Waiting for the Father (New Pope to say Holy Thursday Mass mainly before Muslim criminals)

Vatican News Agency ^ | March 27, 2013

[NYer]

Forty-nine young people, the inmates of the Roman borstal, Casal del Marmo, are preparing to receive an extraordinary gift. Pope Francis will go there in the afternoon of Holy Thursday, 28 March, to celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper. A joyful atmosphere of expectation pervades the institute. Such an important visit had certainly not been on the cards. Above all, there had been no expectation of so suddenly touching the heart of the Pope whom they do not yet know. “The young people's enthusiasm”, Liana Giambartolomei, the principal, told us, “must be linked to the very fact that they feel they will be playing the lead on a historic day. Moreover, this is exactly what Pope Francis wanted. He expressly asked us to make sure that there were no other young people here. He wants to be certain that they know he is coming solely for them, because he loves them, he carries them in his heart and considers them important, very important”. A Caritas worker in the penal institute says that one of them, having heard the news, exclaimed: “At last I shall get to meet someone who says he is my father!”.

Fr Greco, the chaplain, does not conceal the fact that he was somewhat perplexed, at least to start with, “because”, he told our paper, “only eight of our residents are Italian: six boys and two girls. The others are all foreigners. And most of them are Muslim. Then there are some who have no religious belief at all. Therefore many of them don't even know who the Pope is. For this reason too, it was far from easy to explain to them the importance of the Pope's visit”. “A young Neapolitan”, the chaplain confided, “who has been here for a while came to my help. He gathered them all together, to try to make them understand above all what the Pope's act, which is an act of love for them, actually meant. I was upset for a moment by the first looks, that were either blank or only faintly curious about my enthusiasm. Then our friend broke the silence with that most classic of Neapolitan expressions: “Maronna mia, o Papa accà!” [good heavens! The Pope here!] and he ran his hand through his hair, his face betraying emotions mingled with happiness. At that very instant all the others, seeing his amazement, realized that it must really be something very special and began to question me. Little by little, I saw their enthusiasm growing.

[NYer]

ADDITIONAL STORY

Vatican City, 26 March 2013 (VIS) – The Mass of the Lord's Supper that Pope Francis will celebrate on Holy Thursday in the chapel of the Casal del Marmo Penitential Institute for Minors (IPM) will be, by his express desire, very simple, as reported by the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J. Concelebrating with the Holy Father will be Cardinal Agostino Vallini, vicar general of the Diocese of Rome, and Fr. Gaetano Greco, chaplain of the Institute.

Around 10 girls and 40 boys will take part in the Mass. The Pope will wash the feet of 12 of them, who will be chosen from different nationalities and diverse religious confessions. The youth will also say the readings and the prayers of the faithful.

After the Mass, the Pope will meet with the youth and the IPM's personnel in the Institute's gym. Around 150 persons are expected to attend, including the Minister for Justice, Paola Severino, accompanied by the Head of the Department of Justice for Minors, Caterina Chinnici, the Commander of the Institute's Penitentiary Police, Saulo Patrizi, and the Institute's director, Liana Giambartolomei.

The youth will give the Pope a wooden crucifix and kneeler, which they made themselves in the Institute's workshop. The Holy Father will bring Easter eggs and “colomba” (the traditional Italian Easter cake in the shape of a dove) for all.

Given the intimate nature of the pastoral visit, journalists will be restricted to the area outside the building and no live coverage will be transmitted.

[OpusatFR]

He’s bringing Christ to them.

What a beautiful way to evangelize!

[Rappini]

I just hope the Pope also brings or allows some secret protection. Those folks are in there for a reason.

[Biggirl]

This reminds me of the famous story of St. Francis of Assisi talking to the Muslim sultin in Jerusalem. Remember even then, he witnessed for Christ to a Muslim.

[wideawake]

I hope Catholics appreciate the extraordinary run of Popes we're having.

Each of John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis seem to be repairing different aspects of the Church.

[I want the USA back]

Will the sons of headchoppers be able to see that Christianity is really a religion of peace?

- I hope so

Will the American media give the pope credit for this?

- Of course not.

[nikos1121]

Has anyone else noticed this: It seems like the media is going after the POPE anyway they can. REgardless of the story, the slant is always negative or to propose some controversy.

The POPE could be giving a mass to 10,000 of the poorest poor in Italy...and the media will find some fault.

