Mass in D.C.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of The Catholic University of Ameria hosted Pope Benedict for evening prayers yesterday and I attended mass this morning in the same chapel. As an unexpected souvenir of my visit, I found the program from the Evening Prayer service left by Cardinal George from the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Deacon Mike Byrne, St. John Neumann, is in route back to Chinatown from the papal mass at Washington Nationals stadium where he was honored to participate in the mass by distributing Holy Communion. Mike was interviewed by Cox News after the mass and his comments should air on TV 2 in Atlanta this evening.

He's here

Photo credit: American Papist

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, landed at Andrews AFB at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon and was greeted by the President and First Lady. The event marks the first time a U.S. President has left the White House to meet a visiting head of state upon arrival. The Vatican is the smallest nation-state and the Pope's visit is an "official" state visit.

This morning the Pope will celebrate his 81st birthday with a visit to the White House and a meeting with President Bush and others. This evening, the President is hosting a formal White House dinner in honor of the Pope's visit, however, the Holy Father will not be in attendance as he will be meeting with U.S. bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

This afternoon, Mike Byrne and I depart about 1 p.m. for D.C.. Thursday morning, Mike, a Catholic Deacon, will participate in the mass officiated by Pope Benedict at Washington Nationals Stadium. Thursday afternoon, the Holy Father meets with educators and students at The Catholic University of America and then inter-religious leaders at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.

Friday, after a quick tour of the U.S. Capitol, we depart for New York. Friday morning the pope speaks at the United Nations and in the afternoon meets with ecumenical Christian leaders. Friday evening, Mike's father Tom, a New Yorker, is treating us to his favorite Italian restaurant.

Saturday morning, Pope Benedict celebrates mass for Catholic religious at St. Patrick's Cathedral then travels via popemobile across the city. We'll take in a Broadway matinee Saturday afternoon -- hey, we're in New York -- it's the law.

Saturday evening begins Jewish Passover and Mike and I are invited to a Passover Seder meal with the family of one of his childhood friends in New York. [Thanks Joan for loaning me your Haggadah.]

Sunday morning, the Holy Father visits Ground Zero and offers prayers for those lost. In the afternoon, Mike and I attend mass at Yankee Stadium where the pope will celebrate the 200th anniversary of several U.S. diocese including Baltimore, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Louisville.

Tidbit: I always thought the introduction for the Stones was impressive, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the World's Greatest Rock-n-Roll Band, the Rolling Stones!" That intro pales to the official title of the pope. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor to the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the City of the Vatican, Servant of the Servants of God, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. As the photo caption above says, "rock on, papist dudes!"

He's coming

I'll soon embark on a once in a lifetime trip to Washington, D.C. and New York City to attend mass and events officiated by Pope Benedict XVI. My dear friend, former City Attorney and now Deacon Michael Byrne is traveling with me and he will participate in the papal mass at Washington Nationals Stadium.

I expect the King of All Media will be dethroned during the papal visit as all lenses and microphones will be focused on Pope Benedict. This is Pope Benedict's first visit to the United States and an opportunity to build hope and faith in the American church. He'll celebrate his 81st birthday while at the White House. He is the 265th successor of St. Peter, installed by Christ to shepherd His church on earth.

Pope Benedict's tentative shedule is:

Tuesday, April 15
Arrive in Washington, DC via Shepherd One
greeted by President Bush at Andrew's AFB

Wednesday, April 16 Pope Benedict XVI's 81st Birthday
10:30 a.m. Meet with the President at The White House
Only the second time in history the pope has visited the White House

Noon Popemobile route
Pope Benedict will travel via Popemobile on at least
two trips while in D.C.

Popemobile traveling down I-95 toward D.C. on April 2nd.

5:30 p.m. Meet with the bishops of the United States, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Thursday, April 17
10:00 a.m. Mass hosted by the Archdiocese of Washington, Washington Nationals baseball stadium

5:00 p.m. Address Catholic educators: presidents of 200 Catholic colleges and universities and education leaders from 195 dioceses, The Catholic University of America
Of the 250+ Catholic schools and universities in the United States, CUA is the only college operated by bishops.

6:30 p.m. Meet with interfaith leaders, Pope John Paul II Cultural Center including Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews

Friday, April 18
Depart for New York
10:45 a.m. Speech to the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations

6:00 p.m. Meet with ecumenical leaders of other Christian denominations at St. Joseph Church in Manhattan

Saturday, April 19
3rd anniversary of the election of Pope Benedict XVI to the papacy
9:15 a.m. Mass for Priests, Deacons and Religious, St. Patrick's Cathedral

4:30 p.m. Meet with Children with Disabilities, St. Joseph's Seminary Chapel Youth and Seminarian Rally, Grounds of St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers

Sunday, April 20
9:30 a.m. Visit to Ground Zero, World Trade Center Site

2:30 p.m. Mass hosted by the Archdiocese of New York at Yankee Stadium
Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Baltimore Archdiocese

8:00 p.m. Depart for Vatican City onboard Shepherd One

Fun Fact:
Pope Benedict XVI has a pilot's license and flys the Vatican helicopter, but he does not have a driver's license and never learned to drive a car.

All in One

I hadn't considered William F. Buckley, Jr. when I labeled my blog, "A promulgation of esoteric cogitations attempting to avoid platitudinous ponderousities regarding public policy, religion, politics, beer, and cigars - in no particular order." That said, it most certainly fits the Bill. I also hadn't considered the impact his writings had on my thinking in as much as I long ago allowed my subscription to National Review to lapse and Firing Line ceased broadcasting.

I do, however, admire and aspire to several traits from the blog label favored by Mr. Buckley. An avocation toward shaping public policy - generally conservative, but with a twist from time to time. A lifelong Catholic and a nascent apologist. Active in politics (Republican); most often from the sidelines; though he did unsuccessfully seek the New York mayoralty once. An aficionado of fine spirits (theological and otherwise) and cigars. Though after the passing of his wife from emphysema after years of cigarette smoking, Buckley confessed that given the power, he'd outlaw smoking.

One of our nations most outstanding educational institutions, Hillsdale College, has created a website with the complete writings of William F. Buckley, Jr. and The Hoover Institution has archived the Firing Line television show collection. WFB will be missed, but his intelligence, facetiousness, and catechizing remains.

Réquiem ætérnam dona ei Dómine; et lux perpétua lúceat ei. Requiéscat in pace. Amen.