PAPA RATZINGER FORUM - CHATTER, THE ENGLISH VERSION OF KREATIVBEREICH

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:51 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:51 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:51 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:51 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:51 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:51 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:51 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:52 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:52 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:52 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:52 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutly packed.Anyone who things Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so w shall see what happens.

maryjos

Sunday, April 04, 2010 2:52 PM

BUONA PASQUA DI ROMA!!!!!

Happy Easter to everyone and especially to Papa - our lion-hearted lamb!

Papa, you have had a very busy week, with so much singing and intoning. This morning was shall we say "ever so slightly soggy" in the Piazza!!!! Got soaked, but pleased to say Papa was under cover and a heated cover at that. The Piazza and all the areas around were absolutely packed.Anyone who thinks Papa Ratzinger is not loved can think again.

I have been taking photos and will post them when I get home, but my photo downloading software was not playing ball with me last week, so we shall see what happens.

_benevolens_

Sunday, April 04, 2010 7:47 PM

Hi Mary, I hope by now you are dry again!

What an awful pity for that weather! Nevertheless I wish I could have been there too to support Papa. But I'm sure Mary you represented us forum girls well... I think I heard someone cheer who sounded just like you

Now Papa can get some well-deserved rest at Castel Gandolfo. I hope his cooks make him an extra large portion of apple strudel with vanilla sauce and tons of whipped cream!

cowgirl2

Monday, April 05, 2010 4:04 PM

today..

... was Liam's big day. Inside Church pics were taken by a photographer, those are some of the private ones..

benefan

Monday, April 05, 2010 4:12 PM

Little angels

Wow, those kids look like little angels, especially Liam. Very sweet. Congratulations to you and your family, Cowgirl. It looks like your first attempt at teaching the catechism turned out great. Your pastor will probably make you do it from now on.

The_Bood

Tuesday, April 06, 2010 4:14 AM

Easter Earthquake

We had an earthquake over here in Southern California, Easter afternoon! It was pretty scary, I haven't been in a large earthquake since I was about 9 years old. I grabbed my baby and my DH & I went under our kitchen table. The news said that it was a 7.2 and that it originated in Mexico.

Strange cuz I was thinking about earthquakes on Good Friday when we were watching "The Passion of the Christ."

Mary, are you in Rome right now?!

Oh wow!!! I really need to read up on this forum, I've been away for so long!! It would be easier if I had my own computer.

YAY for MARY!!!!!!!!!!

Stay safe out there and say hi to Papa for me.

Cute pics Cowgirl

maryjos

Wednesday, April 07, 2010 2:40 PM

BACK IN ENGLAND

Bood: I saw the news of the earthquake on the Rai Uno news - it just said it was in Mexico. Must have been really frightening for you.

Cowgirl: Amazing photos of Liam and then the one with his companions and your priest. Thank you for posting them.

Sorry about my previous post - I did it on the computer in my hotel and it all just shot up the page. Now I notice it's still all wonky! Well, benevolens, I stuck it out on Easter Sunday, right to the end of the Urbi Et Orbi - I wanted that special blessing in person. I was soaked! Arrived home yesterday evening, but haven't attempted to download my photos yet.

On Monday I had a very special day. I went to Castel Gandolfo and saw Papa in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace - honestly, you are really close to him there!!!!!!! He looked very relaxed.

Oh and I also went to the Torre Argentina cat sanctuary! Apart from that I just went to the liturgies - that was enough to knock out my feet and legs for several weeks!!!!!!

PapaB83

Wednesday, April 07, 2010 5:45 PM

Bienvenu Maryjos

Welcome back, Mary! I'm so happy for you and your strong legs! That Easter Vigil was soooooooo long. Did you go to that one, too? I saw that they had a young boy baptized with the adults but on video at least I didn't see him confirmed with the rest ... the Roman way?

