Pope Francis

Pope Francis.

Habemas Papam

Inspired by the Holy Spirit the those members of the College of Cardinals who went into The Sistine Chapel at the beginning of the Conclave on Tuesday 12th March have today elected one of their number to be the Bishop of Rome, the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He is Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina and he will take the papal name of  Francis.

"Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach."

On Monday 11th February our brother Gerard (Ged) Walsh was ordained for ministry in the Church as a Deacon.

By the imposition of hands and prayer Terence Drainey, Bishop of Middlesborough ordained Ged during mass at the Carmelite Monastery in Thicket.  The sisters in Thicket have always been great friend with the Carmelites and were delighted to host this celebration.  Surrounded by his parents, his Carmelite Sisters and Brethers, clergy from the local church, friends and students from York University Ged was clothed in the vestments of the Deacon, given the book of Gospels and assisted at the altar accompanied by music by the sister and prayers of the community gathered..  The liturgical celebration was rounded off by a social gathering hosted by the Carmelite Sisters.

All photographs by Johan Bergstrom Allen. Used with thanks.

Benedict XVI: a momentous decision

Before an audience of Cardinals Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation. Addressing the Cardinals and the Church in general he said:  "After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry... For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant".  He thanked the cardinals for their support and asked "pardon for all my defects".

Benedict is the first Pope to resign his office in almost 600 years and will be in the position of living through the beginning of his Successors ministry as Bishop of Rome and Successor of St. Peter.  The intention of Benedict VXI is to take up a life of seclusion and prayer.

The conclave to elect a new pope will begin in mid March.

On Wednesday 11th February Benedict XVI gave his weekly Wednesday Audience in a crowded St Paul VI auditorium.  As he entered he was given a standing ovation which lasted long after he had taken his seat.  

Later in the day he presided at the Ash Wednesday Mass with imposition of the Ashes.  

He received the ash cross from one of his cardinals and then distributed them to his brethren.

 

Repainting programme, a work in progress

Over the last weeks the Relic Chapel and the Choir Chapel have been undergoing a re-decoration.  The Relic Chapel is finished along with the Carmelite Saints and and the English Martyrs chapels included.  

The new colour schemes have been chosen to make the most of the natural and artificial light in the chapels to give an atmosphere which is conducive both to quiet prayer as well as larger liturgical celebrations.  

In the relic chapel the colour has been chosen taking into account the colouring of the Kossowski ceramics of the Stations of the Cross.

Br. Paul instituted as Acolyte

During the celebration of the 12 noon Mass  in the Relic Chapel Fr. Wilfrid McGreal, Provincial of the British Province instituted Br. Paul Jenkins in the ministry of Acolyte.  The acolyte is, according to Vatican II, an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and may function as such at all celebrations of the Mass.  He is also to be involved in Catechesis and preparation of young people for 1st Eucharist and Confirmation.

Feast of the Deication of the Lateran Basilica

Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran is the  cathedral church of the Dipcese of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope. It is the oldest and ranks first among the four Papal Basilicas of Rome having the cathedra of the Bishop of Rome.^[1] It claims the title of ecumenical mother church among Roman Catholics.

The Archbasilica stands over the remains of the 'new fort' of the imperial cavalry bodyguard. The fort was established by Septimus Severus in AD 193. Following the victory of Constantine I over Maxentius  at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, the guard was abolished and the fort demolished. Substantial remains of the fort lie directly beneath the nave. The remainder of the site was occupied by the palace of the Laterani family.  This Lateran Palace came into the hands of the emperor when Constantine I married his second wife Fausta and it was eventually given to the Bishop of Rome by Constantine. The actual date of the gift is unknown but scholars believe it had to have been during the pontificate of  Pope Miltiades, in time to host a synod of bishops in 313 that was convened to challenge the Donatist schism. The palace basilica was converted and extended, becoming the residence of Poe Sulvester I eventually becoming the cathedral of Rome; the seat of the popes as bishops of Rome.  It has been badly damaged twice by fire; in 1307 and 136, the damage adding to its decline.  When the papacy returned to Rome it was considered unsuitable for the Pope’s residence and so after two moves the papal palace was built adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Papal court moved in there; it remains the papal residence today.

The Lateran Basilica houses 6 Papal tombs, a large number of the older tombs having been destroyed by the 14^th Century fires.  The last Pope to be entombed in the Lateran was Leo XIII.