Did any of you catch Pope Francis' "Urbi et Orbi" blessing today? It was televised live at 12:00 pm CST. It was 6:00 pm in Rome.
The mood was somber and simple, very little pomp and circumstance. It consisted of a Gospel reading, a homily by the pope, and a simple Benediction service. Similar to what we would have had in our parish for Lenten devotions; if we weren't in quarantine. The backdrop was an empty St. Peter's Square, blue in the dusk, with rain pouring.
Pope Francis walked painfully, and spoke softly. I wonder if he is altogether recovered from his recent bout of illness. He spoke from a canopy-covered area in St. Peter's Square.
The Gospel reading was from Mark 4, when Jesus was sleeping in the boat, and the disciples were pleading with him to wake up and calm the storm. The text of the homily and the video footage is available on the site linked above.
After the homily, Pope Francis slowly walked to the portico of St. Peter's Basilica, where there was an altar. A crucifix associated with a miracle against the plague of 1522 was on display, as well as an icon of the Virgin Mary from the church of St. Mary Major, which is a favorite of the pope.
There was a Benediction service in the portico, and a litany in intercession for help against the virus.
There were many interstices of silence, the atmosphere was moving and meditative.
At the end was the blessing with the promised plenary indulgence.
My wife and I watched and were moved. All the normal papal pomp and ceremony was reduced to Msgr. Guido Marini. In a surplice. The simultaneous translation was respectful and necessary. The only word of Italian I know are "ciao" and "corragio." Francis used the latter at least twice, to my ears.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to reread his homily tomorrow. I want to interiorize the part about the sickness coming to a sick world that we weren't taking care of, which he expressed so much more fluidly.
I noticed that part too, Tom. I thought it was moving also. And I felt sorry for Francis, he's living in the middle of one of the worst outbreaks. Of course he is pretty sequestered from everyone. But that could be lonely, too.
DeleteI am going to have to look up some more history on the crucifix and the icon. The crucifix was no Michelangelo, it looked every minute of 500 years old. Somehow that added to the emotional impact.
I meant to check into the crucifix, too. The translator called it the "miracle" crucifix, as if we all know what it is.
DeleteThe miserable weather added to the solemnity.
Is there a video?
ReplyDeleteYes:
Deletehttp://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/events/event.dir.html/content/vaticanevents/en/2020/3/27/uniti-in-preghiera.html
an hour and six minutes.
Here is some information on the icon of Mary and the child Jesus which was present at Pope Francis' address and blessing yesterday.
ReplyDeleteIt is apparently quite ancient, is said by some to be the work of St. Luke the evangelist. Has been an object of devotion particularly in times of plague. It was really kind of amazing that it was allowed to be moved to St. Peter's for the occasion, though it was enclosed by protective plexiglass. If you're the pope you can pull some strings!