The doors are sealed
The ring is broken
The chair is empty
Francis has been called to his place
After his burial in simple style
The conclave will gather
To elect his successor
“Habemus papam”
In affirmation
Of acceptance.
Chris McDonnell 22 April 2025.
This weeks theme is ‘Authentic Pride’ – 14th Sunday Year C 2025 Link to video:
Tue 6th February – The Great Divide For longer than we care to think there has been in society a huge dichotomy between faith and practice that has amounted to…
Just Another Blind Beggar He sat by the roadside in squalor and darkness, a cloak about frail shoulders, empty bowl to hand… Bartimaeus. ‘Sensed crowds gathering… caught snatches of chatter,…
Tues July 22nd– Applied Wisdom A young man had grown up in a household where alcohol abuse was rife. His childhood was spent fearing his father’s change in personality and…
Gerry O’Connor CSsR and ACP Leadership Team with his weekly Sunday homily: ‘Forged’ – Sunday 27th Oct 2024 – 30th Sunday of the year. Link ot homily:
The editor of praytell blog writes about the forthcoming publication of the new Italian Missal.
“In September, 2017 Pope Francis issued Magnum principium, which called for translations which are both faithful to Latin and respectful of the characteristics of the receptor language……
More significantly, Pope Francis restored authority over translations to bishops’ conferences, as the Second Vatican Council had decreed, and rolled back the creeping centralism of previous decades at odds with the Council’s decisions.”
It seems the Italian bishops have taken their responsibility to heart and acted accordingly. We struggle on …..
Thanks Chris for reminding me on this Divine Mercy Sunday that the empty chair belongs to Peter’s successor.
Who would have thought that a week after that iconic image of Francis’ final blessing from his wheel-chair to the city and the world Presidents Trump and Zelensky would be pictured in St. Peter’s Basilica sitting face to face having a chat? I hope it l gets as much publicity as the one from the WH.
Today on Divine Mercy Sunday – (second day of the Novemdiali) let us recall Cardinal Re’s plea to ‘Franciscus’ at the end of his funeral homily to intercede for the Church, for Rome, and the whole world from heaven:
“Dear Francis, we now ask you to pray for us. May you bless the Church, bless Rome, and bless the whole world from heaven as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this Basilica in a final embrace with all the people of God, but also embrace humanity that seeks the truth with a sincere heart and holds high the torch of hope.”
Many will be sad on this Sunday but I am confident that the Cardinal electors in the forthcoming conclave will appoint the one whom the Holy Spirit will chose to succeed Peter.
Francis reminded us last Sunday of what a wonderful gift it is to bless people with the power and sign of the Cross – of God’s mercy when in union with the successor of Peter.