These words were the motto for the Papal visit to the UK. Everyone is asking me about the Papal visit, but there isn't that much to tell. I got up early, I was cold...FREEZING actually. Then it rained. The Pope arrived and it stopped raining and the sun brilliantly shone on the crowds of thousands of people on the final day of their pilgrimage. God must realize how awful it is to have to wear white in the rain, so he let the sun come out just as the Pope came so he wouldn't catch a nice English cold.
As you can see from the pictures, we got fairly close to the altar, right near the choir. If you've ever been to a Papal Mass, you know what it felt like standing in the middle of all those people who believe and practice the same things you do. It was all like one great big Catholic Party celebrating Bl. John Henry Newman, our brother in Christ, being raised to the status of Blessed. The actual beatification part of the ceremony was rather short. The Archbishop requested that Cardinal John Henry Newman be beatified. The Pope considered this for a while (I mean, he ACTUALLY looked like he was thinking it over, just as if this was the first time he heard it) and then pronounced him Blessed. Short and sweet. Then we sang a bunch of hymns, joyfully. Then the Archbishop thanked the Pope and we went on with the regular order of the Mass.
Even though the crowd was that large, the liturgy was very intimate and holy. This was definitely the highlight of my trip.
Cheers!
--Mary
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