Electing a Pope!!

"But probably the most solemn, the most difficult, frightening (moment) is when you go with your ballot paper in your hand and hold it up in front of the altar and say, 'I call on the Lord Jesus, who will be my judge, to witness that I am voting for the one I believe to be worthy.'

Cardinal Napier said the above words about the 2005 papal conclave.

Catholic New Service has the entire article entitled "Prayer and Trembling:  "Cardinals Recount Experience of  Conclave" here.  It gives a fascinating view into the atmosphere and workings of the papal conclave.

Let's pray that all the cardinals will respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and vote for the pope the Lord wants us to have!!

Adopt a Cardinal!!!

It's a strange feeling for a Catholic to not have a pope, isn't it?

As some of you know, my family took a trip to Rome last Easter and we were blessed to see His Holiness Benedict XVI several times.  He always had such a kind, gentle expression on his face.  We fell in love with him.

So it was with great sadness that we learned of his resignation.  Still, God always has a plan and, as my son pointed out to me, it is also very exciting to see what God has in mind next.

Yes, the Holy Spirit guides the church and certainly, in particular, He guides the papal conclave.  Still, the cardinals are human beings and we must pray that they discern the Lord's will and vote accordingly.  I'm sure the spiritual battle over the selection of a new pope must be enormous.

So....with that in mind, may I suggest to you all that you do as 274,863 others have done and "adopt a cardinal" to pray for her.  You go to the following site:

http://www.adoptacardinal.org/

They assign you your cardinal.  I presume the "adoptions" are spread out evenly.  Just think!  You may be praying for the next pope.  My cardinal is Paolo Romeo.  I believe he is 76 years old and the archbishop of Palermo, Italy.  I pray every day for all the cardinals and for Cardinal Paolo Romeo in particular.

I love that nearly 275,000 people have already signed up to do this.  The cardinals need our support.  Think of the little decisions in your life that seem really important.  Then think of the stress these cardinals must be under to vote as the Lord desires!  May God reveal to them His will!!

One of my sons is studying in London.  I was genuinely very happy for him when he was admitted to a very competitive graduate program in his field.  It was his dream school.

What I don't like is that there is an entire ocean between his home and his school.  It's so far away!!!

It's tough for a mom to be so far from a child, even an adult child.  But such is life.  The world is much smaller than it once was and they are called to go many and diverse places.

That's why it  was with such delight that I had the opportunity recently to talk to my son on the phone for what turned out to be a rather extended period of time.  :-)  It wasn't intended to be an extended period of time.  But when there is an ocean between you and your son who is not usually particularly talkative it is not in the nature of a mother to keep an eye on the clock.

The same day I had this wonderful phone conversation, a very dear friend of mine who had not known about the phone call gave me this candle, knowing it would make me smile and think of my son so far away.

My husband, who knew about the extended phone call quipped that perhaps the candle was misnamed, in my case.  It should be titled "Calling London!"