Anyway, yes, I've seen photos of Papa at Castelgandolfo and he appeared very rested and relaxed. The courtyard enclosure does make it more intimate and the shouts of joy much louder, too! I'm very happy for you Mary and look forward to those precious photos....

Blessed Easter!

_benevolens_

Wednesday, April 07, 2010 10:06 PM

Hi Mary!

Welcome back! Soooo looking forward to your photos! Having attended the Regina Caeli at Castelgandolfo you surely will have noticed one certain person:

Thanks to the new layout on the OssRom photo site we can now get an even closer look...

And hey, lady, we said LITTLE LION, not tiger!

maryjos

Wednesday, April 07, 2010 10:42 PM

Fruit and Nutcase!!!

Benevolens: That certain lady seemed to be following me around - she was everywhere. Yes, I saw her on Wednesday, when she had her usual sidekick in tow. Later in the week she was joined by her husband. She always manages to get in the front of the queue. On Monday who was the first person I saw? Miss Bavaria - again at the front of the queue to go into the courtyard. I fear she may have scared Concetta away, which would be sad.

I have posted one of my photos on Visit With Papa as a test.

Thanks for the Easter greetings, PapaB! Seriously, I found the whole experience very holy, especially the Easter Vigil. I was very far back in the queue, but we were ushered into a side entrance and had seats in a place where we could see the Consecration - though some way back. I took a photo of Papa incensing the altar, but didn't like to take photos during the Eucharistic Prayer.

PapaB83

Friday, April 09, 2010 7:51 AM

Pastoral Letter to Ireland

I just got through reading Papa's letter. I know, I should have read it carefully long ago, but things were so busy around here at mid-March and then Holy Week. Anyway, I set aside this afternoon for a thorough read-thru and I could have cried. How could anyone who read this letter even think that Joseph Ratzinger could be guilty of cover-ups?His compassion and heartfelt love for those who were abused; his ferocity towards the abusers while still encouraging them not to despair of God's mercy; his plan for Ireland for a year of penitence and reparation ....

I just saw a Letter to the Editor in our local paper. And of course, it had to do with the child sex abuse situation. They only put one letter up front and the rest are buried back 20 pages later. The letter-writer was howling about Benedict and accusing him of coverups ... I'll bet he's never read anything by the Holy Father much less any credible articles the way we have on the Forum. I'm thinking of writing my own letter! You think it's worth it? Or a waste of time?

BTW, I've been hired by our Catholic newspaper, the Hawaii Catholic Herald to submit articles on the RCIA process from our parish view but also doing profiles of other parishes and the good things they're doing. I'm to write up a list of topics to cover the year and then see what the editor says. If anything, I want to encourage people to live the Gospel, truly, in their lives and to appreciate the struggles of individuals to find and encounter the Risen Christ. I really want to help Papa renew the Church, in my own little corner of the vineyard.

Blessings to all ....

_benevolens_

Friday, April 09, 2010 8:27 AM

By all means do write that letter, PapaB, it's definitely worth it!

Standing up for Papa is never a waste of time, even if the adverse forces seem overwhelming. Quite the contrary. I think it's very important for us 'little people' to raise our voices and counterbalance the slander being directed at Papa. Every effort helps!

maryjos

Friday, April 09, 2010 4:12 PM

PapaB: I agree with benevolens - you must write that letter to your paper. The pastoral letter to Ireland was one of Papa's greatest achievements so far.

And I'm sure we are all thrilled that you've been asked to do a series of articles on RCIA. Have you thought of sending copies of them all to Papa, once you've finished them? I'm sure he appreciates all that's sent to him and I can only hope that he is shown most things. It may be better to send to Georg Gaenswein, who would surely pass them on to Papa.

PapaB83

Saturday, April 10, 2010 4:07 AM

Letter to Local Editor

OK - Maryjos, Benevolens ... I wrote my Letter to the Editor of the Honolulu Star Bulletin. A bit long, and I bet they're going to edit it but for the records, here it is ... such as it is ....

Dear Editor:

In your April 8 Letters to the Editor, print edition, you highlighted (put on the 2^nd page alone) a letter railing against the Holy Father for covering up child sex abuser priests and not doing enough to bring the accused to justice. It obviously was an emotional letter reflecting the pain and hurt of the public and Catholics around the world for the violations to the dignity of defenceless children, especially in the case of Fr. Lawrence Murphy who abused more than 200 children during his tenure at a school for the deaf. However, to lay the blame at the feet of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI is simply wrong. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger now Pope Benedict XVI has done more than any other prelate in the Catholic Church to tighten the rules in order to bring obviously guilty abusers to justice by avoiding lengthy canonical trials and administering swift punishment up to and including stripping the one in question of ministerial faculties and/or laicization.

It was only from 2001 that Card Ratzinger, as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was charged with overseeing all the dossiers of the priests accused of child sexual abuse. It was his Office that worked with the Conferences of Bishops (e.g. in the U.S.) to ensure that the norms were set in place not only to enforce canon law already long in place but also to ensure the safe environment so that children would have a safe place to learn moral values and experience the love of Jesus Christ.

All one has to do to see the kind of man Pope Benedict XVI is would be to read his Pastoral Letter to the Church in Ireland (March 19 2010). His heartfelt sorrow over that sad situation in Ireland; his compassionate and loving outreach to the victims; his ferocity towards the abusers while still encouraging hope in God’s mercy via true repentance and his plan for a year of penitence and reparation for the entire Irish Church – no man who speaks like that could ever be one who covers up the truth. In fact, he speaks it in the name of Jesus Christ.

Linda Cacpal

flo_51

Saturday, April 10, 2010 7:27 PM

I wrote to day to my local newspaper to say I stop my subscription right away. I said I don't want to pay anylonger to have my church attacked every day.

I feel so good

NanMN

Saturday, April 10, 2010 7:27 PM

Nicely written Linda!!!

benefan

Saturday, April 10, 2010 7:44 PM

Bravo, Linda and Flo!!!!

If I subscribed to the New York Times, I would drop them like a rock. I wish I could unsubscribe to a few TV channels. CBS News has been stupid and vicious, especially Katie Couric, and CNN's Larry King really, really, really needs to retire.

The_Bood

Monday, April 12, 2010 8:41 PM

Benefan, maybe you should watch Fox news. They had Raymond Arroyo on there last week. They're not too bad. CNN is pure crap!!!

I'm so proud of you Linda & Flo for speaking up & letting these biased newspapers know that there are Catholics out there that won't sit idle and watch them attack our beloved Church & our Papa. We're really getting persecuted hard these days. Just keep praying hard for courage & strength. Don't give up hope, because that's what the devil wants. Jesus I trust in Thee!

PapaB83

Monday, April 12, 2010 10:31 PM

Defending our Beauty

I must confess I felt a lot better when I could put a little truth out there even if they don't publish the letter. When one feels helpless it's with the TV people ... I've considered sending in copies of articles when I see these outrageous malicious vicious lies being printed and being read by people who just assume or want to believe that it must be the truth.

But then I think of Good Friday when our Lord was defined by what was done TO him and not so much by what he said. He allowed it, the suffering and the humiliation. Seems like our Beauty modeling himself on the Master in dealing with the ferocity of the world.

BTW, did any of you get the Novena for Pope Benedict that the Knights of Columbus are encouraging? If not, Teresa posted it on Gloria's forum. It started yesterday and concludes on Monday, Apr 19 ... that very happy day for us, of his 5th anniversary of the Pontificate. And, of course, we can all drink toasts in between on Apr 16 ... apfel strudel, anyone?

The_Bood

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 2:47 AM

What is the name of Gloria's forum? I'm really interested in this novena.

I gotta say, this thread has inspired me to send our Papa a birthday card! I wrote some words of love & encouragement in there. Ooo, and I sent him a picture of our cheeky black cat named Mau. I hope he likes her.