AmericanPapist Comments
You'll learn the signs, Thom. One cardinal, could be nothing. It's those flocking migratory patterns that signal serious news.
Great timing on your move to DC!
Can someone get Louisville on the itinerary? We'll be celebrating our 200th anniversary. And we have, at St. Martin of Tours the perfect venue (downtown, Mass of John XXIII/"smells and bells" Mass of Pope Paul VI living in harmony, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, etc.) And we have a wonderful new Archbishop upon whom Benedict recently conferred the pallium.
yes, the "eastcoast-centrism" of the trip would have irked me more when I was in Michigan (or California).
At least he's coming.
This would be a truly wonderful thing.
I had the great good fortune to see JP the Great on Boston Common in 1979. I would love for my children to have a similar experience.
On the other hand . . .
A visit to Boston will not be without its public relations complications . . .
Hasn't Boston come to symbolize the sexual abuse scandal?
No doubt the victim advocacy groups will ask to meet with the Pope and will make great noise if (when) no meeting is arranged.
I'm all for the visit, I just hope that they think through how they are going to address all these issues well in advance of the visit.
Has anyone yet figured out that Benedict will be celebrating his 81st birthday in the U.S.? Do I hear an Auguri, Santo Padre song?
Aloha from Hawaii
I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of those masses would be celebrated INSIDE a church, as was the case during the Holy Father's visit in Austria, where he celebrated Sunday Mass in Vienna's Stephansdom. There would be many problems (acoustics, volume) for a Mass setting in Gregorian chant and orchestra/choir being performed in open air, and loudspeakers are not really an option here.
Isn't there a beautiful cathedral in Baltimore which had just recently been restorated AND will be celebrating its bicentenary next year? Wouldn't that be a wonderful opportunity? Certainly there is a square near the cathedral where those who didn't find a place inside the cathedral could watch the mass on a giant screen, and where the Pope could pray the Regina Caeli with the masses.
Personally, I have my problems with "mass masses", because a) they too much resemble a concert or happening, b) there really is no advantage to watching the same mass on a TV screen at home (except the Eucharist, which very same Body and Blood of Christ I can receive at my parish around the corner during regular mass).
Louisville *would* be a awesome Papal stop.
Congrats on your move to D.C. And consider yourself hit with a B.R.A. meme.
I am just hoping the doctoral candidates in systematic theology will get a special audience with the Pope (or inquisition, as the case may be).
Paul Stokell:
Yes. You and I both know Louisville would be awesome. Mass of John XXIII at St. Martin's. Mass of Paul VI (in Latin) at Churchill Downs. A day of Benedict in Louisville would be worth a millennium in Boston or Philadelphia. But how do we make it happen?
Remember, in Archbishop Floersh's day, 100,000 used to assemble every year for the Corpus Christi Procession at Churchill Downs (transforming, for a day, the venue of the sport of kings into a field of glory to the King of kings). And, under the auspices of that same saintly Archbishop, Louisville basketball's 20,000 seat arena was filled to overflowing every October for the "Living Rosary". After 40 years in the desert, Louisville Catholics (mostly German and Irish) would rejoice profoundly in a visit from their German Shepherd.
Paul, do you have any idea how to make it happen? (Keep in mind, 2008 also will be the 150th anniversary of St. Martin's proto-pastor Father Streber's recruitment of the Ursuline Sisters of Straubing, Bavaria, to come to the USA. I can only imagine what Benedict might bring to an occasion like that: Mass at St. Martin's with the Sisters. A visit to the parish's apostolates to the poor of the neighborhood. Oh well, how much can we fit into a day?)
I think this is important for Louisville and for the universal Church, and if you have any thoughts on how to proceed, I would appreciate them.
Bob Miller
Since everyone seems to be singing "dreams can come true, they could happen to you ..." hey, maybe the humble little diocese of Honolulu has a chance ... home to two Blesseds, Damien and Marianne and Bishop Clarence Silva who's episcopal motto must be very close to Papa's heart ... "Witness to Jesus."
One can dream ...
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