Occasionally Naive and Fearful, Yet Honest and Capable of Repentance (Profile of St. Peter)

ZENIT News Agency ^ | May 17, 2006 | Benedict XVI

[ELS]

Pope Benedict XVI reaches out to embrace a child as he leads his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican May 17, 2006. REUTERS/Max Rossi

Pope Benedict XVI looks on as he leads his weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, May 17, 2006. (Alessia Giuliani/CPP)

[The following photos are not from today's audience, but they seemed worth posting. ELS]

Roses left by a faithful near the marble plate set in Saint Peter Square for 25th anniversary of assassination attempt on John Paul II, Rome, May 13, 2006. (Daniele Colarieti/CPP)

Pope Benedict XVI meets with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L) during a private audience at the Vatican May 11, 2006. Chavez arrived in the Italian capital Wednesday to meet politicians and Pope Benedict XVI during his first stop in a tour of five countries in Europe and North Africa. (Catholic Press Photo/Pool)

[ELS]

PRAYERS FOR POLISH TRIP, ROSARY IN MONTH OF THE VIRGIN MARY

VATICAN CITY, MAY 17, 2006 (VIS) - During today's general audience, held in St. Peter's Square, the Pope addressed some words to Polish pilgrims, expressing joy over his forthcoming visit to that country, due to begin in 8 days' time.

"This visit," he said "will take place under the motto 'remain strong in the faith.' Even from today I ask you, and all the Church in Poland, to pray so that in those days, with the help of God' grace, we can strengthen one another in our testimony of the faith. May Servant of God John Paul II accompany us!"

The Holy Father also greeted a group of faithful from Estonia, especially the choir of the cathedral of Maribor, to whom he said: "In your pilgrimage recalling the tenth anniversary of my predecessor's visit, may the example of his life make you strong in faithfulness to Christ and to the Church."

Finally, addressing young people and the sick, he called on them "to intensify the devout practice of praying the Rosary, especially in this month of May, dedicated to the Mother of God," entrusting to her "all your needs." He also called on recently married couples to "make the praying of the Rosary in the family a moment of spiritual growth under the maternal gaze of the Virgin Mary."

AG/GREETINGS/... VIS 060517 (230)

[ELS]

Weekly audience ping!

Please let me know if you want to be on or off of this list.

[Tax-chick]

bttt

My oldest daughter is being confirmed on Sunday, and she's taking "Peter" for her name. She's an unusual girl ...

[Pyro7480]

Peter? Not Petra?

[Carolina]

Thanks for the Papa Ping.

[onyx]

Thank you very much, ELS, I'll be back before I go to bed.

[ELS]

A lot of priests (used to) take the name Mary.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Saint Peter,
how often I have felt sorry for you,
for how, conflicted with fear,
you denied Him
even why you tried to stay near.

But Saint Peter,
how often have I denied him, too,
by my life choices,
by when I turned my back,
by choosing wrong,
by choosing to forget.

Let my tears of remorse
join yours of that night,
how reality pierces the bubble
of how strong and certain
we dream we are,
but in reality,
how weak we are without Him.

Saint Peter,
pray for me,
that like you,
I too may see
the risen Christ.

Amen

[STARWISE]

Thank you, O. That reminder of "follow me" brings me right back to John Paul the Great's extraordinary funeral .. that whole segment by then Cardinal Ratzinger made me so weepy, it was so touching.

[onyx]

Me too. I wish I would have had TIVO last April.

[kstewskis]

Pope Benedict XVI meets with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (L) during a private audience at the Vatican May 11, 2006. Chavez arrived in the Italian capital Wednesday to meet politicians and Pope Benedict XVI during his first stop in a tour of five countries in Europe and North Africa. (Catholic Press Photo/Pool)

This photo disturbs me some. Chavez is an avowed Communist, no? Atheist? I hope it is because of my blind ignorance, but anyone know what Chavez's objective was in having a private meeting with Pope Benedict XVI?

[Tax-chick]

Peter. "Petra" is (or was) a Christian heavy metal band.

[Tax-chick]

Good point! I'll remind her of that, so she can explain to anyone who asks about the name.

[Nihil Obstat]

"I hope it is because of my blind ignorance, but anyone know what Chavez's objective was in having a private meeting with Pope Benedict XVI?"

He wanted a photo op to show on all the media that he controls, but it won't work. The Church is the only critic he can't silence. Cardinal Castillo is one of hte good cardinals and has been Chavez's most outspoken adversary. Castillo won't be intimidated. Wish we had some cardinals like him.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1454251/posts

[AnAmericanMother]

Hoorah for unusual older daughters!

(Mine took the name of St. Martin of Tours.)

[AnAmericanMother]

A lot of priests (used to) take the name Mary.

One of the most famous . . .

St. Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney, patron of parish priests.

[Tax-chick]

St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe came to mind, too.

Your daughter clearly has a strong mind!

[ELS]

One of the most famous . . .

St. Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney, ora pro nobis!

Did your daughter take the name "Martin" or "Martine" or "Martina," perhaps?

[kstewskis]

He wanted a photo op to show on all the media that he controls, but it won't work.

Sounds like it's right from the Castro playbook.

Figures.