I had a great time at the reception and saw three old friends from the seminary, Tom Clouse, Paul Rao, and Bob Madoff and their wives. I sat with a couple from the parish as well as Joe’s Mom, Florence, whom I really enjoyed laughing and talking with. She still lives in New Castle and is a native Pittsburgher. Joe and Pat sat with us, as did their older son’s in laws and two of their grandsons. It was a wonderful wedding and celebration.
I have to admit, I left around 9pm (as senior priests are allowed to do) and I went to my room, took a nice hot bath and relaxed. I think I was asleep before the 11pm news. I slept well and left around 8am.
I stopped to see how Msgr. Beattie was doing. He was having breakfast and looking very good. He did his therapy on Friday and Saturday and was very pleased with his improvement. So was I. We had a nice visit and then I returned for the 10:30am Mass in the gym.
In my homily, I spoke about friendship with Jesus and how it leads us to do what Peter and the other apostles eventually did – to follow him, as he called them to do today in the gospel. I shared with them a story going around Rome about our new Holy Father. It goes:
A few days ago, at dawn, the time the Pope wakes up, he came out to the corridor, and he found in front of his door the sentry, a Swiss Guard standing with his halberd at attention.
He asked him: “And what are you doing here? Have you been up all night?”
“Yes,” replied the guard with deference and a bit surprised.
“On your feet?”
“Your Holiness, my duty since I took over from my companion.”
“And aren’t you tired?”
“It’s my duty Your Holiness; I should watch for your safety.”
Pope Francis looked at him again with kindness, went back to his suite and after a minute he came out carrying a chair: “At least sit down and rest.”
The guard rolled his eyes and answered: “Santo Padre, forgive me, but I cannot! The regulations do not allow that.”
“The regulations?”
“Orders from my captain, Your Holiness.”
The Pope smiled, “Oh, really? Well, I’m the Pope and I order you to sit down.”
So, caught between the regulations and the Pope, the Swiss Guard (so much for the halberd) chose the chair.
The Pope returned to his apartment.
After a couple of minutes, the Pope came back to the Swiss Guard, still obediently seated on the chair, carrying “panino con marmellata” (Italian bread with jam) which he had prepared. Before the soldier could say anything, the Holy Father, exhibiting his Argentinean smile, told the Swiss Guard, “With all the hours spent standing on guard you must be a bit hungry.” The Swiss Guard had no time to object because the Pope right away wished him a good bite: “Bon appetit, brother.”
As Fr. Michael Roach says of stories he shares in Church History, if a students asks “is it true”; he responds, “if it isn’t, it should be”.
I’m sure this is true because Pope Francis is a friend of Jesus and follows Him. May we do likewise.
After Mass, lots of people asked where I got the story and I directed them to Whispers in the loggia. It is wonderful.
I’ve been relaxing here in the office and working on my taxes (my dear friend, Mary Rose has gotten me an extension) but I am still trying to gather information for her.
Now off to the rectory and some food and a nap.
Hope all of you are having a glorious Spring.