Conquer the World

"Give me an army praying the rosary and I will conquer the world."  (St. Pius IX)

Habemus Papam!

Baptismal Name - Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Date of Birth - December 17, 1936
From - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Family - One of five children born of Italian immigrants
Languages - Spanish, Italian, German
Study for Priesthood - Entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) on March 11, 1958
Ordained Priest - December 13, 1969
Ordained Bishop - June 27, 1992
Archbishop - Archbishop of Buenos Aires 1998-2013
Made Cardinal - Made Cardinal by Pope John Paul II the Great in 2001
Current Motto - Miserando atque eligendo ("With mercy and choosing")


Elected Pope - March 13, 2013
Number Pope - 266th pope in line of succession from the first pope, the apostle St. Peter
Papal Name - Pope Francis, chosen in honor of St. Francis of Assisi (not "Francis I," until there is a "Francis II")
Papal Inaugural Mass - March 19, 2013 (Feast of St. Joseph, Patron Saint of the Church)
Responsibility - Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church and sovereign ruler of the Vatican City State
His Firsts for a Pope - Latin American, Jesuit priest, named Francis, non-European in 1,272 years

Papal Lap Book

Here is yet another great resource to educate your children on the papal conclave and the See of St. Peter -- a papal Lap Book!

http://showerofroses.blogspot.ca/2013/02/papal-unit-study.html

A special thank you to Elizabeth T. from our homeschool group for spotting and sharing this wonderful, fun, Faith-based, keepsake for our children!  Thanks, Elizabeth!

So, How DOES The Church Elect a New Pope?

Here's a wonderful link from Vatican Insider to a short and sweet, interactive guide to how a new pope is elected:


http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/come-si-elegge-il-papa/

Be sure to click on the blinking plus signs BEFORE you click the arrow to go to the next screen.  The plus signs reveal some additional details for you on the current screen.

Thank you to Jean F. from our homeschool group for discovering this wonderful resource for all!

Prayer for the Election of a New Pope

† Pray this prayer once daily until a new Pope is elected! †

Mary, powerful Virgin, you are the mighty and glorious protector of the Church. Your son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is the source of eternal life and truth.  We come to you now, Mother Mary, asking for your intercessory prayers that a Pope of God's choosing, through the Holy Spirit, is elected.

Holy Spirit enlighten the hearts of our shepherds, the Cardinals, during the conclave of electing a new Pope for the Catholic Church. Give them a spirit of courage, right judgment, knowledge, prudence and wisdom. May the Conclave of Cardinals, with fidelity to the Holy Spirit, choose the new Pope who, as successor to the apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, will continue to build Your Church into a sacrament of unity, love, and peace for all the world.

Lord, in Your mercy, grant Your Church a shepherd who will walk in Your ways.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Wisdom from Flannery O'Connor

“I think that the Church is the only thing that is going to make the terrible world we are coming to endurable; the only thing that makes the Church endurable is that it is somehow the Body of Christ and that on this we are fed. It seems to be a fact that you suffer as much from the Church as for it but if you believe in the divinity of Christ, you have to cherish the world at the same time that you struggle to endure it.”  (Flannery O'Connor)


I was inspired to share this quote after speaking with someone who, unfortunately, was treated harshly by a consecrated religious person.  Remember, the Church is made up of fallible human beings, which does not negate the fact that it is the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church -- our Faith -- begun by Jesus Christ Himself.  It will withstand the gates of hell (remember? He promised in Matthew 16:18) and it contains the fullness of the Magisterium, not to mention the Real Presence of Jesus Christ!

Please don't let Old Scratch plant one bad seed in your life and thus spoil all the fruits of your spiritual well-being and nourishment from the Church.  Even if the person who has injured you is a consecrated cleric or religious, don't let someone else's human failings keep you from your heavenly Father or from the guidance of your spiritual father on earth, the Holy Father, Il Papa, the Pope.

Don't let someone else's flaws define or determine your spiritual future.

Remember the goal?  To know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next.  With HIM!  And He *IS* there in tabernacles throughout the world.  Don't let anyone drive you away from the Church and thus keep you from being in His presence and adoring Him.

Now go give Jesus a great big hug!  He's already outstretched His arms....for YOU!

Happy Birthday Blessed Pope John Paul II the Great!

 

Happy Birthday, Blessed Pope John Paul II!

He would have been 92 years old today!  Here are some websites to help you learn or recall more about him

Vatican Biography:
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/santopadre_biografie/giovanni_paolo_ii_biografia_breve_en.html 

Encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II
 
General Biography:
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/santopadre_biografie/giovanni_paolo_ii_biografia_breve_en.html  


Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America
http://www.johnpaulii.edu/