Jubilee for Military

So rather than an entirely new post - I'll just edit this one.

While at home, we seemed very far from this Jubilee for Mercy.  But here... MY GOODNESS - it is EVER present.  Signs all over the city: "Rome for the Jubilee" - the Jubilee image (below) everywhere - CONSTANT crowds walking up a special pathway all the way up the Conciliazione to St. Peter's Square and through the Holy Door - and just about every weekend a different group celebrating the Jubilee.  This weekend it was Military and Police and their families.  And it was a FULL weekend.

It started on Friday with an all-day conference celebrating the 30th anniversary of the publication of the Apostolic Constitution "Spirituali Militia Curae" (which I cannot find online in English) which established in the Church the Military Ordinariates - making them Dioceses in their own right.  For us in the United States, ours is the Archdiocese for Military Services - which encompasses every military installation in the world, all embassies and State Department facilities.  So it really is a world-wide diocese.  

The conference explained that there are various ways that different countries take care of the spiritual needs of their military members.  Some military chaplains are appointed by the nation (some paid by the Church, others by the country); some chaplains have rank - others do not; some are actual members of the military, others are not and are merely provided by the local Diocese.  In the United States, our chaplains are appointed by an "Endorsing Agency" as an official chaplain and we are truly members of the military paid as any other member of the military (or National Guard).  

They told a bit of history of military chaplaincy: it's all about Evangelization.  For the first 4 Centuries (after Christ) there were no military chaplains.  But after the legalization of the Catholic faith in the 4th Century, the Church quickly recognized an order of chaplains and the need to minister to soldiers toward the end of peace.  

This Jubilee of Mercy, and especially this moment of a Jubilee for military, is an experience of the New Evangelization so often spoken about by Pope Saint John Paul II.   "The heart of God heals the misery of man; and man's heart, drawn close to God, is restored."  This is a reality that military chaplains help people and soldiers to realize: experiencing God's heart which heals all human misery. Members of the military have a particular identity - certainly as a member of their particular nation and force (Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard) - but they also need that identification and identity as a member of the Church.  This sense of belonging is important.

Mercy, we were reminded, is an encounter.  In the military, this encounter is often with the suffering (for example with the many refugees fleeing their country).  Who are the first ones these refugees encounter?  The members of the military.  It is important that we (military members) recognize our role in being this moment of "encounter" - sharing with those we encounter the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

So, these were some thoughts and things we heard during our day-long conference.  

I spent the day with Bishop Richard Spencer, one of the Auxiliary Bishops for our AMS (Archdiocese for Military Services).  

On Saturday was the special Jubilee Audience (Pope Francis has added a number of special Saturday audiences during this Jubilee Year) for members of the Military and police and their families.  I had received a VIP ticket to sit up to the right of the Pope - up the steps in front of St. Peters.  I arrived in what I thought was plenty of time... and it was... but I had to FIGHT through a CROWD of people to get to the right place.  It always kind of amazes me how, we are all there to see the Pope - for a religious purpose - but we'll fight and push and shove in order to get to the spot we want (or get through security check-points - which were VERY present).  In fact on Saturday morning I went for a run - when I returned to the apartment building I discovered that our building with within the first security checkpoint.  Well, I had no ID on me or anything (since I was running).  I had a little trouble getting back into the house after my run!

So, I finally managed to fight my way through the crowd, through security and up to the proper seating area.  And here I just waited for the audience to begin.  Oh, I did wear my uniform.  I know that there were other members of our US military there - but they were not permitted to wear their uniforms for security purposes.  I did wear mine since I was within that first security perimeter.  I'm sure by now you have all heard that just this past Friday several ISIS members were arrested for planning an attack on the Vatican.  So, security was VERY tight.  Here are some photos from prior to the start of the audience.  You can see all the different military members from many different countries.  There were bands playing from above and just lots of military pomp and ceremony.  

And we thought our Air Force flight caps are silly looking...

 And it was also the feast day of Pope Saint Pius V - so I noted that they had his relics out on the Piazza...

And I also met a group of Sisters who live here in Rome (but are from Miami) whose ministry is to pray for the members of the military.

So, after our wait, the Holy Father arrived...

Bishop Spencer - Auxiliary of the Military Archdiocese

And here I am with the Sisters who pray for us in the Military.  We had a good conversation...

When the audience was over, the Holy Father begin greeting the Bishops as usual - then moved to the defense ministers in the VIP section... then he went to the "rope line" where we were - he came right down the row until he finally got right in front of me.  I wanted to say something, but was speechless...  So I just stood there like a fool with my hand out...  He grasped my hand, and continued on down the line.  Next time, I'll say something!

