I have called you by name

"I have called you by name, you are mine," the Lord says (Isaiah 43:1)

Names.

A wall full of names of those young Americans who died during the war in Viet Nam.

Why does it move us?

Because it reminds us that these are real people and each one is uniquely formed by God. They are not mere statistics. They are as real and as human as you or I. Or your brother or sister or son or daughter.

Father Frank Pavone has given names to the children who were aborted whose remains were found at the Gosnell "House of Horrors".

Baby Adam (Baby Boy A, aborted at seven and a half months, six pounds weight)

Baby Michael (Baby Boy B, killed at 28 weeks)

Baby Alex (Baby C, breathed for 20 minutes after delivery.)

Baby Chris (Baby D -- Was delivered into the toilet and was seen swimming there.)

Baby Andy (Baby E -- This baby was heard to whine.)

Baby Lou (Baby F -- This baby's leg jerked and moved after being delivered.)

Baby Pat (Baby G)

Baby Joshua
Baby David
Baby Ashley
Baby Sal
Baby Terry
Baby Sam
Baby Val
Baby Tony
Baby Ronnie
Baby Sarah
Baby Melanie
Baby Sandy
Baby Corey
Baby Drew
Baby Ryan
Baby Toby
Baby Sean
Baby Kelly
Baby Carroll
Baby Joseph
Baby Benjamin
Baby Stacey
Baby Gabriel
Baby Brett
Baby Julian
Baby Taylor
Baby Courtney
Baby Danny
Baby Kim
Baby Mandy
Baby Robin
Baby Austin
Baby Abel
Baby Michelle
Baby Lisa
Baby Shannon
Baby Nevin
Baby Connor

Dreams of a Pope

"Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these?"
 -- Gospel according to St. John 21:15

What does a Pope dream about? Pope Innocent dreamed about St. Francis rebuilding the Church. What does Pope Francis dream about?

Lately the Gospel readings for Mass have included accounts of St. Peter. I imagine that these readings have taken on a deep new significance for Pope Francis -- how could they not? -- as he begins to identify himself with St. Peter, the Rock.

Does the Pope dream of these passages? Does Peter come visit him while he is sleeping to encourage him and to fortify him? Certainly Pope Francis must be spending a great deal of time praying to St. Peter, asking the First Pope to teach him and to guide him. The martyrdom of Peter -- which echoes the Crucifixion of Christ -- seems to be on his mind. The Pope is called to sacrifice and give everything for the Church.

And then there is Christ who lovingly commands Peter to "Feed my sheep". Pope Francis must now hear these words as spoken directly to him. This is enough to transform any man.

Do not judge Pope Francis by the past, the Holy Spirit is at work in him.

Becoming Peter

But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men."
 -- Matthew 16:23

There is a lot of concern expressed by the "traditionalists" regarding some of the actions of Pope Francis. I don't consider myself to be a "traditionalist", but I do love the traditions of the Church. I also know that one of the tactics of the humanist/atheist/socialist enemies of the Church is to attack tradition as being old-fashioned and out-of-date. The secular news has been abuzz with every small change that Pope Francis makes and they quickly spin the story to suggest that this might be the beginning of bigger changes in the direction of "female priests", "gay marriage", etc.

So there are two major reasons for the Pope to be careful to respect the traditions of the Church.

The first is that this is a historical treasure that could be easily lost. The symbolism of tradition speaks loudly to the mind and the soul. It conveys a sense of the ineffable quality of Christianity. It shows the world the grandeur of the Church. The images of the Vatican during the ceremonies marking the beginning of the papacy of Francis are powerful and moving. A hollywood director would love to have a set like that it his disposal because these are primal images which move the soul. No one can deny their reality and their significance -- whether they like what they represent or not. These images and these traditions are signs to the world and part of what they convey is a history and a tradition which is powerful and relevant.

The second reason that the Pope must be careful to respect tradition is wrapped up in the first. When the enemies of the Church see a slight deviation in tradition, they use this as a weapon to attack other traditions which are more central to the Church. And they use it as a way to paint a portrait of the Pope as one who is unconcerned with upholding tradition and Church teaching.

Benedict described how the media created their own version of Vatican II -- the bad version. And yet this is the version that was communicated most effectively to the Catholic public and this in turn shaped the opinion of the Catholic laity -- and even many members of the Catholic priesthood and hierarchy. The same forces are at work today, which is why Pope Francis needs to be very careful in his words and in his actions.

We can take some solace in the fact that St. Peter himself did not at first seem like a great Pope. He seemed to fail at every task and test that came his way -- for instance at the Transfiguration and at the Crucifixion. Pray for us, St. Peter, and pray for the Holy Father.

Becoming Pope Francis

Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said: Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried the things that were put therein.  Jesus therefore said: Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of my burial. For the poor you have always with you; but me you have not always.
 -- John 12:4-8

I have to say that the image of two "popes" standing side by side was quite disturbing. I don't think that cameras should have been allowed. This should have been done behind closed doors.

Receiving the keys of the kingdom is very much like getting married. Only it is much more serious. The Pope can never become a normal member of the Body of Christ again.

It is not a position that I would wish on anyone. The Pope is a sort of prisoner of Christ for the rest of his life -- like St. Paul. His life is no longer his own. Benedict has gone into a sort of self-imposed imprisonment, or at least I hope this is his intent. Something like the vow of a nun that includes enclosure. He owes it to himself and the Chair of Peter that he once sat in to do this.

