Digital Pope?

Ella and James Preece are a Catholic couple living in Kingston Upon Hull in Yorkshire in the UK. This is our blog.

Blogged by James Preece on 18th June 2008

Digital Pope

Less than a year ago Fr Massie played a CD of a talk in place of his homily [Update: Apparently he played it during his homily...]. He is ordinarily a very sensible chap and I was shocked. I blogged about it saying "why have homilies by local priests when you could pop a TV on the lectern and have the Pope himself, live!"

Today, parody became reality. Again.

While Pope Benedict XVI may not attend the 49th International Eucharistic Congress in person, his virtual presence will be there for all to see.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, archbishop of Quebec, announced April 24 that the Holy Father will give the homily at the closing ceremony for the June 15-22 congress. It will come live from Rome via satellite and be shown on large screens.

[...]

...the Pope will be seen and heard on screen by all those attending the Statio Orbis on June 22. This expression refers to the communion of the universal church in one location...

[link]

Oh Canada!

Update:

Seems this has happened before...

The remote homily is not unusual for Congresses as Pope John Paul II delivered the final mass homily at the 48th Congress in similar fashion. The first satellite address came from Pope Paul VI at the 41st Congress in Philadelphia in 1976. Pope Pious XI gave the first remote homily by radio in 1932 at the 31st Congress in Dublin.

[link]

When they say homily, do they mean, like, an actual homily?

To the Blessed Virgin Prayer for England

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy "Dowry" and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross.

O sorrowful Mother! intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home.

Amen.

Couple's Prayer

O God, our heavenly Father, protect and bless us. Deepen and strengthen our love for each other day by day.

Grant that by thy mercy, neither of us may ever say one unkind word to the other. Forgive and correct our faults, and make us constantly to forgive one another should one of us unconsciously hurt the other.

Make us and keep us sound and well in body, alert in mind, tender in heart, and devout in spirit. O Lord, grant us each to rise to the other's best. Then, we pray thee, add to our common life such virtues as only thou canst give.

And so, O Father, consecrate our life and love completely to thy worship, and to the service of all about us, especially those whom thou hast appointed us to serve, that we may always stand before thee in happiness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.