I read a book by Cardinal Ratzinger two years ago, and I feel it gives a real insight into the present Pope, and the direction he would like our modern liturgy to go in. Here is a good article on the book
My view of the world constantly vacillates between the extremes of optimism and pessimism, as I journey through the modern world. On the one hand there seems to be a new effort on the part of many to live together on this small planet. Human rights, cultural diversity and respect, new avenues of communication fostered by technology, and the new ‘green thinking’ give me great hope.
It seems as if there is an international effort to respond to those that have seen a UFO, and believe in aliens from outer space. Recently France, Belgium, and the U.K., and a few other countries have released or are about to release their secret dossiers on this very subject. This week the Vatican waded into this highly controversial topic on May 14 with an interview in L’Osservatore Romano with Fr. Funes S.J., the director of the Vatican Observatory. Why Now? Maybe it is to counter all the debate out there and prove that there is really nothing, or maybe, just maybe, there really is proven life in outer space, and we are not alone. If you would like to hear what Fr. Funes had to say, and you may be surprised, here is a link to the CNS which covered the story. Better still, here is a translation of the interview on frroderick.com.
Here is a fantastic list of the public speeches and homilies that Pope Benedict gave on his 6 day visit to the United States.
As the Benedict XVI processed into the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on Wednesday evening for evening prayer, he wore an ermine trimmed half-cape. Why does he want to dress like this, I wondered? Isn’t this the Pope that reminds us that liturgy should de-focus the person, and draw us into the worship of a God we cannot see? Yet, here he was definitely drawing my attention to his attire, and thus the man.
This year’s Lenten Message reflects on the practice of almsgiving, which represents a specific way to assist those in need and, at the same time, an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment to worldly goods.
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