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! :)

The Pope's Patron

Black_madonna

For those who hooked like me to CNN during the wake of Pope JPII, you might have noticed that beside the large cross at the altar where he was being viewed, there was a tiny icon of Our Lady right beside it. That is the Black Madonna from the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czechostowa, Poland.

She is the Patron Saint of the Pope. I was able to visit the place twice with my parents.


There are two version of the history of the Jasna Gora painting. There is a traditional version, steeped in legend and an historical one, reconstructed by art critics whose attention was drawn to this extraordinary image and its origins.

According to the traditional version, the painting was created by St. Luke the Evangelist on a table top from the house of the Holy Family. St. Luke was said to have painted two images of Mary, one of which found its way to Italy and was kept in Bologna where it is still venerated. The other was said to have been removed from Jerusalem and brought to Constantinopole by the Emperor Constantine and placed in a church. Six centuries later, the Russian Prince Lev obtained the painting from the emperor of the time in acknowledgement of his military achievements.

During the wars in Rus, Prince Ladislaus of Opole found the painting in the castle at Bełz and discovered it was being venerated as if it were miraculous. After the victory over the Tatars, he brought the painting to Czestochowa, entrusting it to Pauline Monks for safekeeping. This information is contained in a manuscript - one of the oldest - entitled "Translatio Tabulae", a copy of which, dated 1474, is conserved in the Jasna Góra archives.

According to art critics, the Jasna Góra painting was originally a Byzantine icon (of the Hodigitria type), dating between the sixth and ninth centuries.

The Miraculous presence of the image has always attracted pilgrims not only from all over Poland but from all over the world, as the numerous votive offerings show. It was painted on a wood panel measuring 122.2 x 82.2 x 3.5 cms. and features a bust of the Virgin with Jesus in her arms. Mary's face dominates the painting and observers find themselves immersed in her eyes. They look at Mary, who looks back at them.

The face of the Child is also turned towards the pilgrim but his eyes are looking elsewhere. The two faces have a serious and thoughtful expression adding to the emotional tone of the painting. Our Lady's right cheek is marked by two parallel slashes and a third horizontal cut. The neck of the image is marred with six scratches, two more visible than others. Jesus, dressed in a scarlet tunic is supported by His Mother's left hand, his right hand is raised in a magisterial gesture, of sovereignty and benediction. The hand of the Virgin rests on Her breast, as if she were indicating the Child. The Virgin's robe and mantle are decorated with lilies, the symbol of the Hungarian royal family. A six-pointed star is featured on Mary's brow. An important element are the auras around the Virgin and Child since their luminous quality contrasts with the dark facial tones.