The Blog Mania

Early last week I got an invitation to join yahoo 360, a community of sorts which includes blogging. A few days later I received another blog invite this time from Friendster! Friendster has partnered with type pad. I was excited to use its other features esp the links and, gosh I forgot the term but its something you drag on the browser so next time you want to post a link to a story you dont need to open your friendster blog to post. Unfortunately it has so many bugs that its a feat just trying out some of the other features. I guess Google is still tops for having the first mover advantage as well as using Picassa and hello for the photo hosting. I think Yahoo bought Flickr but I prefer picassa :)

Was glued to the TV - Pope Benedict XVI

new pope

I was glued to the TV despite the fact that I am rushing a presentation. Why? Because it seems the smoke coming out of the rooftop was white. CNN was skeptic saying it will turn black but BBC was more hopeful.

True enough the cardinals were able to decide fast enough. A couple of days ago, some friends were trying to guess who would replace the past pope and some expressed their displeasure over some popular candidates and the newly elected pople was one of those due to his conservative reputation.

I never really had a favorite. I believed and prayed that whoever the Lord feels the world will need let it be him. I was thinking that if we were given a conservative Pope then its high time the world needs some stricter and more disciplined directions. A liberal one may provide some hope for those actively clamoring for supposed reforms.

The past days, I sensed that someone from western europe would be chosen. I was not sure who and even thought he will be Italian. As I watch the white smoke prior to the Angelus, I sensed the holy spirit may have chosen a conservative one who will fight for basic catholic theology to avoid the many confusion. The name Ratzinger kept ringing in my ear. I think there is already too much liberalism going on.

True enough when the announcement came, I felt the shivers. I was right. I also chuckled for if I joined the online betting game I would have won :)

I waited for the Urbi et Orbi which means:

"Urbi et Orbi, literally "to the City (of Rome) and to the World", was a
standard opening of Roman proclamations. Nowadays the term is used to denote a papal document that is addressed as to the City of Rome as to the entire Catholic World.

The blessing takes place at each Easter and Christmas
celebrations in Rome at St. Peter's
Square. Part of the "urbi et orbi" ritual is the forgiving of all sins
offered to those who believe in the teachings of the Roman Catholic church and attend the mass at St. Peter's (even via TV or Internet).
It is also used at St. Peter's at the crowning ceremony of the pope and at very rare occasions as the blessing of pilgrims."

Few slots left at St. Paul outside the walls

Few slots left at St. Paul outside the Walls

Yes a few slots left on those round frames where they put the Photos of the Pope. I finally found one photo in an old album. If you notice somewhere on top there are roundish slots right above the pillars. I visited St. Paul outside the walls (meaning outside the Walls of Rome) only once and I distinctly remember our guide mentioning an old legend which says once the frames gets full of photos, the world will end. Well, one can never tell how long a Pope will seat in Vatican - could be 26 years or more or just a few months as what happened with Pope John Paul I.

Still on Pope JP II - emotions and recollections

Pope JPII

I was practically glued to CNN from the time the Pope was seriously ill, especially during his wake and the funeral.

I said to myself, if only I had enough money, I would like to fly to Rome to see him one last time. Thanks to technology however, the world is able to witness every detail of what transpired in Vatican the past week.

Nostalgia and gratitude. Some of the emotions which engulfed my persona recently. Remembering the glow in Pope John Paul II's face when I met him face to face and particularly, the sincerity and saintly glint in his eyes. I suppose everyone who even catches a glimpse of him experience something similar.

Gratitude to the Lord for having not only one but a couple of opportunities to attend his private audience and Easter masses. The Communion photos above where during one of those Easter masses we attended and invited to receive communion from the Pope himself.

Dad's photos above were during his first visit in Manila.

The photo below was during the time we gave him a statue of the Virgin of Penafrancia. Beside the Pope was the then Nuncio Torpilgliani.

The last time I saw him was during the Jubilee year. Dad fell ill in Nazareth during our pilgrimage so he had to fly back home. I went with the group and got the pass myself from the Vatican officials at the Bronze door. Gosh that was the first time I had to do everything and as always I got lost the first time :) We had a special seat near the altar fortunately. When I saw him though, I noticed he could no longer walk unlike the past years. I was able to take some shots though but since mom passed away, the Lanai where all those photos are have been a mess and cant find it.


JPII Penafrancia

The day of the Pope's funeral, I was in a whole day conference at Shangrila Makati. Fortunately, the host announced in the afternoon that due to popular request, they were rushing the session so that we can all go home and watch the Pope's funeral. I actually taped it just in case I will be late.

I can't help but cry when watching the outpouring of support worldwide and most esp when his simple coffin was being carried to be brought inside the crypt. I am sure he is in heaven watching the whole world stop to honor him. I can still remember the former resting place of Pope John XXIII which he chose to be laid in. I just cant find the photos at home for that must be a long time ago when we visited the crypt.

I also remembered one more incident of sorts related to the late Pope. During his first visit, the nunciature called us to borrow a thermos to be used by the Pope. They didnt want to bother other people and be indebted for a mere thermos so off we sent one of those we found in the kitchen cabinet. Wow, I said to myself, I no longer can remember where that thermos is kept. I should have kept in a box for I am sure a saint has used it! :)