Holy Smoke!!!

In between classes and other duties, I followed the Conclave, with my prayers and chimney-watching, that led to the election of Franciscus, servus servorum Dei, the Rock upon whom the Church, the mystical Body of Christ, —against which the gates of hell would not prevail— is built (cf. Matthew 16:18).

Habemus Papam vere!

With Cardinal Bergoglio ascending to the Papal throne comes many a first: the first Latin American, the first Jesuit, as well as the first to take the name 'Francis,' in honor of the world-famous Umbrian saint, Francesco d'Assisi.  

Below are screenshots of the smoke signals given by the cardinal-electors enclosed in the Sistine Chapel about the ballot outcomes of this process that, in Velasio Cardinal De Paolis’ words, is at once “a spiritual and a political act.”[1]

Day 1

No smoke yet.

Black smoke @ 7:41 p.m.

Day 2

Again, black smoke @ 11:41 a.m.

Finally, the awaited fumata blanca @ 7:06 p.m.

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[1] John L. Allen, Jr. “Today looms as 'Super Tuesday' for 2013 conclave.” National Catholic Reporter, March 13, 2013.

Habebimus Papam

We will have a Pope!

Millions are now watching and waiting for the election of the Supreme Pontiff, the successor of the Apostle Peter and vicar of Christ. This conclave opens on a day that marks the passing from this life of Gregory I (surnamed “the Great” by popular acclaim), the monk-turned-pope who is remembered for his zeal for the house of God. He brought about great reforms and reaped a rich harvest of souls at a time of palpable insecurity, a time that certainly I would say was a lot like ours.

Angelo Cardinal Scola of Milan taking the Oath of Secrecy.

Reading the Gradual of the old Roman Missal: “Let them exalt him in the church of the people: and praise him in the chair of the ancients,” we hold our hopes high in God who shall anoint the one to feed his sheep, for surely he will not leave us wanting. And while we're at it, it's probably high time for another Gregory!

   

Sancte Gregori, ora pro eligendo nostri Romano Pontifice.

Suscipe me, Domine...

The Church today celebrates the transitus of Francesca Romana, a saintly wife who in her lifetime belonged to the Order of Saint Benedict by way of ‘oblation,’ a way of life understood as being solemnly offered to God, fulfilling one’s baptismal promises and being spiritually conjoined to a family of either monks or nuns. An outstanding laywoman, she performed her duties both as a faithful Christian and as an upright citizen in her service to the needy and the infirm, anchored deeply in the evangelical teaching of her monastic fathers.

Monastic women gathered in choir for Vespers at San Vincenzo.

Francesca is the patroness of all Benedictine oblates and, as such, she is mine, too, being an oblate of the community of San Vincenzo al Volturno. My guide, Mother Agnes, of blessed memory, gave me a simple directive: “Each oblate does become a son or daughter of the community, sharing the grace of our life and carrying it out into the world in all that you do or undertake. You are the extension of San Vincenzo and, as a son of St. Benedict, a unique realization of his teaching where you are; in brief: a source of his blessing and his mission to the world.”

I made my monastic oblation on the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. Dom Thomas Bolin, O.S.B., our confrere from Norcia, the historic birthplace of our holy Father St. Benedict, presided over the ceremony at our Schlosskapelle in I.T.I., that is, on behalf of my Prioress, R.M. Miriam Benedict back in Italy. A day that seemed like any other, it was in fact a time that was so uniquely blessed, for I felt being truly grafted into the Benedictine family tree, complete with a new name that rocks—Pietro. Deo gratias!