Catholic Fire

Domini Sumus , the host of this weeks' Catholic Carnival, cleverly asks: "Suffering from Pope withdrawal? Get your B16 supplement in this week's Catholic Carnival in which we remember some of the papal events of the past week." There are some great posts there -- click here to read them.

As he celebrated Mass for a congregation of over 45,000 people in a Washington baseball stadium, Pope Benedict XVI emphasized the virtue of hope-- the subject of his encyclical Spe Salvi-- and the call to repentance and conversion. Greeted by thunderous applause when he arrived at Nationals Park, the Pope presided at a liturgical celebration that featured music drawn from a wide variety of sources, prompting one television commentator to describe the liturgy as "consciously multicultural." In his homily the Pontiff observed that the American people have always valued the virtue of hope, preserving their confidence even in times of trial. That confidence is tested today, he said, as "we see clear signs of a disturbing breakdown in the very foundations" of our culture. He exhorted Christians to approach this crisis with a firm reliance on the power of faith. In the Christian understanding, the Pope said, hope is based on the realization that Christ has brought man the...

Papal Address 2 USA - WASHINGTON - 16.04.2008 National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Meeting with the Bishops of the United States 2-Original text Dear Brother Bishops, It gives me great joy to greet you today, at the start of my visit to this country, and I thank Cardinal George for the gracious words he has addressed to me on your behalf. I want to thank all of you, especially the Officers of the Episcopal Conference, for the hard work that has gone into the preparation of this visit. My grateful appreciation goes also to the staff and volunteers of the National Shrine, who have welcomed us here this evening. American Catholics are noted for their loyal devotion to the see of Peter. My pastoral visit here is an opportunity to strengthen further the bonds of communion that unite us. We began by celebrating Evening Prayer in this Basilica dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a shrine of special significance to American Catholics, right in the heart o...

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Journey to the United States - 2008 The Holy Father's Schedule Today: 10:00 a.m. - The pope will offer Mass at the new Nationals Park in Washington. 5 p.m. - Pope Benedict XVI will give an address on the importance of Catholic education on the campus of The Catholic University of America. 6:30 p.m. - Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews and representatives of other religions will meet the Holy Father at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center, next door to Catholic University. For complete information see: Christ Our Hope and USCCB’s Papal Visit Blog . Today's Mass Readings Saint of the Day: St. Stephen Harding , Abbott Gospel Meditation of the Day : Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church Manuscript B, 2vo-3vo "Whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." To be your Spouse, O Jesus, to be a Carmelite, and b...

Following their private meeting in the Oval Office today, a joint communique was released by President Bush and Pope Benedict. Full text: His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and President George W. Bush met today in the Oval Office of the White House. President Bush, on behalf of all Americans, welcomed the Holy Father, wished him a happy birthday, and thanked him for the spiritual and moral guidance, which he offers to the whole human family. The President wished the Pope every success in his Apostolic Journey and in his address at the United Nations, and expressed appreciation for the Pope’s upcoming visit to “Ground Zero” in New York. During their meeting, the Holy Father and the President discussed a number of topics of common interest to the Holy See and the United States of America, including moral and religious considerations to which both parties are committed: the respect of the dignity of the human person; the defense and promotion of life, matrimony and the family; the education ...

PAPAL ADRESS WELCOME CEREMONY THE WHITE HOUSE, SOUTH LAWN WASHINGTON, DC April 16, 2008 Mr. President, Thank you for your gracious words of welcome on behalf of the people of the United States of America. I deeply appreciate your invitation to visit this great country. My visit coincides with an important moment in the life of the Catholic community in America: the celebration of the two-hundredth anniversary of the elevation of the country’s first Diocese -- Baltimore -- to a metropolitan Archdiocese, and the establishment of the Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville. Yet I am happy to be here as a guest of all Americans. I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society. America’s Catholics have made, and continue to make, an excellent contribution to the life of their country. As I begin my visit, I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the Church in the United States, and strengthen th...

Happy Birthday, dear Holy Father! From The National Catholic Register : The Pope has received a number of birthday greetings. Yesterday, a group sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Today, at the White House, a group of the guests spontaneously launched into "Happy Birthday." Then, at the conclusion of his White House speech, the official singer sang "Happy Birthday" to him before he walked into the White House with the President. I'm sure he'll be receiving many more throughout the day. Stay tuned...we're trying to find out what the President's official gift for the Pope is. Pope Greets Thousands On His Birthday Crowds Scream, Sing 'Happy Birthday' To Pontiff Pope's Birthday At The White House - Deal Hudson, Inside Catholic Today's Papal Events 10:30 a.m. - The Holy Father meets with President Bush and the First Lady on the south lawn of the White House. 5:30 p.m. - Private prayer service and meeting with the 350 bishops of the...

There have been lots of welcomes to the Holy Father, today. Here are just a few of my favorite posts on the Holy Father's arrival in the USA today: Whsipers in the Loggia: At the Pope's Mission, Might Ain't Right and From the Plane. American Papist: Day 1: Pictures of Pope Benedict's Arrival The Curt Jester: Welcome to America Holy Father Christopher Blosser's blog: Arrival of Benedict XVI at Andrews Air Force Base My thanks to Esther for creating the beautiful image of the Holy Father above.