Because of illness and such, we’ve neglected our pursuit of All That is Papal. There’s been a lot going on of late.
Turning first to our Rome-based bloggers, Zadok does a little round-up, including a shot of the Christmas card the Pope gave to the over 4,000 Vatican employees. Did he really personally sign them all?
Roaming Roman has lots of shots of the St. Peter’s Square Christmas tree as well as a report of a visit to the Redemptoris Mater chapel in the Vatican.
Father Cantalmessa’s 3rd Sunday of Advent homily is here (part one) and here (part two):
This is the most necessary conversion for those that have followed Christ and have lived serving him in the Church. A conversion altogether special, which does not consist in abandoning evil, but rather, in a certain sense, in abandoning the good! That is, by detaching oneself from all that you have done, repeating to yourself, according to the suggestion of Christ: "We are useless servants; we have done only our duty" (Luke 17:10). And not even, perhaps, the good we should do!
A beautiful Christmas story makes us want to arrive to the Nativity, with a heart that is poor and empty of everything. Among the shepherds who presented themselves on Christmas night to adore the Child, there was one so poor that he didn’t have anything to offer and he was very much ashamed. Upon arriving to the cave, the shepherds fought among themselves to offer their gifts. Mary didn’t know how to receive all of them, for she had the Child in her arms. So, seeing the poor shepherd with his hands free, she gave him Jesus to hold. Having empty hands was his fortune, and on another level, it will also be our fortune.
Al Kimel comments, reflecting on the challenges of preaching justifcation and grace
The Pope’s Angelus message from Sunday, bringing St. Joseph to our attention:
In other words, the silence of St. Joseph does not demonstrate an empty interior, but rather the fullness of faith that he carries in his heart, and that guides each of his thoughts and actions. A silence through which Joseph, together with Mary, guard the Word of God, known through sacred Scripture, comparing it continually to the events of the life of Jesus; a silence interwoven with constant prayer, a prayer of blessing of the Lord, of adoration of his holy will and of boundless confidence in his providence. It is not exaggerated to say that Jesus will learn — on a human level — precisely from "father" Joseph this intense interior life, which is the condition of authentic righteousness, the "interior righteousness," which one day he will teach to his disciples (cf. Matthew 5:20).
Let’s allow ourselves to be "infected" by the silence of St. Joseph! It is so lacking in this world which is often too noisy, which is not favorable to recollection and listening to the voice of God. In this time of preparation for Christmas, let us cultivate interior recollection so as to receive and keep Jesus in our lives.
And on to the photos:
The Austrian boy who lit the tree was a hero for saving another child’s life
Pope will visit sanitation workers’ creche, per papal tradition:
The crèche at AMA headquarters is an enormous structure, built from stones gathered from all around the world. The display also includes three religious paintings: one showing the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, another showing John Paul II surrounded by children representing the five continents, and a portrait of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa is one of the many distinguished guests who have visited the AMA building to see the crèche.
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