Prayers Answered!

Pope Francis I

He bowed his head as he asked for our prayers...

"Let's pray always for each other. 

Let's pray for the whole world."

See the Details Evolve on the Vatican Website

Pope Francis' First Words of His Papacy:

Brothers and sisters good evening.  You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have come almost to the ends of the earth to get him… but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome.

First of all I would say a prayer pray for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI.. Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord bless him and Our Lady protect him.

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory to the Father…

And now let us begin this journey, the Bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood . My hope is that this journey of the Church that we begin today, together with help of my Cardinal Vicar, be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city.

And now I would like to give the blessing, but first I want to ask you a favour. Before the bishop blesses the people I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me – the prayer of the people for their Bishop. Let us say this prayer – your prayer for me – in silence.

To the City and to the World... I will now give my blessing to you and to the whole world, to all men and women of good will. Brothers and sisters, I am leaving you. Thank you for your welcome. Pray for me and I will be with you again soon. We will see one another soon. Tomorrow I want to go to pray to the Madonna, that she may protect Rome. Good night and sleep well!

Viva Il Papa Francesco

VIVA IL PAPA FRANCESCO!

Black Smoke: The GregBlog Prays!

The GrgeBlog continues to pray... O God, eternal shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care, grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The GregBlog Joins The Conclave (Kinda)...

Today the GregBlog steps aside, as the Conclave meets to pick the next Pope. I want to show my solidarity with the process, and I want you to know that I am praying for the Church. My prayer is for new life, new vision, strong tradition, and new hope, especially for those who are poor and forgotten.  I will only offer this prayer here on the GregBlog each day until a new Pope is elected:


O God, eternal shepherd, who govern your flock with unfailing care, grant in your boundless fatherly love a pastor for your Church who will please you by his holiness and to us show watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Church, and it's Apostles are called to have the heart and the courage to bring Christ's message of love, healing and Truth in life-giving water to the all the world. Today's reading from the Prophet Ezekiel outlines all that the Church should and will be... May the Lord bless our Faith, and be with those who shepherd us! Amen.

"Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary." Ezekiel 47: 9, 12

From Pretender to Surrender....

Today's Readings

The GregCast was out on the road March 4th in West Hartford, CT serving the Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School's XBSS Retreat!  This video, and blogpost was used for the presentation.  Things went well and we got some good video from the evening's presentation that I hope to share on an upcoming GregCast over on YouTube.  Pray for me, as I am praying for you!

Dave Grohl, former Nirvana drummer, and founder of the Foo Fighters, once wrote this lyric to a song called "The Pretender": "To keep you in the dark, you know they all pretend!"

This world of ours cares, but only to a point. They love, but only if things go their way. They give, but only what's been budgeted. They try, but only until it starts to hurt just a little. They allow their hearts to be moved, but then harden quickly in the face of challenges and change. In other words, this world of ours has gotten good at wanting to maintain control over their own image, and our life's actions and outcomes as well. The world would rather us stay in the dark as, Mr. Grohl put it, "just another soul for sale."

I would like to offer that God wants us to be free... Free to smile, free to choose, free scream, free to retire, and free to live! My friends, "what if I said, I'm not like the others? What if I said Im not just another one of your plays?" I am free to be determined! I am free to survive the struggle! I am free to never surrender to the darkness of sin and death! Like Mr. Grohl, "I'm finished making sense by pleading ignorance"... I'm echoing the voice inside your head that you refuse to hear! I'm the face that you have to face, mirroring yourself!

 Memo to the world: "You're the pretender... And what if I said, I will never surrender?"

The Cardinals of the Church will gather this week, and they are called to open their hearts to the will of the Holy Spirit, and the purpose of God's mission, to allow for His Church to continue to grow as evangelizer of the Good News, empowering us all to become the disciples that they we were born to be!

It's time to consider that being in the light of Christ is a better place to be. It's time to come out from under that bushel basket that wants to hide you. It's time to respond to God's love, and fall in love with His service. And even though it sounds like a contradiction, its time to promise that you'll never surrender to sin and death, so that you can truly live and surrender yourself to God's will.

Reflect...

• Who are you, and who do you follow?
• What are the hopes and dreams that will help you truly live?
• Will you trust the Spirit, and waters of your creation to make yourself a vulnerable witness?
• Will you cross the boundaries and allow for faith and forgiveness?
• Can you commit to sharing God with everyone you meet?
• Can you handle following The Way, The Truth, and the Light?

When you fall...

• Will you allow our Lord to catch you? 
• Will you get back up? 
• Will you?

He Used To Be the Pope pt. 2

Today's Readings

"I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, to reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds. - Jeremiah 17:10"

Today's post on the GregBlog is one to simply mark a moment in history, for today is the day that someone on this planet will fall asleep knowing that he used to be Pope.  I'm intrigued by the notion, and moved by the event.  Pope Benedict XVI leaves the Chair of St. Peter with a dedication in his heart to lead in a different way, through the way of prayer!

For the first time in nearly six centuries, and only if he reads a paper or watches a TV, a human being will be able to listen as people argue whether he was a good Pope or not.  He might wonder if the New Roman Missal will make a difference, or his series of books called Jesus of Nazereth will help the world understand the true Christ, or could he have done more to stop the evil of abuse in our Church.  He might wonder if he will be able to face the realities of aging and the continuing daily loss of physical ability.  Dare I say, for the first time in 600 years, a person who used to be Pope will have to grapple with the question, "Was it worth it?"

I have no doubt that the Lord and the Pope know it was!

Pope Benedict XVI will be measured like the rest of us, "according to his ways, [and] the merit of his deeds". (Jer. 17:10)  As we watch him exit the world stage , let us also review our life and purpose to this point.  Have we done enough to make a difference?  Have we helped the world understand the true Christ?  Could we do more to help stop evil?  Are we able to face the challenges of our lives?  Don't be like "the rich man" in Luke's Gospel, who waits until its too late to find out that poor Lazarus chose the better portion.  Do what you can do NOW to make this a better place!

God's speed Pope Benedict XVI... PRAY FOR US!

Thank You Pope Benedict!

He Used to Be the Pope!

Today's Readings

"Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock." 1 Peter 5:3

On Thursday, February 28, 2013, at 8:00pm Vatican time (1:00pm here at my house), Pope Benedict XVI will leave "the Chair of St. Peter", and retire as the Holy Father of the Catholic Church.  That chair will remain vacant until a new Pope is elected, most likely sometime in March.  For the first time in 600 years, there will be a person, living on this planet, who can say, I USED TO BE THE POPE!

Today (2-22-13) is the Feast of That Chair... The Chair of St. Peter.  Its a day where we reflect on the importance of the role of the Pope, not necessarily the person.  Its fair to say that there have been some interesting people to assume the role of Pope over the Millennia.  Some are Saints, and some are forgotten.  Some changed the world for the better, and some did not.  The fact remains, however, that the call of St. Peter, and all who would follow him, was to shepherd the flock, and lead the Church by good example!

Pope Benedict XVI is a good and decent man, and his leadership has brought the Church to where it is today.  Some may like that, some might not, but his example of humility, decency, and commitment to his faith have met the standard that authentic leadership demands.  I am praying for our Holy Father, and soon to be again, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.  May he continue to live for years to come as the man who "used to be the Pope", and as a model of faith, leading us by his example, which in this case will be a life of prayer and contemplation.