for as long as his predecessor did, but it’s very unlikely, despite all of the special graces Jesus Christ gives to the Vicor of HIS Church - the only Church founded by God Himself.

About the sign of the cross - don’t read too much into that. The Holy Spirit is right and left handed, and thus it might interest you to know that the “Sign of the Cross” is done one direction by the Western Church, and the other way by the Eastern Church, and this “way” of demonstration is intentionally meant by both Churches to express separation from the other. Perhaps the Bavarian politician was expressing solidarity with the Eastern Church, which isn’t a bad thing as I am convinced that by the year 2054, when 1,000 years have elapsed, the two equally genuine Churches will mend their fences and answer the call by Jesus (John’s Gospel) for Christian Unity. Neither can be called “correct” but by the standards of the traditions of a specific Church, and the Blessing is just fine either way - so long as it is done. I have a friend who has no right arm, so he uses his left hand for this sign of the cross. I have another friend who has no arms, so she uses her right foot - and I can’t believe she is able to do it so well - it is a sight to see - and proof that God doesn’t care about the procedure of adoration so much as the devotional intensity and sincerity of it.

 

[katholisch]

Hey rk,

I woke up last night and turned on the TV because I could not go back to sleep. EWTN showed the Mass live and it just so happened that I tuned in just before the Consecration! So I got to see it as well. God works in mysterious ways…
And yes, I loved to hear the Pope speak German as well, since I am originally from Germany.
God is great!!!