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May 05, 2005
And you thought he was conservative
On Ascension Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI concretizes the meaning of the feast for the Faithful with an innovative liturgical gesture:
News story about his visit to Castel Gandolfo
Posted by Amy Welborn | Permalink
Comments
Another photo op for Nervous Ordo Watch.
Posted by: Mark Shea at May 5, 2005 11:41:55 AM
But White (on the Holy Father) and Yellow (on the balloon) ARE the Papal Colors.
Posted by: Zhou De-Ming at May 5, 2005 11:46:43 AM
Next: Clown Urbi et Orbi
Posted by: WRY at May 5, 2005 11:50:30 AM
(Actually, other photos show that the baloon floated up from the crowd below. In this photo, it is, actually, probably several feet in front of the balcony.)
I WANT ONE OF THESE!
Posted by: Zhou De-Ming at May 5, 2005 11:50:49 AM
Well, of course, Zhou!
Posted by: amy at May 5, 2005 12:03:45 PM
I didn't know halos looked so much like balloons.
Posted by: Radactrice at May 5, 2005 12:04:37 PM
I wonder if BXIV is keeping the German tradition of eating chicken (it has wings) on Ascension Thursday.
Posted by: MaureenM at May 5, 2005 12:13:54 PM
I am convinced that if we passed out ballons on this feast day attendance would be equal to that of the non Holy Day of Obligation Ash Wednesday.
Posted by: Jeff Miller at May 5, 2005 12:18:18 PM
Hmm. When I was in grade school, we did the balloon thing every year. Recently, I reflected on it, and decided it was kind of cheesy. (And in any case, I don't think they do it any more, because of concerns about birds choking to death on the eventually-deflated balloons.) But I think Jeff is onto something.
Zhou: Good luck. The bear sells for 160 Euros, which, when I looked up the exchange rate a week or two ago, came to $207. That's a lot for a teddy bear, even one that happens also to be pope. But, furthermore, the bear was made in a limited edition of only 265 (for the number of popes there've now been), so I suspect they sold out pretty quickly.
Posted by: Kevin Miller at May 5, 2005 12:27:50 PM
Being German and having lived there for fifty years: there is no tradition of eating chicken on Ascension Day.
Posted by: Christoph at May 5, 2005 12:30:48 PM
It's the Popa Bear!
Posted by: john hearn at May 5, 2005 12:31:40 PM
This may be a stretch, but what if that bear on BXVI's coat of arms has an additional meaning besides that story of the German saint. Remember, bears hibernate in the winter months and come out hungry in the spring - you know, like "Springtime of the New Evangelization?"
Posted by: john hearn at May 5, 2005 12:36:29 PM
Christoph:
Having spent a fw years working for a German company, the only Ascension and Pentecost traditions that anyone I knew held near and dear were to take extended holidays! :-)
Posted by: Ambrose at May 5, 2005 2:07:55 PM
Does the bear have a backpack, a la the Pope's coat of arms?
Posted by: mio at May 5, 2005 2:21:30 PM
Does anyone know where you can get that bear? Or did I miss that some how?
It's just to cool...
Posted by: JamesPB at May 5, 2005 2:53:47 PM
BearsOnTheSquare (UK) says that the Pope Benedict bear, costing 159 British Pounds or 284 US Dollars, is not available yet, but they are taking reservations.
If you have that kind of money, you might want to consider buying a copy of the current Roman Catholic "sacramentary" (Missale Romanum, 3rd ed) for $264.40 from paxbooks.com.
Alas, I feel that the Pope Benedict bear will become available to Americans before an English translation of the Missal.
While the bear is cute, the liturgy is curative.
Posted by: Zhou De-Ming at May 5, 2005 3:21:19 PM
Thanks Zhou, I just hope it's out by Christmas. It would be great thing to get for my new nephew.
(lol) Here's hoping I can afford it by then...
Posted by: JamesPB at May 5, 2005 5:03:59 PM
Of course, Zhou, there's every possibility that there will be a 4th edition of the Missale Romanum in the next few years... The translators might say they should just wait...
Posted by: Paul McL at May 5, 2005 6:59:50 PM
The use of the term "sacramentary" was explicity repudiated by the letter (Card. Medina-Estevez, March 02) rejected the US bishops' proposed book.
If you can find it on the web, it is a marvelous smackdown in courteous diplomatic language....
Posted by: Charles A. at May 5, 2005 7:28:42 PM
I want a real Benedict Bear, complete with pack!
By the way, having missed the election coverage, I need to ask: did he follow the example of his predecessor by offering a plenary indulgence urbi et orbi? That would be indicative of ... well, something or other.
Posted by: Will at May 6, 2005 9:52:39 AM
Dear Charles A.,
I'm wondering why you say, "The use of the term "sacramentary" was explicity repudiated." It occurs in many places on the Vatican website (feel free to use their search), describing many historical liturgical books, and is often hard to distinguish from "Missal."
Also, the the letter from Card. Medina-Estevez, the word "sacramentary" is not used, let alone repudiated.
Why do you think this perfectly good word "sacramentary" has been repudiated?
Posted by: Zhou De-Ming at May 6, 2005 10:33:18 AM
Hello! We have the Pope Benedict Bear and ship Worldwide. Please ring the Store 1-800-CAL-BEAR or (760)325-2241 or email me any questions at(elfie@dollsville.com) and take a look at the Pope Benedict Teddy Bear in glorious color on our website at www.dollsville.com
Posted by: Dollsville Dolls & Bearsville Bears at Jun 12, 2005 3:53:03 PM
