A Letter to the Pope

Many years from now we will all reminisce about this bittersweet day as we get asked "where were you when the Pope resigned?" Like so many of you, I will not forget this day. I got up, did my usual morning ritual of praying and reading Scripture (today was about the Israelites grumbling in Marah "what are we to drink?")  My husband got up and showed me a text he received from his brother about the Pope resigning.  I try not to get on the internet before my husband leaves for work but today was an exception to the rule.  We were both dumbstruck, I can't wait for him to get home and hash this all out.

Anyhow, I woke the children with this news.  My oldest was near tears with the second and middle child stunned and wanting to know more.  We tried to have a normal day but we ended up just discussing the papacy and Church history.  I told them that if they wanted to write a letter to the Pope I'd be happy to mail it.  Here's a portion of what the girl wrote with some omitted parts to protect the innocent :-)

Dear Most Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI,

Everyday I pray for you.  I will miss you.  My name is...., I live in....My favorite subject is Art and Music. My favorite sport is volleyball. When I grow up I want to be a cake artist. My favorite saints are Saints Therese of Lisieux and Saint Lucy.  I have 5 brothers but one of them is in heaven.  Please remember young people in your prayers.  I drew you a picture on the back of this letter.  And I forgot to add I can play the piano.

Love,
G   J+M+J

Here is the picture she drew on the back of her letter:

The oldest also wrote a letter but it is unfinished.  I will share with his permission when he is done.

When people enter our home they know a couple of things about us immediately, one of them is that we are staunch Papists.  I love this photo because it's of the Pope and because it was a gift from my mom who passed away shortly after the Pope was elected.

Here's my (ratty) homemade "commemorative" shirt when he was elected Pope, it originally said "the cafeteria is closed"

 

I thank the Lord for blessing us with such a wonderful Pontiff, we will continue to pray for him and now we pray even more for the upcoming conclave.  *A bff called me this morning to tell me she will be in Rome around the time of the conclave!!!  This day isn't so bad after all.