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The Spanish press is now saying about 2 million people attended the mass. This is about twice as many as were expected; even with the earlier number, Madrid was expected to make about $100 million on the event, so it looks as if they made even more than that. Judging by the spending I saw going on today, I´d say they made a lot more than that!

A lot of the unanticipated people who attended were adults from all over Spain. This has been a real shot in the arm for the Spanish Church, and people I have talked to have said that they don´t feel defensive and afraid anymore, they´ve seen their fellow believers from all over the world, they´ve seen the Pope and have listened to him and seen his faith, and suddenly they´re feeling confident in a way they haven´t felt ever before, or certainly not for almost 50 years, in the case of older people.

While Vatican II had many good things about it, unfortunately it was often interpreted as a rejection of the past and even of traditional faith, and this inspired the left to embark on an all-out campaign to destroy a weakened Church. The Spanish do things in a very whole-hearted way, so it has been particularly vicious in Spain, and the addition of gays to the mix has really put it over the top. So this was a wonderful moment for the average Spanish believer, and I don´t think the left has the upper hand anymore.

From what I have seen on last night’s encore on EWTN of the prayer vigil, I have never seen up close to personal, via tv so many happy faces of young people as I had last night. This morning towards the end of Sunday mass, my parish priest got an e-mail from one of a group of 9 young people telling how their experiences in Madrid went. They have been blessed indeed. Also I feel asleep during the adoration part of watching the vigil and the music was so peaceful. If you must fall asleep, do so watching an adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrement.