LUKY:
EVER SINCE THE LITURGY FIRST BEGAN TO CHANGE, it was my earnest wish to attend Holy Mass celebrated by the Pope. There was a time when you could travel from Tobruk to Tokyo and hear Mass as you heard it at home. That time has gone, and we have had to adapt to many changes along the way. Through all the turmoil of the change, Pope Paul VI consistently withstood criticism and gave us firm leadership.
Eventually my wish was granted; thanks to television I watched Pope Paul celebrate Easter High Mass at an altar in front of St Peter's.
He spoke differently from the way I'd have expected. He had the voice of an old man, a very ordinary voice, nothing unusual about it, no drama - the voice of a man who had drunk the cup of suffering to the dregs and had no false illusions about himself.
Beyond the Host
He celebrated the Mass very reverently in a simple manner, the way one's own priest might celebrate it on any morning. When he spoke the words of consecration he looked as if he saw beyond the Host he was holding, but he remained natural throughout.
St Peter's Square was filled with people, thousands and thousands of them, no room to swing a cat. The people were utterly quiet -the women's heads were covered. The altar was decorated, only a vase with half a dozen white flowers in them; tulips, I think - it was spring in Rome.
Communicants received Holy Communion from the Pope. There was a choir, unaccompanied by instruments, singing liturgical music. During the Urbi et Orbi blessing, a close-up was shown of the Holy Father pronouncing the words and giving the blessing. He did this in the same simple way as he had celebrated Mass.
Mother Superior
Our hotel was run by Sisters. At the table which I sat, the English-speaking clan was gathered; two Australian nuns, two American nuns, a Jesuit with an Irish name, resident in the Philippines and an American lady. The priest called me "Mother Superior" and reckoned if I kept trying hard enough I'd make Catholics out of them yet . . .
Suffering Pope
While we were at table after the television showing someone brought in a tape of the blessing. We all sang Amen, blessed ourselves and joined in the clapping. One of the Australians had attended the Pope's Ash Wednesday Mass. "He is terribly frail", she told us. "It's sad to see."
"He's terribly strong too," I said. "The epitome of moral courage."
"He's the Suffering Pope," the Jesuit added, and to that all agreed.
Catherine Nicolette
It is with great joy that all supporting the sanctity of unborn life greet the Beatification of Pope Paul VI to be celebrated October 19th. The wonder is the miracle attributed to this great man; the unexplained healing in utero of a baby with significant organ damage. The great Prophet and Defender of Life continues his great work after moving to the next dimension.
Paul VI will be proclaimed Blessed;
When will he be recognised as Saint?
Viva il Papa!
Miraculous healing
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vatican-theologians-recognize-miracle-attributed-to-paul-vi/
Pope Paul VI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Paul_VI
Pope Paul VI to be Beatified October 19th, 2014
http://en.radiovaticana.va/storico/2014/05/10/pope_paul_vi_to_be_beatified_october_19%2C_2014_/en1-798074
Pope Paul Vi
http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.ie/2014/05/the-blessed-montini-paul-vi-to-be.html
With thanks to Catholic News Agency, Wikipedia, Radio Vaticana and Whispersintheloggia
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