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„No tengan miedo“: Cartel en Roma, en agradecimiento “Do not be afraid”: Poster in Rome, a sign of gratitude “Habt keine Angst!” – Ein Plakat in Rom zum Dank für Johannes Paul II. |
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Santuario Cor Ecclesiae, Roma, después de la Misa de Alianza, 17 de abril Cor Ecclesiae Shrine, Rome, after Covenant Mass, April 17 Nach der Bündnismesse im Cor Ecclesiae-Heiligtum, 17. April |
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Intercambio: recuerdos de la visita de Juan Pablo II Sharing memories of John Paul II’s visit Erinnerungen an den Besuch von Johannes Paul II. |
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Un día de lluvia en Roma A rainy day in Rome Ein regnerischer Tag in Rom |
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Visita a San Pedro, por la noche: paz y melancholía Visit to St. Peter’s, at night: peace and a certain melancholia Ein Besuch am Abend: Frieden und ein wenig Traurigkeit Fotos: Donnelly © 2005 |
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ROME, Simon Donnelly. Today the rain poured down on Saint Peter’s Square: as I crossed it mid-afternoon, the sky was grey, and only a smallish number of brave pilgrims were there, lining up under their umbrellas to visit the tomb of our Holy Father John Paul II. Things seemed to be ready for the conclave tomorrow.
I walked beyond the piazza, along the Via delle Fornaci — a wild road dangerous for the pedestrian! — to the T-junction at the Russian Ambassador’s residence, then along the Via Aurelia, to the Cor Ecclesiae shrine. It was the monthly Covenant Sunday gathering. Today, Sr Lisianne Braunbeck led us in commemorating the life of our Holy Father, John Paul. She gave us a beautiful presentation of images and sounds, including many pictures of our beloved pope, and mostly especially, the video of his very precious visit to the Cor Ecclesiae shrine in the Jubilee Year 2000.
Thanksgiving for the life of John Paul II
In that video, the Pope was already bent, and his hands shook, but he looked so peaceful in the Shrine. And he was gracious and holy as ever, even joking with people, blessing every single pilgrim, and giving them a rosary. And the bell on the shrine rang out to commemorate his visit, both on his arrival, and at his departure. He was accompanid by Monsignor Dziwisz, his faithful assistant for 40 years.
She conceived of his whole life in terms of a Eucharistic celebration, including the confiteor, the offertory, the consecration, the thanksgiving. It gave us new insights into the meaning of his life for us.
Afterwards, as usual, we had Holy Mass celebrated for us. We read out small acts of personal thanksgiving that we had written to our departed Holy Father, or about him. Then we placed our notes of thanks in the large amfora jar that stands in the Shrine. These were our prayers offered up in thanksgiving for his life.
Covenant renewal in the Cor Ecclesiae Shrine
Together we renewed our covenant after Mass. Then, after a delicious supper together, we received a message from a young man who is a Swiss guard, and who visits the Shrine, that he was asking us to really pray hard to the Holy Spirit for guidance for the cardinals. Slowly we dispersed for our different parts of the city.
I crossed the piazza again, this time in the dark. There were still pilgrims and tourists there. A single light still illuminated the image of Our Lady, the Totus Tuus of John Paul, on the loggia apartments. The window of John Paul’s room was dark now, of course. Not only because he is gone from our midst, but also because the papal apartments have now been sealed so that no one can enter them until there is a new pope.
I found yet another poster thanking the Pope for his life with us, and reminding us of his first words to us: ‘Be not afraid!". Everything is now ready for the conclave. All we need are the cardinals, and more than anything or anybody: the Holy Spirit! We are not afraid!
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