Praying and Waiting

We're praying and waiting... along with the rest of the world.... for the announcement of a new Pope.

 

Check out our cool conclave.....

 

It has exactly 115 cardinals as well as our own stove with black and white smoke! You can print out your own conclave here.

 

We've adopted Cardinal Karl Lehmann of Germany (at https://adoptacardinal.org/) and we are praying for him everyday.

 

We had fun this afternoon watching EWTN as well as a live feed of the smokestack online. The smoke was definitely black!

 

We signed up at http://popealarm.com/ so we'll receive a text message when the white smoke appears!

It's fun and interesting to teach the boys how our Church works.... especially on the heels of the Presidential election they observed in the Fall. It's so very different.

It's been difficult to listen to some of the ridiculous chatter in the secular media. My favorite and most accurate prediction came from a friend on Facebook ---"Prediction. New pope will be Catholic. American media will be surprised. He will believe all those retrograde things like male priesthood, Jesus is the only way, abortion is wrong, Catholics shouldn't be forced to pay fire other peoples contraception. And CNN will say he is "conservative" and act shocked." The bottom line is that the Pope does not set an agenda and attempt to change things according to personal beliefs or popular beliefs. The Pope leads the Church. He teaches, preaches, and guards the Gospel message and the Tradition of the Catholic Church. He's a Shepherd and Father, not a politician. It's just difficult for 21st Century Americans to understand that.

So, please join me in praying for our Church and it's soon-to-be-named new leader.

O God, eternal shepherd,
who govern your flock with
unfailing care,
grant in your boundless fatherly
love a pastor for your Church
who will please you by his holiness
and to us show watchful care.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in
the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.