*** UPDATED ***
It’s been a little over a week since our big Papa came to pay us a visit. I still remember the exact moment when the white smoke rose above St. Peter’s. Then the bells—that two weeks earlier had mournfully wept in tolling the death of our beloved John Paul the Great—joyfully sang to the “ubi et orbi”, proclaiming “Habemus Papam”! Perhaps I’ll describe in greater detail this unforgettable moment in a later post. But for now, I want to talk about Pope Benedict’s visit with American youth and seminarians at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, New York.
At some point this week, watch this video. It is unbelievable! Whatever you do, DON'T skip over the first 7 minutes. Actions definitely speak louder than words...especially when it comes to youth proudly showing their affection and loyalty to the Vicar of Christ. (What this video doesn't show is that the applause actually began about 5 minutes prior to the start of this clip.) Also, make sure you listen to Edward Cardinal Egan's welcoming address. He says some really good stuff!
You may also want to pull up the Holy Father's address in a separate window so you can read along. It is a brilliant and deeply moving speech in which our Papa both encourages and challenges us. (The address begins at 42:00 in the video.)
Please comment on any lines of the Holy Father's address that really affected you, as well as any other thoughts about the youth rally.
If you click the jump, you can read some of my reflections and that Colin Wen, a college buddy of mine who is a seminarian for our diocese. Colin shared his vocation testimony at our Praise Party last year. He was also one of 5,000 seminarians from around the country who was New York for this youth rally. So, we are incredibly lucky to get his first hand account.
Pax et bonum!
Hey Colin!
I think I'm going through papal withdrawal. After almost a full week of Pope watching, I seriously need to get my fix.
I saw the rally at St. Joseph 's Seminary live on my computer. It must have been an incredible experience! I was even getting emotional just sitting in my room in front of my computer screen.
As I've been telling people since last Saturday, I have never...NEVER seen the Holy Father like how he was in Yonkers . I’ve seen the media coverage of him at other such gatherings with youth…but his response to the crowed was unlike I had ever witnessed from our often reserved Papa Benedict. I remember at World Youth Day three years ago in Cologne.
Our newly elected German Shepherd appeared awkward and somewhat taken aback by the one million exuberant youths gathered at Marienfeld. Shortly after he took the stage, he started to speak which basically forced us to be quiet rather fast. And his address at the Vigil and his homily at the closing WYD Mass were nice…but somewhat dry.
Last Saturday was a totally different story. I was completely shocked that the sustained applause went on for something like 15 minutes straight!!!! And to top it off, not only did he allow the cheering to go on for that long, but he even encouraged it! Then my heart leaped for joy (and melted at the same time) when he began to make his way down the dual catwalks!
I really tried to spot you in the crowd. I’m really glad that the media was able to show many of the seminarians, especially the young GQ-looking ones…it really goes a long way to not only promote vocations but also to change society’s perspective on the kinds of young men who answered the Call to the priesthood.
Colin, could you please give me a list of the cheers people were chanting….here’s what I picked up on from the live-feed:
1. “We love you!”
2. “Papa!”
3. “Christ our Hope! [Bless?] the Pope!”
4. “Viva il Papa!”
5. And at one point, the seminarians were singing a song to him in Latin…what was it? “Tu es Petrus”?
The Holy Father looked very content and relaxed…he was quite chill as he sat jauntily on his throne and greeted the various youths who spoke. (Although, I didn’t get why the youths of the United States decided to give him bread…I mean, come on, what’s the Pope really going to do with 5 types of bread to represent the different continents???) Also, Kelly Clarkson’s “Ave Maria” was alright…I don’t think she quite hit that last note…but at least she was dressed very modestly…her performance at the pre-rally concert was much better.
The pope’s address was amazing! I noticed that he interjected some emotion into his speech…which I think he rarely does. He even included lines that were designed to elicit a reaction from the crowd…also something very un-Benedict. I thought that his entire address was exceptional (well…at least speaking of the English parts…I was too lazy to translate or find a translation of the Spanish portion)! I particularly liked the fact that not only did he catechize us by explaining the faith, but he also challenged us to live it in concrete terms. I think, in general, youth respond well to challenges. I especially liked it when the Holy Father shared a little about his childhood and when he encouraged us in saying “Sometimes we are looked upon as people who speak only of prohibitions. Nothing could be further from the truth! Authentic Christian discipleship is marked by a sense of wonder.”
I definitely want to hear ALL your thoughts about your experience. I mean it, Colin…I want details!
****************************************************************************
(This picture was taken at the youth rally at St. Joseph's Seminary. Colin is the guy in the middle. The cassocks rock, gentlemen!)
I never realized what an impact an event like going to see the pope would have on my life. I might consider this my first true pilgrimage. So I'll just give you a couple points of awesomeness so I don't waste too much time.