I’m not in anyway drawing a comparison of the POPE to Tebow other thatn their christian faith, but the media is doing the same with him. He goes to Seattle, and they quote some egg head on the team that says Tebow, “is a distraction.”

I predict, Tebow will eventually play in Canada or Arena and be a superstar, then come back to the NFL a superstar. It takes 5 years to make an NFL quarterback.

[NYer]

This reminds me of the famous story of St. Francis of Assisi talking to the Muslim sultin in Jerusalem. Remember even then, he witnessed for Christ to a Muslim.

St. Francis of Assisi and the Muslims

 

ST. FRANCIS VISITS THE SULTAN OF BABYLON

In the thirteenth year of his conversion, Francis journeyed to the regions of Syria, constantly exposing himself to many dangers in order to reach the presence of the Sultan of Babylon. Taking a companion with him, a brother named Illuminato, he came upon two lambs. Overjoyed to see them, he said, "Trust in the Lord, brother, for the Gospel is being fulfilled in us: Behold, I am sending your forth like sheep in the midst of wolves."

When they proceeded farther, the Saracen sentries fell upon them like wolves swiftly overtaking sheep. By divine providence they were led to the Sultan, just as Francis had wished. When the Sultan inquired by whom, why and how they had been sent, Francis replied with an intrepid heart that the Most High God had sent him to point out to the Sultan and his people the way of salvation and to announce the Gospel of truth.

Inspired from heaven, Francis continued: "If you wish to be converted to Christ along with your people, I will most gladly stay with you for love of him. But if you hesitate. . .then command that an enormous fire be lit and I will walk into the fire along with your priests so that you will recognize which faith deserves to be held as holier and more certain."

The Sultan replied that he did not dare accept this choice because he feared a revolt among his people. Nevertheless, he offered Francis many gifts, which the man of God spurned as if they were dirt. Seeing that Francis so completely despised worldly possessions, the Sultan was overflowing with admiration and developed an even greater respect for him. Thus it came about that the divine fire burned still more perfectly in Francis' heart, so that later it would be clearly seen in his flesh.

[Northern Yankee]

Love it!

Habemus Papum! We have a Pope!

[Borges]

What’s your opinion on Pius IX? He certainly lived through and played a part in some momentous events in Italian history.

[nikos1121]

I think something wonderful will happen thru this man. I’m Greek Orthodox, but I am very excited about the POPE. Perhaps they can consolidate the Easter Holiday so it’s worshipped on the same day.

[LouD]

He has all the protection he needs. He walks in the light.

[wideawake]

I have a high opinion of him.

At a time of intensifying nationalism and secularism he refused to compromise or fall back on his weaker predecessors' habit of making short-term political deals that would compromise the Church's autonomy and its ability to rise above ethnic and imperial concerns.

He saw the future and took steps to protect the truth at great personal cost.

Pius IX, Leo XIII and Pius X did incredible work under trying circumstances.

[Ouchthatonehurt]

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The Pope is doing the Lord’s work. St. Paul was dealing with the infighting Jews and Gentiles of Rome, Francis has a tougher nut to crack. Prayers up that he is able to help them find Christ.

[Borges]

I’ve been studying the Risorgimento (via the life of Giuseppe Verdi) and that Pope’s part to play in it.

[OpusatFR]

“Perhaps they can consolidate the Easter Holiday so it’s worshipped on the same day.”

I’d love to see some of the Orthodox chants incorporated!

[NYer]

Ping!

[NYer]

Perhaps they can consolidate the Easter Holiday so it’s worshipped on the same day.

I am Roman Catholic but practice my faith in a Maronite Catholic Church which traces its liturgy to Antioch. Many of our parishioners are from Lebanon which has a varied community of both Catholic and Orthodox churches. It is not uncommon for these families to intermarry. When they do, it's understood that the wife will worship in her husband's church. It gets quite interesting since there are brothers and sisters who have intermarried. To cite an example, one of our male parishioners is Maronite but his wife is Orthodox: they worship in the Maronite Church. His sister is Maronite but her husband is Orthodox: they worship in the Orthodox Church. On major feast days, because the churches follow different calendars, the families celebrate in both churches! It all seems to work out well, especially for the kids ; - )

[Biggirl]

I think in the Holy Land, either this year or next, a decision was reached to do Lent/Easter at the same time. As it is seen every few years, next year, I believe, all the churches will do one Lent and Easter.

About the Holy Land churches deciding to do one Lent/Easter, do you know anything about that?