I purchased some pictures from the Vatican newspaper which won't have the writing over them... They are coming soon...

Sunday was the Mass for military, police and their families.  It was NOT celebrated by Pope Francis, but by Cardinal Parolin - the Secretary of State for the Vatican.  

Following the Mass we all went outside into the Square for the 12noon Angelus (or, during Easter, the Regina Caeli).  And with that, the Jubilee for Military ended.

One thing I didn't mention - Saturday afternoon Bishop Spencer and I went up to the NAC where a large group of men from all over Europe (all military) had come to Rome for the Jubilee, but also to become 4th Degree members of the Knights of Columbus.  Here's a photo of the group.

Shopping Adventure & Weekend Jubilee for "Ragazzi" (Kids)

This weekend was BUSY!  Several BIG events going on here.  First one was personal - second was Church-wide.  Here's the story of both.

This weekend the Cardinal had some friends visiting Rome - they came by the house for drinks and dinner (out) the other day - and it was decided that they would come up to the apartment on Sunday morning for Mass.

An Aside - Here's something I've learned: Being a Cardinal is not all glitz and glamour.  It is, in some ways, a prison sentence (my opinion, of course).  It's not like a Cardinal - who is the head of a diocese and who has another job here in Rome - can, on any given Sunday, just show up at the local parish church (even his own titular church) and ask to concelebrate.  A Cardinal showing up is a BIG DEAL.  There is that sense of hierarchy - if a Cardinal is there he has to preside (at the least) if not celebrate the Mass.  (That's a slight variation - the highest ranking always presides but does not always celebrate...  For example, at a priest-parent funeral the priest-son always celebrates the Mass, but the Bishop is present & presides in choir dress, sitting off to the side.  It's a liturgical nuance.)  SO - unless there are other plans, we usually have Mass here in the apartment in our chapel - rather than a parish church).

The only photo I could find.  The Cardinals are in choir dress - present, but not concelebrating Mass.

I offered, since they were coming that early, to make breakfast for the 4 of us.  I've been having a desire to cook - so that gave me the perfect excuse.  He said that would be great - so I put together a menu: blueberry muffins, spinach scramble (with tomatoes, Hollandaise sauce and Feta cheese), breakfast potatoes, sausage.  So I needed to check our kitchen for the needed ingredients.

Now I know there is a BIG difference between baking SODA and baking POWDER.  But when it's all written in Italian...  there was a lot of running to the computer to translate labels.  So, I got the list of things we didn't have - and was ready to head off to the local food market.

Don't think I walked to the Giant food store (a local grocery store chain in PA).  No such thing.  It's all local food stores.  A fairly good size considering it's a store mid-block in the City of Rome.  But, it ain't a Walmart Super Center!  So... frozen blueberries....  hmmm... no.  Maybe some canned...  no.  In a jar...?  Not there either.  Found some fresh (at another store).  OK.  Milk & eggs.  They won't be in the refrigerated section - but in an aisle somewhere - go figure.  It's just different here.  Pam - non-stick cooking spray... NOPE!  Nowhere to be found.  Everything else was fairly easy, but I just had to search till I found it.

Notice the NARROW aisle...

OK - that task completed, now it was time to bake the muffins.  20 minutes at 375.  Oh, wait - celsius.  What is 375 in celsius?  Back to the computer - ah... 190.  OK.  But how do I turn this thing on?  There's an entire series of different symbols: arch above; arch below; a fan with heat coming from everywhere; some round thing with a pizza-looking symbol on it...  I decided on the arch above & below.  Seemed to work - a fan is running.  I let it pre-heat.  Hmmm... it's not hot.  I think you also have to set the timer - or it won't work.  (There are all kinds of energy-saving features here - like it or not.)

Everything else wasn't too difficult - it was just finding things in someone else's kitchen - and me without my own tools of the trade.  They came out... merely ok.  Tough (don't know why), but they tasted OK.  Everything else worked out fine and was nice.

JUBILEE FOR YOUTH:

This weekend, as part of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, was the Jubilee for children (really designed for 13-15 year olds).  There was a big gathering at St. Peter's Square on Saturday morning - with LOTS Of priests for confession - even the Pope showed up and heard confessions for an hour...

Saturday evening there was a big rally at the Rome Olympic Stadium for the youth.