The first full day I spent in NY we went around to the big sites like the WTC and the Statue of Liberty. But then we went into little Italy and went into this church to looks for gifts. We met this Franciscan priest - 60 years ordained - from Italy who was talking all about the pope and his life as priest. It was inspirational. He was old and hunched over yet he had a particular joy that overflowed in his words. Seeing a man who answered Christ's call and still found joy 60 some years later gave me great hope for my vocation. :)
That night we tried to go to St. Patrick's Cathedral at like 8pm - not realizing that it would most definitely be closed. Once we got there we were waiting around for a bit deciding where to pray evening prayer when this procession of people began to walk by us with some Sisters of Life and a CFR singing praise music and explaining to us they were going to the pope's residence, at the archbishop's house, to hold vigil and receive a blessing. We got swept up in their procession and walked with them 20 blocks through midtown, passing by crowds of people unsure of what to think, to where the pope was staying and a large crowd of sisters, religious, and youth had gathered lighting candles, singing and praying. It was powerful - seeing the unity of faith - drawing near to the unity of the Church present in the Vicar of Christ. And....then the pope came out. Well I didn't really get to see as my view was horrible but it was awesome. After the pope returned to his residence we wandered around in the crowds and talked to random people who had gathered. It was amazing. A powerful moment of faith when people just came from all over NY to pray with and for the pope and the Church.
The next day was the big day. We went out to Yonkers by subway and then by bus. We definitely got some stares wearing our cassocks through the subway and on the way to the seminary. Random people would come up to us and say hi or take a picture with us. It was wonderful to see the great diversity of the Church and so many faces. But I must say the most amazing part of the trip was the rally and the visit with the pope. The seminarians were set up with a special section right in front of the main stage. I got to meet seminarians from across the country and pray and sing with them. It was crazy to see so many of us, the future of the priesthood of the U.S., united to visit with Pope Benedict. There was a unique brotherhood that we all shared. We shouted out in unity our love for the Holy Father, sang the Salve Regina with one voice, and cheered with Pope Benedict's words of encouragement for us all, "Have courage". I was given great hope at the sight of so many young men who hearing the call as I have, ready and willing to lay down their lives for Christ.
Plus the words that our Holy Father spoke resonated deep within me. I realized what I have discovered in the last two years of my formation about what it means to be priest is also what Christ and our Holy Father ask of me - to be a man who knows Christ intimately. To hear what I have come to understand in the heart from the lips of Pope Benedict, a desire to know Christ and to live out of that complete self-surrender in love, struck me deeply. My heart was filled with great hope.
And through out the trip we came upon priests, seminarians, young people, and families who like us were excited about the faith. We even ran into a number of non-Catholics who had questions and voiced their joy that the Holy Father had come to NY. This was a Holy Spirit driven trip and I wait with hopeful anticipation for the many fruits it will bear in my own vocation and for the Church in the U.S.
I agree with you - he was definitely enjoying himself and as I say playing with us. I think we excited him and gave him some more hope for the future Church in the U.S.
You have almost all the cheers....you are missing "Ben-e-det-to" and it is "Christ our hope! Benedict the Pope!". Though eventually we just turned to the most simple - "We love you". I guess you didn't catch some short ones we did. When the first guy and the first girl were presenting the saints to our papa, we started chanting "future priest" and "future nun". And then when Kelly Clarkson received something from the pope after she sang the Ave Maria, we chanted "future nun" again. It was pretty fun.
Hmm, there was a song that a particular group of seminarians sang but I didn't know what it was, sadly. It could have been "Tu es Petrus". It was the seminarians from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary supposedly.
(SEAN'S NOTES: Colin brings up a good point that I didn't catch. He observed that Pope Benedict was "playing" with the crowd. This remark made me think of what Lisa Emperador said when she saw the Pope in Cologne. She said that the Holy Father was like a grandfather to her. At this youth rally in Yonkers, he was Papa to all the youth in the United States. He was the wise, loving, gentle Papa who just wanted to be near his little ones. He appreciated our simple gifts. And we appreciated his inspiring words. Did you hear the urgency in his voice? The Pope looks to us to bring the hope of Christ to our country. We won't let him down, will we?
Also note, at the end of his e-mail, Colin mentioned St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. This is the main seminary in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Come to think of it, I should have expected spontaneous Latin songs from Cardinal Rigali's men! Bravo!)
First, I thought of our pilgrimage to France and Germany in 2005. We were able to go to Lisieux and visit Les Buissonnets, the house where she lived in after her mother died. In the book, St. Thérèse describes the time when she told her dad that she wanted to become a Carmelite nun. In the garden at Les Buissonnets is a statue to mark the spot of that memorable occasion.
