Pope Francis - Very Human

I can't help but like what I am seeing and hearing about Pope Francis. He seems very human, still doing the simple things like taking the mini bus to diner with his friends rather than a special car. I loved the comment he made to the cardinals at dinner just after they had elected him Pope, "May God forgive you what what you have done."

With every phone now having a camera we are seeing simple images of him like this shot of him paying his own hotel bill.

When he has been talking publicly he seems well able to go off script, say what he's thinking, for example today The Table reported him saying "half of us are in our old age, this is like the seat of knowledge of life. The old have wisdom. This wisdom is like good wine that gets better over the years. Then we must give the young people wisdom of life, go back to your sees enriched in your ministry from these days""

Pope Francis - First Words

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 gone 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 like to say a prayer pray for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI. Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord will bless him and that our Lady will protect him.

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory to the Father…

And now let us begin this journey, the Bishop and the 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 the help of my Cardinal Vicar, may 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.

[The Protodeacon announced that all those who received the blessing, either in person or by radio, television or by the new means of communication receive the plenary indulgence in the form established by the Church. He prayed that Almighty God protect and guard the Pope so that he may lead the Church for many years to come, and that he would grant peace to the Church throughout the world.]

[Immediately afterwards Pope Francis gave his first blessing Urbi et Orbi – 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!

You can listen to the Vatican Radio recording here: http://media01.radiovaticana.va/audiomp3/00362051.MP3

Taken from Vatican Radio - www.news.va

Grace

Grace.

In the dark, blackest night; gloom that blinds the captive,

The endless days, hopeless, worried eternities of despair,

When all we say or do seems wrong; no answer ever right,

It’s then that God, unseen, is there to gently say, “I care.”

We cannot ever fully know how deep, how great the love,

That holds us close each, every moment: Even times when,

Wearied beyond the wit of man, hope is lost without trace,

Our heavenly Father is there loving; arms held wide open.

Stand amazed, breathless, lost in awe and great wonder,

None can begin to know, to imagine the times, and ways,

The silent, unspoken prayers of desperate hearts are heard,

And God answers not as we expect but with what’s best!

Patrick R.
March 2009

Receive to Give

Receive to Give.

It is so good to be able to give,

Freely with no thought of me,

To simply enjoy friends’ delight,

At smallest unexpected acts,

And yes, we feel so good!

Giving is better than receiving,

simply putting all other’s first,

Or is it?

Have we paused to consider,

Consider our friends’ feelings,

When all we ever, ever do is give,

Some small trinket or cash gift,

Yet perhaps fail to give ourselves?

Are friends’ smiles those of delight?

Or fixed grins grimaces of real fear,

Faced with our tsunami of kindness,

Our well-meaning, blind generosity,

Perhaps they fear our true motives,

Those we do not know ourselves,

Do we seek to own them?

Sell ourselves short buying love,

Never realising,

We are truly loved for ourselves,

The kindly friend we are to them.

Before we can give effectively,

It’s now time to learn to receive,

To know our actions true effect,

So then we can give ourselves,

And our giving will bring such joy.

Patrick R.
February 2010

No Man Listener

No Man Listener.

I am privileged to be me,

To listen

Hear

Offer a smile in return,

The sure hand of a friend

Freely offered

Never seeking any reward,

Except

Privileges that cost nothing

Joy of giving myself freely,

Hope that dispels darkness

Despair; the legacy of today

The possibility the smile; words

Thoughts of the no man listener

May have encouraged,

Sent you my fellow man

On your homeward journey,

Your heart less troubled,

Your foot lighter,

And dare I even hope

Smiling

Lifting the veil of tragedy

For others o this pilgrim way,

A gift from this man,

The rich man with nothing!

Patrick R.
February 2013.