Posted on 12/14/2007 6:14:00 AM PST by NYer
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 13, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The 85-foot Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square, decorated with more than 2,000 ornaments, will be officially lit Friday.
Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, will preside at the official lighting ceremony. Civil and religious authorities from the region of Bolzano in northern Italy, which donated this year's tree, will attend.
The 140-year-old, 3-ton fir stands beside the Nativity scene in the square, which is still under construction.
The Nativity scene, which will be unveiled on Christmas Eve, has 17 life-size statues. Of these, nine are the original figures donated by St. Vincent Pallotti for the Nativity scene in the Roman Church of Sant'Andrea della Valle in 1842. The other eight figures were added over the years. As in 2006, the Italian province of Trento has provided more sculpted wooden figures and animals, as well as household utensils for the depiction of daily life.
From Dec. 19 to Feb. 2, Paul VI Hall will also be adorned with a tree and a Nativity scene designed by Mexican artists. The figures of the Nativity scene are in the Novo Hispanic Baroque style, while the tree decorations are the work of Mexican traditional craftsmen. The Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square will also include four Mexican Baroque angels.
This initiative, titled "Mexican Christmas in the Vatican," has been organized to mark the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the Holy See. The display will be inaugurated by Benedict XVI on Dec. 19.
Nuns walk by as workers erect a 26-metre-high Christmas tree at Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican December 5, 2007.The tree was donated to the Vatican by the northern Italian city of San Vigilio. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli (VATICAN)
ML/NJ
Growing up in New Richmond, Ohio in the 50’s, we had a LIVE Nativity Scene....people and animals and a very talented artist, Reid Ultry, had painted the beautiful backdrop....it was really something!!
That is cool. I will be there on 22 December. I have tickets for midnight mass on Christmas Eve. I am looking forward to the trip. It will be our first time in Rome.
From Rome, Vincenzo Pallotti worked selflessly looking after the poor in the urban areas of the city for most of his life. He had an intense devotion to the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, and to the Virgin Mary. His contemporaries, including the pope, considered him a saint during his life. He longed to send missionaries to other parts of the world and founded the Union of Catholic Apostolate, the Society of the Catholic Apostolate that became the Pious Society of Missions. He strongly believed, in the spirit of St. Paul, that God wanted to save all people, and it was his intention to start a Catholic Apostolic Society. Although his visionary desire to unite the factions in the Church and to encourage lay apostolic activity did not bear fruit within his lifetime, he did his utmost to encourage this vision in others. Pallotti was in fact deemed a patron of Vatican II for his efforts toward building unity in the Church through such practices as inviting the people of his community to worship in the Roman parishes of Eastern Catholic Churches.
It does appear that his 'Society of the Catholic Apostolate' was suppressed by Pope Gregory. It offended some of the sensibilities of Roman society. Dr. Gaynor seems to suggest that the Jansenists were at work in this. The Decree of dissolution fell into disuse (went into limbo), when the Pope was enlightened as to the good work done by the Society. However, as soon as Vincent died in 1850 there was more trouble and presumably the original Decree of dissolition was unearthed. When Vincent's last defender Cardinal Lambruscini died in 1854, the name of the Society was abruptly changed to "The Pious Society of Missions". This lasted ut to the 1947 when "by a gracious act of the Holy See" the original name of the society was restored.
When Pallotti's body was exhumed in 1906 and 1950, examiners found his body to be completely incorrupt[citation needed] (see Dr. Gaynor's book), a sign of holiness in the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. His body is enshrined in the church of San Salvatore in Onda, in Rome, where it can be seen, still intact. He was canonized in 1963.
His followers are the Pallottines, still operating internationally. They follow his motto, "The love of Christ impels us" (Caritas Christi Urget Nos). Members of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate work as everyday missionaries to "renew faith and rekindle love." They work to fulfill the mission of their founder in the modern world. The Pallottines have major houses in Germany, New York, Poland, India, Ireland and several other locations.
During the Christmas Season, a Nativity scene that Saint Vincent himself made is put on display at the Vatican, in the Basilica's Square, before the Christmas Tree. Vincent promoted the celebration of the Octave of the Epiphany as an act of unity with his Orthodox brethern who celebrate Christmas on Jan 6th.
Hope you brought them hot cocoa from time to time.
probably...it was on the crest on the banks of the Ohio River.
You will BE THERE? Oh, what a wonderful trip. I have been wanting to be in Rome for Christmas, for Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s. Oh, have a grand time. First trip to Italy? You are in for a treat. I took an Italian phrase book, totally ruined the Italian (speak Spanish), and they kept saying, “Ah, bella, bella ...” (”Your Italian is so good.”) haha. I loved the Italians.
and the Italian FOOOOOOD. mmmmm.
Actually I am stationed in Sicily so it is a short trip. Just never was able to get up to Rome yet. Funny thing about the midnight mass. We must be there by 9 o’clock or we won’t get in. Yes three hours of saying the rosary, praying etc. I do love Italian food and culture and the people are great.
You are already in Italy? Stationed in Sicily? Well, then, thanks for your service. And Buon Natale. Sounds wonderful.
Yes I am in Italy two years now. Thank you very much for the nice post. Have a great weekend and Merry Christmas to you.
Merry Christmas, also, to you and your colleagues.
LOL!
I don’t see any kwanzaa candles, either.
Alleluia!
You are very blessed!
I will take advantage of EWTN for midnight mass.
I am also blessed as I was there in 1999 and also 2000 and am looking forward to April of 2008, when I will once again see St. Peter’s.
Have a safe journey and God Bless!
If wishes were horses.......
Have an exciting and inspirational time, Nap.
Leni
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