Does it feel like a year passed in this singular day?
Wow.
I am stunned...absolutely, positively stunned.
Not that I know a thing about "Who's, Who" in the realm of our Church's hierarchy, but the first Latin American, first Jesuit, first Francis, plus 76 years old? All the predictions went right out the Sistine Chapel chimney. I. LOVE. IT! And all after just two days of prayer and voting.
I love that the Catholic Church showed the entire earth that tradition works, and democracy is not required. You don't get a say, you just have faith.
I love that "God works in mysterious ways" is found to be true every single day. We don't have to know the whys. "On a need to now basis, all will unfold. But my darlings, you don't need to know" (brownie points if you know who sang those words in a song).
I love that Cardinal Bergoglio chose Francis for his name. Faith was overjoyed, as her middle name is Frances, and no one ever has that name anymore.
Many people were wondering if he chose Francis for St. Francis of Assisi or St. Francis Xavier, both humble servants of God, both defenders of the poor and needy. I have read that he chose the name for St. Francis of Assisi -- to whom God said "Francis, rebuild my Church." (My Faith Francis was named for the same saint.)
I can tell you one secret you may not know, however, which gives me joy because it truly shows God's mysterious ways. Yesterday, March 12, was the last day of the St. Francis Xavier novena. I only know because I prayed it. St. Francis Xavier was canonized on March 12. St. Francis Xavier was one of the first seven Jesuits.
And St. Francis Xavier is one of the patron saints of Friesing, Germany. If you have read Joseph and Chico you know who lived in Freising, Germany. I. LOVE. IT! A gentle bow to our beloved Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Was it all intentional? I don't know, but God does work in mysterious ways.
Tomorrow is a new day. We don't know where Pope Francis will take us (he has a sweet face which took me about 90 seconds to learn to love, but it's going to be a while before I get used to that name!). But, with faith -- great time for a "Year of faith!" -- we will go where God intends. He never fails.
I agree with what you have said about our new Pope Frances. I'm so excited and can't wait to see what he says and does as our new Pope. And I agree also, he has a wonderful kindly face, and he appears pretty humble as well. God is very good.
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
ReplyDeleteLoved your insight - thank you for enlightening us!
I think I love him already too! He seems so sincere, and I was so touched that he asked prayer from the world before his first blessing. Such a humble thing to do.
Blessings to you~
The first words out of my Protestant best friend's mouth were, "He has a truly sweet face." She was awestruck by his asking the faithful to pray for him before he gave them his blessing. The name also has a precious secret significance to me; late in life, my Dad changed his middle name to...Francis. --- Rosemary
ReplyDeleteMarie bellet! :-) I love the name too...it's my confirmation name!
ReplyDeleteMarie bellet! :-) I love the name too...it's my confirmation name!
ReplyDeleteAmen! and Deo Gratias! What a wonderful day for all of us!
ReplyDeleteSuch an exciting day! I look forward to getting to know him---and we have a Francis, too!
ReplyDeleteWe were all excited as we listened and learned about our new Pope yesterday. I am filled with hope.
ReplyDeleteIt was such a great day here as well -- I am still so happy about it all that I watched it again on the computer. :)
ReplyDeleteThis winter has felt so long, with colic and Lent and no pope . . . and now I just feel like the sun is breaking through. I was a little worried that I wouldn't really warm to the new pope since Benedict is still with us and I felt an allegiance to him, but as soon as I saw Pope Francis, I felt a great warmth for him. It just flooded into me without diminishing the respect and admiration I have for the Pope Emeritus. I can only say that I felt the Holy Spirit deeply yesterday.
And PS: can you imagine the phone calls between these two men? I love that they have each other. ;-)
Well said! I am excited. I love how he's been such a model of servanthood.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how God gives the Church just what is needed right now?
I loved your post, Barbara! I could just feel your joy! I had profound joy yesterday, too; still do.
ReplyDeleteI just have to share that on my way to pick up my girls from school, I was listening to our new Pope Francis addressing the Catholic world. Just after he gave us his blessing, on the radio, I could hear the bells in Rome ringing in the background ... As I approached my girls' school, I heard their bells ringing in union with those bells in Rome! It was an awesome, uniting moment! Thanks be to God for our Catholic Church, and I am grateful for our Catholic school, too! ;-)
Oh! And last evening, we went to the Cathedral for a Mass of Thanksgiving and Honor for Pope Francis, and our photo was on our archdiocese's Web site. I will email you the link ;-) Anna sang in the children's choir for the Mass. It was so beautiful! What a celebration of our Catholic faith!