Papal Saturday--“You have restored us to life!”

Saturday morning, I woke up around 530 am... which was about an hour and a half later than I had set my alarm... apparently something happened to where my Cellphone was advanced 11 hrs and 45 minutes... and was thus why my alarm did not go off... so I rushed down to the Empire State Building complex... When I arrived, Michelle and her family had a place near the front of the line which spanned a few blocks... and luckily upon asking a police officer if I could join them, the officer permitted me to cut the line.
A little before 7 they openned the security area and started letting the lines move into the ESB complex... the lines had been well organised before this, but at this point the lines became free form and extremely easy to cut (which many people did).

Luckily for us again, we were able to grab a piece of the railing against the road. (every body wanted to be near the Cathedral, so we went as far away from the mass of people, and found a nice spot).
Eventually the time came and with an escort of Motorcycle cops, secret service in Suvs, and others the Pope's limo came...
I had been told that the Pope was in the second limo... but much to my photographic chagrin, he was in fact in the first (another show of the security tactics they use to protect diplomats).

And as such I was un prepared to get a photo when he came closest, but was able to get this perfect shot of him...

Yup, that's him behind the NYPD.

This was when he came out of the limo to start walking up the steps of St. Pats.
I like this picture, because he's looking at you through the screen... with an incredible depth.
They were prepared for every eventuality... After he entered the Church, I jetted... down 49th to 6th ave, then down to 47th, then back to 42nd and Lexington ave (Grand central)... a circuitous route, but a necessary one so I could catch the subway up to Yonkers, for the Seminarian/Youth rally.
When I arrived at the racetrack after taking the shuttle bus from the subway, I discovered an enormous line!

I took 2 hours to get through line... and it felt like 3... but we all got through.

The security the whole weekend was crazy prepared... A bomb squad, missing persons tent (green) and snipers and submachine guns just out side of noticeable range the whole time.
When I got to the seminary, I luckily went through the short line on the side of the building due to my ticket being for a guest of the vocations director... and upon walking around, I found Fr. Groeschel had also just arrived.
The route down to the field hid the emensity of the day... 25,000!
As we made our way down to the seminarian section, we passed by two things, we would never use unless we had to (due to the enormity of lines)... the food vendors (where in theory you could redeem your free meal, but in reality, you couldn't... as it took apparently 3 hours to do so).
The first group that I saw on the stage, was the St. Michael's warriors Dance troupe... (Michelle's former group). I still don't get it. :-)
There were various entertainment acts that followed, from Korean cultural dancing, to THIRD DAY!!!!!
To Matt Maher, Fr. Stan and many others... each with a brief set, and quickly replaced by the next group. An interesting change in atmosphere occured when the two secular bands played... Kelly Clarkson and the Three Graces... during both of which the seminarian section (comprised of religious, seminarians, and other like minded individuals) fell silent, with most of us asking ourselves how appropriate this music was... the youth sections liked Kelly Clarkson, but also fell silent during the Three Graces.

After having to dress nicely, I decided at the concert to take off my nice shoes (which hurt) and my jacket... I was so much more comfotable with the ants tickling my feet...


I made a few reunions.... Zack from my NET year was the first.



When Benedict came, the crowd went quiet... and as he visited with the disabled children in the Seminary chapel, everyone had an experience of seeing beauty and love being poured out... it was the most touching part of the trip for me... seeing the children come to him, and seeing him light up even more with joy.
As he came down to the field everyone was electrified... we all followed the eyes of the bishops and cardinals on stage to find out where he was as the mass of people was enormous... eventually I managed to stand on the barricade I was at and see him...
The crowds rejoiced to be in his presence... chanting "Christ our Hope, Benedict our Pope" and singing the Regina Caeli and various other latin songs.



Papa gave us a great address, beautiful in it's truth, comfort and exhortation.

"Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Saint John Neumann, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, and Padre Felix Varela: any one of us could be among them, for there is no stereotype to this group, no single mold. Yet a closer look reveals that there are common elements. Inflamed with the love of Jesus, their lives became remarkable journeys of hope. For some, that meant leaving home and embarking on a pilgrim journey of thousands of miles. For each there was an act of abandonment to God, in the confidence that he is the final destination of every pilgrim. And all offered an outstretched hand of hope to those they encountered along the way, often awakening in them a life of faith. Through orphanages, schools and hospitals, by befriending the poor, the sick and the marginalized, and through the compelling witness that comes from walking humbly in the footsteps of Jesus, these six people laid open the way of faith, hope and charity to countless individuals, including perhaps your own ancestors."

..."Have you noticed how often the call for freedom is made without ever referring to the truth of the human person? Some today argue that respect for freedom of the individual makes it wrong to seek truth, including the truth about what is good. In some circles to speak of truth is seen as controversial or divisive, and consequently best kept in the private sphere. And in truth’s place – or better said its absence – an idea has spread which, in giving value to everything indiscriminately, claims to assure freedom and to liberate conscience. This we call relativism. But what purpose has a “freedom” which, in disregarding truth, pursues what is false or wrong? How many young people have been offered a hand which in the name of freedom or experience has led them to addiction, to moral or intellectual confusion, to hurt, to a loss of self-respect, even to despair and so tragically and sadly to the taking of their own life? Dear friends, truth is not an imposition. Nor is it simply a set of rules. It is a discovery of the One who never fails us; the One whom we can always trust. In seeking truth we come to live by belief because ultimately truth is a person: Jesus Christ. That is why authentic freedom is not an opting out. It is an opting in; nothing less than letting go of self and allowing oneself to be drawn into Christ’s very being for others (cf. Spe Salvi, 28)."

"Dear friends, the example of the saints invites us, then, to consider four essential aspects of the treasure of our faith: personal prayer and silence, liturgical prayer, charity in action, and vocations...
Friends, do not be afraid of silence or stillness, listen to God, adore him in the Eucharist. Let his word shape your journey as an unfolding of holiness."

there was a massive amount of garbage on the ground when we left, with a few CFR sisters taking it upon themselves to help clean up, and a few others here and there. (The priest in this picture was a seminarian at Denver when I was on NET and the guys stayed at the seminary for a week, I believe).

This is Deacon Tommy Chen... A Lambda Omega Alpha fraternity brother of mine from UT Austin... He's getting ordained soon! So pray for him!

Getting back to downtown from Yonkers was crazy, I ended up walking from the seminary (instead of risking another 2 hour wait to go in the reverse direction that I came), with some CFRs, and managed to catch a ride with them to Catholic Underground downtown where Michelle was waiting... after I arrived, we had to leave to go pick up tickets for the Sunday mass for her family... and we also managed to get tickets for a Canadian who was ticketless.

And eventually I managed to get dinner, around 11:30, and to sleep around midnight thirty.

"Friends, again I ask you, what about today? What are you seeking? What is God whispering to you? The hope which never disappoints is Jesus Christ. "

Benedict XVI to the youth and seminarians