For Pope Francis, I don't believe the gravity of the office has yet fully imposed itself on him. I don't know what it will take for him to come to the realization that he is no longer just another bishop among many. He is the Pope. And he will slowly come to realize just exactly what this means. May the Holy Spirit be his guide. And may we all pray for him.

I see great signs in Pope Francis, but at the same time I am concerned of what seems to be an emphasis of Charity over Truth. This is a mistake that the Church has made in the recent past. Yes, we need to evangelize, but the goal of that evangelization must always be the saving of souls -- not ending poverty or world peace or saving the planet. None of these matter in the end if souls are lost.

Those other goals will be achieved much later -- if at all -- after we have converted our lives from the inside out through the power of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. The Church must have faith in her mission -- which is to save the world. But by that what is meant is to save souls.

Christ did not come to end poverty or to bring peace in the way that the world understands those words. He came to end the spiritual poverty of those who have separated themselves from God and to bring the true peace which is found in the love of God.

Pope Francis and the Virgin Mary

"Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, Our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs..."

This video is of an interview that was conducted 6 months before Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis. What most strikes me about it is the way that the Pope speaks about the faith in the Virgin Mary that is so strong among many Catholics.

It is this great "reservoir" of love for the Virgin which will bring about the rebirth of the Catholic Church. She speaks to our hearts. Even when we begin to separate from Christ himself, still the blessed Virgin is able to reach us. She gave birth to the Church and she is our Holy Mother. We cannot help but love her.

St. Joseph, pray for us

When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost.

 -- Matthew 1:18-20

Today Pope Francis celebrated the Mass inaugurating his Petrine ministry. And today is the day that the Catholic Church celebrates St. Joseph, the father of the Christ child and husband to the Virgin Mary. In his homily, the Pope stressed that St. Joseph who protected the Christ child and the Virgin Mary is now the protector of the whole Church.

St. Teresa of Avila had a great devotion to St. Joseph as demonstrated by the following passage.

"I took for my advocate and lord the glorious Saint Joseph and commended myself earnestly to him; and I found that this my father and lord delivered me both from this trouble and also from other and greater troubles concerning my honor and the loss of my soul, and that he gave me greater blessings than I could ask of him. I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I am astonished at the great favors which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succor us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succors us in them all and that the Lord wishes to teach us that as He was Himself subject to him on earth (for, being His guardian and being called His father, he could command Him) just so in Heaven He still does all that he asks. This has also been the experience of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to him; and even to-day there are many who have great devotion to him through having newly experienced this truth."

-- "The Autobiography of St. Teresa" Ch. 6

Pope Francis shares in that devotion. What a blessing that he begins his new life as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on this day.

Another sign of the devotion of our Pope to the Holy Family is the new pontiff's papal coat of arms which is the same as he used as bishop.

The shield has a bright blue background, at the centre top of which is a yellow radiant sun with the IHS christogram on it representing Jesus (it is also the Jesuit logo). The IHS monogram, as well as a cross that pierces the H, are in red with three black nails directly under them. Under that, to the left, is a star representing Mary, Mother of Christ and the Church. To the right of the star is a nard flower representing Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. With these symbols the Pope demonstrates his love for the Holy Family.

Pope Francis: "Protect life, protect the family"

"I am the way, the truth and the life."
 -- John 14:6

Pope Francis continues his crusade for life and the family.

This report is from Vatican Information Service (VIS):

The thousands of people who spent a sleepless night in the main square of Buenos Aires, Plaza de Mayo, to watch the Mass inaugurating former Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio's Petrine ministry had a pleasant surprise. At 7:32am Rome time—that is, 3:32am in Argentina—the speakers placed outside the cathedral in the square began to carry the voice of Pope Francis. He was calling, from the Vatican, to greet them.

As reported by the Argentine newspaper, Clarin, the Pope had called the cell phone of one of his aides, Fr. Alejandro Russo, rector of the cathedral. From the archdiocesan television centre they were then able to connect the call to Plaza de Mayo, so that the pontiff might say hello to his parishioners. Shortly afterwards, the rector announced that he had a special surprise and those gathered began to hear Francis' voice. “Dear sons and daughters, I know you have gathered in the square. I know that you are saying prayers, I need them very much. It is beautiful to pray because we look to heaven and know that we have a good Father who is God.”

A huge wave of applause greeted the Pope's words and he continued: “I want to ask a favour of you. I want to ask for us to walk together, to care for one another, for you to care for each other. Do not cause harm. Protect life. Protect the family; protect nature; protect the young; protect the elderly. Let there not be hatred or fighting. Put aside envy.” And, in the city's slang, he added: “No le saquen el cuero a nadie [literally, “don't flay or skin anyone alive”, that is, don't gossip, don't criticize one another]. Talk with one another so that this desire to protect each other might grow in your hearts. And draw near to God. God is good. He always forgives and understands. Do not be afraid of him. Draw near to him and may the Virgin bless you. May she, as a mother, protect you. Please do not forget this bishop who is far away but who loves you very much. Pray for me!”

“Through the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin, and each of your guardian angels, the glorious patriarch St. Joseph, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, and each of your protector saints, may God All-mighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you,” Francis concluded, imparting the papal blessing to all present before closing the connection.