The Mass begins about 55 minutes into the video as the Holy Father greets a variety of people before Mass begins. At 1 hour and 15 minutes into the video is the homily. Altar girls are present which has been common in Rome since the 1980's. Holy Communion begins around one hour and 48 minutes. Please note too that the crucifix is dead center on the outside portable altar.
The Holy Father visited a Roman parish today, the Church of Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah. The Holy Father is very pastoral, very Italian and the Italians are eating it up.
In the parish, today was First Holy Communion. The homily by the Holy Father was directed to the children is a dialogue sort of homily. The Holy Father was wonderful. I wish you could understand Italian, but he gives a wonderful catechesis on our Blessed Mother to begin with, that she hurries to see her cousin Elizabeth to assist her, to help her. She doesn't say to Elizabeth, I am the mother God, take care of me, I'm precious, but she is there to serve Elizabeth! Wonderful imagery there.
Then he explained the Holy Trinity to the first communicants. Who is the Father--the creator, who is the Son? The Savior, who walks with us, who guides us. Who is the Holy Spirit? Love! The children weren't shy about shouting out the answers to the questions at the open air Mass.
Then the Holy Father spoke about the Holy Eucharist and asked if it was just a piece of bread. They answered, no, it is the Body of Christ.
Then at Holy Communion, each child came to the Holy Father to receive our Lord for the first time and by intinction. The Holy Father held the chalice of Precious Blood while a deacon held the ciborium of Sacred Hosts. The Holy Father "intincted" the Host and gave Holy Communion to the First Communicants as they stood before him and received on the tongue.
1 comment:
This is actually very useful. It captures their attitude and is a declaration of their non-support. Probably not what they intended, but helpful in that way.
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