Happy 5th Anniversary To Our Holy Father

5 years ago today, the Holy Spirit worked through the college of cardinals to select our next pope. Just having come into the Catholic Church one year before, I sat fixed to the television watching the proceedings of Pope John Paul's funeral and the subsequent election of Pope Benedict XVI. I loved watching the ancient process unfold as Christ's promise to guide and lead His Church was fulfilled, in complete color on CNN!

I was especially moved by Joseph Ratzinger's humility and his willingness to obey God by accepting the Fisherman's Ring when he really just wished to retire and read and play his beloved Mozart on the piano. This election was very special to me and "Room of Tears" resulted from this. Once again I post the video of my first version of Room of Tears. Also, in honor of Pope Benedict's special day today, I am offering a free download of Room of Tears here. It is the new version with bass guitar added and re-mastered on my new CD. Please keep him in your prayers as you listen to the song or watch the video.

Support The Pope

Here's a simple way of encouraging the Holy Father.
Click on this link to sign an on-line statement of support.
Along with this, let's keep him in our daily prayers.

President Bush Converting?

In the midst of the his visit to the Vatican, the newspapers in Europe are speculating over a possible Tiber Crossing for the President. I always wondered whether he and Jeb discussed Catholicism since Jeb's conversion.

What is God Like?"

"In the pierced heart of the Crucified, God's own heart is opened up--here we see who God is and what he is like. Heaven is no longer locked up. God has stepped out of hiddenness. "
Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict at Yankee Stadium

A Personal God Governs The Stars

"It is not the elemental spirits of the universe, the laws of matter, which ultimately govern the world and mankind, but that is, a personal God governs the stars, the universe; it is not the laws of matter and of evolution that have the final say, but reason, will, love—a Person. And if we know this Person and he knows us, then truly the inexorable power of material elements no longer has the last word; we are not slaves of the universe and of its laws, we are free. In ancient times, honest enquiring minds were aware of this. Heaven is not empty. Life is not a simple product of laws and the randomness of matter, but within everything and at the same time above everything, there is a personal will, there is a Spirit who in Jesus has revealed himself as Love."
Pope Benedict XVI in Spe Salvi

Pope Benedict's Lenten Reflections

We are one week away from Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday, Feb 6th. This is the opportunity the Lord gives His Church to grow closer to Him and to strengthen our interior life. How do we accomplish this? The tried and true method that has never failed and has been used by the Church for 2000 years:

Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving.*

Who needs Lent? I do! Far be it from me to come up with a better method to grow in grace! Check out Pope Benedict's lenten reflection here.

* a specific way to assist those in need and, at the same time, an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment to worldly goods.