Sunday morning a HUGE Mass in St. Peter's Square.  It was PACKED!  So, following our own Mass and breakfast, I took the Cardinal's guests up to the roof of the North American College for one of the most beautiful views of Rome.

Then we headed down toward St. Peter's Square for the Regina Caeli and blessing - and the tour around the Square in the Popemobile.  I was astounded at the crowd!  1000's of people gathered for the celebration of Mass - and many, many more gathering throughout the Mass for the Regina Caeli and the journey around the Square in the Popemobile.

We couldn't even get close to the Square - so we settled for a spot along the Via Conciliazione.  I'm sorry - I tried to take a video (and it would have been good) but I had an epic fail with my camera - I pushed the wrong button...  Sorry.  None-the-less, here are the photos of the crowd at our spot where the Popemobile would go past - twice.

The Holy Father also had a wonderful message for the young people gathered 

(from CatholicCulture.org):

Describing love as the “the Christian’s identity card, the only valid ‘document’ identifying us as Christians,” Pope Francis preached that love is “shown in real actions. Those who are not real and genuine and who speak of love are like characters is a soap opera, some fake love story.” 

Such love is “demanding, and it requires effort,” he continued. “To love means to give, not only something material, but also something of oneself: one’s own time, one’s friendship, one’s own abilities.” 

Christ, the Pope added, “offers us his faithful friendship, which he will never take back.” 

“The Lord is a friend forever,” Pope Francis said. “Even if you disappoint him and walk away from him, Jesus continues to want the best for you and to remain close to you; he believes in you even more than you believe in yourself. This is an example of genuine love that Jesus teaches to us.” 

The Pope also called young people to seek true freedom by choosing the good, rather than being content with “mediocrity” and seeking an abundance of possessions. 

“Freedom is not the ability simply to do what I want,” he said. “This makes us self-centered and aloof, and it prevents us from being open and sincere friends … Instead, freedom is the gift of being able to choose the good: this is true freedom.” 

Here's the entire Mass if you'd like to watch...

Investiture in Olomouc, Czech Republic

This past weekend I traveled with His Eminence, Edwin Cardinal O'Brien (Grand Master of the Order) to Olomouc, Czech Republic where he Invested the Archbishop of Olomouc as the Grand Prior (the cleric - usually a bishop/archbishop who is in charge of the spiritual good of the members in his territory), 4 men as Knights, one woman as a Dame, and one priest, into the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher.

It was the very first one for this brand new Magistral Delegation - and my first Investiture as well.

We arrived Friday evening in Vienna and from there made the 3-hour car ride into the Czech Republic and the city of Olomouc.  We arrived at the Archbishop's Palace - certainly from former days - were shown to our rooms, and had a very nice, light supper with the Archbishop.

Grand Stairway leading up to our rooms

One of the doors into the Archbishop's Palace

After a nice night in a "small" bed - but a WONDERFUL feather comforter, we had a nice, typical European breakfast - bread and coffee, cheese and meat, radishes and other vegetables - and then (after Mass in the archbishop's chapel) went walking around the town with the Archbishop.  Here's a whole slew of photos from our walk.  I'll caption as I can to say what the photos are...

The Archbishop's Chapel

The inside of the Jesuit Church

St. Michael's Church

This is actually a UNESCO site: 

the largest monument to the Holy Trinity

Church of St. Maurice

The Organ casing in the Church of St. Maurice

Outside of the Church of St. Maurice

As we walked along, we met some members of the Order - also out for a morning stroll around the town

Then we caught first glimpse of the Cathedral of St. Wenceslaus. 

Blessed Sacrament Chapel in the Cathedral of St. Wenceslaus

That afternoon we officially Invested Archbishop Jan Grubner as the Grand Prior for the Magistral Delegation here in Olomouc.  Some photos of the Investiture...

The following day was the Investiture at the Cathedral of St. Wenceslaus in Olomouc.  Much to my surprise, I ended up acting as the M.C. for the event and the Mass - certainly the local Cathedral rector directed much of the liturgical "traffic" - but I handled things with Cardinal O'Brien.  The Cathedral was COLD!  I kept thinking of the many people at home who think the church is too cols (or too hot) - well, they should have been here - you just come prepared...  The music was beautiful - orchestra and a beautiful choir.  The Investiture and Mass was televised on Czech Catholic TV for all to see.  Here are some photos following the event (since I, of course, was busy).

Then, walking back to the Archbishop's Palace for a wonderful reception and to pack up for the trip home, I couldn't help but snap this candid photo of the Cardinal and Archbishop walking along...

It was a long weekend, but a great first experience of an Investiture.