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Pope Benedict XVI- Apostolic Journey to USA |
 Benedict
XVI Celebrates Holy Spirit Mass in US Capital
Different Type of Fan Floods Nationals Stadium
By Carrie Gress, Washington D.C.
April 17, 2008
www.zenit.org
WASHINGTON,
D.C., APRIL 17, 2008 (Zenit.org).-
The streams of people pouring into the glistening new Nationals
stadium today weren't the usual baseball-loving crowds. Many
sported T-shirts saying "I love the Pope" or hats with "I love
Jesus" printed on them.
A closer look showed hundreds of priests hearing confessions in
makeshift confessionals or chairs in corners or crannies. There
was a palpable sense of joy in the stadium as the bleachers
filled.
The 46,000 "fans" didn't come to see the Washington Nationals;
they came to participate in a Mass led by Benedict XVI. Opening
events at the stadium began a full four hours prior to the
Pope's arrival.
And when the Holy Father did arrive -- beneath bright skies and
warm morning sun -- roaring applause and exuberance met him.
The Machado family was in the stadium and very happy to see the
Pontiff. They made the cross-country trip all the way from
Idaho. Sandy Machado, mother of five between the ages of 2 and
10, told ZENIT: "Washington is a lot closer than Rome, so we
decided to make the once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the Pope."
Fred Scharf and Laura Frances Ferstl, both young adult
volunteers for the event, said they decided to help out at
Nationals stadium when they realized they probably wouldn't get
a ticket any other way. Scharf said he was most impressed with
the theme of the Pope's visit "Christ Our Hope."
"With all the things that are going on in the world and all the
big questions of life, the Catholic faith answers all those
questions," he said.
Around the world
The dome of the nation's Capital Building is visible from the
upper decks of the stadium -- and the American Catholics inside
the stadium expressed appreciation for the history of the Church
in their country.
Washington's Archbishop Donald Wuerl was met with excited
applause when he mentioned the arrival of the first Catholics to
American in 1634, not far from where the stadium sits today. The
archbishop then listed the many countries from where Catholic
immigrants have come -- immigrants who now call America home.
Mass got under way in a blend of English, Spanish and Latin. It
was a Mass of the Holy Spirit, reminiscent of Pentecost -- with
the music and prayers in languages from around the world.
A gift
Mother Adela Galindo, founder of the Servants of the Pierced
Hearts of Jesus and Mary based in Miami, Florida, said: "It is
such a gift that the Holy Father is here."
She noted how the Pope's message from
the homily today was consistent with what he has been saying
since the beginning of his papacy.
"For the last three years his message has been the same," Mother
Galindo said. "He is calling us Christians to be witnesses to
love and witnesses to hope. I think the way he has presented it
over the years, beginning with his encyclical 'God is Love,' he
is saying look at the world, there is so much despair, so much
brokenness and so much woundedness, and it is us who are
responsible to show the path of love to the world, which is the
only path of hope."
She recalled how Benedict XVI clearly
addressed the issue of the sexual abuse scandal that affected
the Church a few years ago.
"He is a good shepherd, he addresses
the issue [of the sexual abuse]; he is not afraid to speak up on
the issue because we cannot hide the darkness and the wounds,"
the religious added. "At the same time, the wonderful thing is
his balance. It is true that some children in the Church have
experienced this tremendous suffering in the heart of the
Church. And the rest of the children in the family, what do they
do? If there is a child in a family who has committed a crime,
what do the other children do? We take responsibility because we
love the family. This is what he was calling us to today.
"There is a splendor to the Church but
there is a wound on the face of the Church by the scandals. All
of us are responsible, as sons and daughters of the Church, to
show the true splendor of the Church -- just like in a family --
through our love, our commitment and fidelity and our witness."
Singing to God
Music from today's Mass was an eclectic blend representing many
ages and cultures, everything from traditional hymns and chants,
to African-American spirituals, a traditional Caribbean hymn,
and even a refrain from Zimbabwe.
Some 300 priests helped to distribute holy Communion to the vast
crowds, keeping the process to just over 20 minutes, thanks to
logistical masterminding.
And the crowd was hushed as Placido Domingo performed the "Panis
Angelicus" following Communion. When he finished, the crowd
applauded, and Benedict XVI stood to greet the famous tenor, who
kissed the Holy Father's ring.
After a final solemn blessing, a smiling Pope walked through the
crowd as security guards tried to keep the path at least
moderately open. He stopped to bless and kiss a baby and to
bless a man in a wheelchair.
As Benedict XVI disappeared into the home team dugout to leave
the Mass, a post-liturgy concert began to get under way.
Priestly healing
Father Joseph Rogers, of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C,
concelebrated today's Mass. He said: "I think the Holy Father,
by choosing the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, was giving us a
sign of his greater intentions for the Church of America, [that
is] to confirm, by his Petrine authority, the new pentecost, the
new evangelization, which is a sign of hope in a world that so
needs the love of Christ."
"He spoke so clearly and simply as a
father of the faith addressing the problems of the Church," the
priest continued. "I was in the presbytery when he addressed the
crisis in the Church. When he said 'Love your priests,' I think
he opened up a special gateway to healing in the hearts of
priests. I believe that many faithtful priests who have suffered
had their hearts open to love in a new way."
Valerie Grays, of Baltimore, who attends
St. Francis Xavier Parish, the oldest African-American church in
the United States, said she was happy and proud to see the
Catholics of America come together today for the Mass: "It just
felt like we were so united. With this and that happening, which
seems to divide us all the time, it is wonderful to experience
the unity and sense of patriotism that was here today."
[Kathleen Naab contributed to this article]
Look
at the One they Pierced!
This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and
Mary
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